US poised 'to open to UK travellers in November'

The Financial Times said the change, which will also apply to EU citizens, would mark the end of the 18-month blanket ban imposed by Donald Trump and maintained by Joe Biden.

The FT said fully vaccinated passengers would be able to travel once the ban is lifted within weeks.

UPDATE: US to lift UK and EU travel ban in November

Currently, only US citizens, immediate family, green card holders and those with exemptions can enter the US if they have been in the UK or EU in the previous fortnight.

The change of policy from the US comes as Boris Johnson travels to New York for the UN General Assembly. It is said to have taken UK officials by surprise, with the BBC saying the UK team had not expected any progress.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Jeff Zients, who coordinates the White House’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said travellers would need to show proof of vaccination before boarding and a negative test result taken within three days of departure.

There will also be contact tracing by phone and email to allow the CDC to track travellers, but no quarantine for vaccinated travellers on arrival.

Zients told the newspaper: “This applies to all international travel starting early November.”