Self declaration for recently cured covid patient -Traveling from India to USA
I was recently diagnosed with covid and plan to travel a few weeks from now from India to the US once I recover. I am on a student visa.
I was under the impression that I am allowed to travel after recovering from covid, but the self declaration form to get into the airport asks to certify that I have not tested positive for covid in the last 2 months.
Is there a separate form to be filled out for passengers that recently recovered from covid?
EDIT: I received the attached form on calling the Airport authority of India's helpline number and informing them that I was positive. Strangely I was asked to fill out a form attesting that I had not tested positive for the last 2 months, prompting this SE post.
Best Answer
I think the AAI helpdesk person made a mistake in recommending this form.
This is the form that was originally supposed to be filled by people who wished to take a domestic flight within India and who did not have Aarogya Setu app (India's contact tracing app) installed on their phones or did not own a smartphone. Source. The form was introduced in May 2020 when domestic flights were restarted after a gap of 2 months.
The app status/form was checked at terminal entrance by airport staff and may be by the check-in staff. At end of Jun 2020, government amended the form to reduce the timeframe of recovery to three weeks
As per earlier norms issued on May 21 passengers had to submit a declaration that they have not tested positive for Covid-19 in last two months. This clause has now been changed to three weeks. "Covid-19 recovered persons fulfilling this condition will be allowed to travel upon showing a Covid-19 recovered/discharged certificate from any institution dealing with Covid-19 subject," joint secretary Usha Padhee said in an office memorandum today
Also see this news report
Surprisingly, I cannot find the updated form anywhere.
The enforcement of this particular directive has been patchy at best. When I flew out of Mumbai (domestic) in Oct 2020 no one asked for the app/form but they checked the app in Apr 2021 (India's second wave was just starting). The check was at terminal entrance and not at bag drop desk. There were no checks in October 2021 either. Now with Omicron concerns, they may start enforcing this rule again.
In your case, I would recommend installing Aarogya Setu app just to be safe. You will be allowed access to terminal without this form in that case (If your status is green). The airlines will be more concerned if you fulfill US entry conditions. You can review US CDC website which has clear instructions on what conditions you must fulfill. They explain what is needed if you have recently recovered from Covid.
I would recommend you carry the doctor's report certifying your recovery to show it to airlines/ground staff if they ask.
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