US Visa ESTA Holders Outside EU Cannot Transit Schengen on Their Way to US
The United States’ Embassy in the Hague, the Netherlands, has reminded travellers holding valid Unites States Visas or ESTA (Electronic System Travel Authorization), that they cannot transit the Schengen Area Airports in order to reach the US if they are outside the European Union territory.
The Embassy emphasizes the fact that those who have visited the Schengen area in the last 14 days prior to the moment they show up at a US port of entry, even if their stay in Schengen has been solely for transit purposes, are unable to enter the US due to a proclamation that bans such travellers from entering the US.
“Travelers with a US visa or valid ESTA who are outside the EU are not permitted to transit Schengen Area airports on their way to the US Transiting the Schengen Area subjects travellers to travel restrictions regardless of where their journey began,” the US Embassy Hague said in a tweet.
US Embassy The Hague✔@usembthehague
Travelers with a U.S. #visa or valid #ESTA who are outside the EU are not permitted to #transit Schengen Area airports on their way to the U.S. Transiting the #Schengen Area subjects travelers to travel restrictions regardless of where their journey began. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/presidential-proclamation-coronavirus.html …
See US Embassy The Hague's other Tweets
Other US Embassies in the EU countries reminded travellers on the proclamation as well.
The proclamation, which the US President Donal Trump signed on March 11, prohibits entry into the US of aliens who were physically present in any of the 26 Schengen Area countries within the two weeks preceding their entry or attempted entry into the US,
Exempt from the proclamation are only the US citizens, lawful permanent residents of the United States foreign diplomats travelling to the United States, and certain family members of US citizens or lawful permanent residents including; spouses, children (under the age of 21), parents (given that his/her US citizen or lawful permanent resident child is unmarried and under the age of 21. or lawful permanent resident are unmarried and under the age of 21).
“The United States Government is unable to effectively evaluate and monitor all of the travellers continuing to arrive from the Schengen Area. The potential for undetected transmission of the virus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States from the Schengen Area threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security,” President Trump said at the time of introducing the proclamation.
The proclamation had caused polemics among US and European diplomats, as the latter accused Trump of taking decisions “without any consolation” with the block prior to making the announcement on the ban. Yet, days later on March, the block then moved on to close its borders to all non-EU nationals
However, at the beginning of June, presenting the fifth proclamation barring entry into the US for foreign nationals who were physically present in Brazil within 14 days preceding their entry or attempted entry into the US, Trump told journalists that entry to the country would soon be possible for some travellers from Europe.
