Blue Code, 24-Hour PCR, 12-Hour Antigen: Updated U.S.-China Travel Rules

发布时间：Date: 2022-04-30 返回新鲜资讯Back to News

In response to the normalization of the pandemic in the U.S. and the difficulties international students face in returning to China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued new pre-departure testing requirements for travelers from the U.S. Effective April 22, 2022, the testing requirements are further tightened: the last PCR test must be taken within 24 hours before boarding, and an antigen test within 12 hours before boarding is now required. Additionally, a 'blue code' mechanism has been introduced for the health code. Airlines will check the blue code and the original antigen test report taken within 12 hours; the green code will generally no longer be issued. Testing requirements for those with a history of infection and for transit passengers have also been adjusted.

Presently, Chinese embassies and consulates in the U.S. have released detailed testing procedures and implementation rules for flights in their respective jurisdictions. To help students and parents accurately understand policy details and plan their return trips, CheersYou（清柚教育） will continue to follow up with detailed regional interpretations and guidance, assisting students in their safe return to China.

With the carnival of Coachella just winding down, the pandemic in the U.S. seems to have become the new normal.

However, daily new confirmed cases and repeated infections are like icebergs below the surface; even in an "information cocoon," they persist.

In this environment, one can imagine how difficult it is for international students in the U.S. to return to China. Following the UK, policy adjustments for travel to China have now reached the U.S.

As the pandemic situation both domestically and internationally shows no signs of improvement, with cases spiking in multiple regions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued new regulations. Effective April 22, 2022, a series of adjustments have been made to pre-departure testing for travelers from the U.S. to China.

The main adjustments include:

(1) For the pre-travel "dual PCR test" or "PCR plus antibody test," the last PCR test must be taken within 24 hours before boarding (changed from 48 hours), and an antigen test within 12 hours before boarding is now required.

(2) A "blue code" concept has been introduced; the "green code" will still exist. Starting from April 21 (inclusive), the U.S. Embassy will issue the "blue code" to passengers who submit qualified results and documents according to this notice. Airlines will begin checking the "blue code + original antigen test report within 12 hours" for passengers boarding on and after April 22, 2022. The embassy will generally no longer issue the "green code"; if a "green code" is obtained under special circumstances, it can still be used for boarding.

(3) Adjustments have been made to additional testing requirements for those with a history of infection and for transit passengers via the U.S.

Other requirements, such as the 7-day pre-departure location, PCR, serum IgM, pre-departure antigen testing based on the passenger's vaccination status, etc., remain unchanged.

Currently, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. (Dallas route), the Consulate General in New York (New York route), the Consulate General in San Francisco (San Francisco and Seattle routes), the Consulate General in Los Angeles (Los Angeles route), and the Consulate General in Chicago (Detroit route) have all published detailed information. There are slight regional differences in the details; CheersYou（清柚教育） will provide thorough explanations, hoping everyone can return to China smoothly!

Detailed Policies of Each U.S. Embassy/Consulate

Consulate General in New York

Route: China Eastern MU588, New York JFK - Shanghai (Fuzhou)

· Effective April 22, 2022 (boarding time), airlines must check the health code [Blue Code] and the antigen test report before boarding.

· The last PCR test must be taken within 24 hours before departure (practically, any time the day before departure).

· On the day of departure, a rapid antigen test must be taken at a designated testing site at New York JFK Airport.

· For recovered patients, X-ray/CT is no longer required. Only two PCR tests (with at least 24 hours interval) at a lab designated by the Consulate General in New York are needed. The self-health monitoring period has been extended to 6 weeks (starting from the date of receiving the recovery confirmation email), after which the same testing procedures as for normal passengers apply.

Testing Procedure

· 7 days before departure, take the first PCR test at a designated facility in the New York area.

· Within 2 days before departure, complete the second PCR test (for those fully vaccinated with inactivated vaccines) or a serum IgM antibody and N protein antibody test (for other groups) at a designated facility in the New York area.

· Within 1 day before departure, take the last PCR test at a designated facility in the New York area (for passengers fully vaccinated with inactivated vaccines, this testing site must be different from the one used for the second test).

· On the departure day, complete the antigen test at Terminal 1 of New York JFK Airport (results available in about 30 minutes).

Consulate General in Los Angeles

Routes:

Air China CA988, Los Angeles - Tianjin

Air China CA770, Los Angeles - Shenzhen

China Southern CZ328, Los Angeles - Guangzhou

Xiamen Airlines MF830, Los Angeles - Xiamen

· Effective April 22, 2022 (boarding time), airlines must check the health code [Blue Code] and the antigen test report before boarding.

· The last PCR test must be taken within 24 hours before departure (practically, any time the day before departure).

· For recovered patients, X-ray/CT is no longer required. Only two PCR tests (with at least 24 hours interval) at a lab designated by the Consulate General in Los Angeles are needed. The self-health monitoring period has been extended to 6 weeks (starting from the date of receiving the recovery confirmation email), after which the same testing procedures as for normal passengers apply.

Testing Procedure

· 7 days before departure, take the first PCR test at a designated facility in Los Angeles.

· Within 1 day before departure, take the last PCR test at a designated facility in Los Angeles (for passengers fully vaccinated with inactivated vaccines, this testing site must be different from the one used for the second test).

· On the departure day, depending on the flight time, go to a designated facility in Los Angeles for the antigen test.

Consulate General in Chicago

Routes:

Delta DL283, Detroit - Shanghai

Delta DL283, Chicago - Detroit - Shanghai

(Transit via Seoul is not allowed)

· Effective April 22, 2022 (boarding time), airlines must check the health code [Blue Code] and the antigen test report before boarding.

· The last PCR test must be taken within 24 hours before departure (practically, on the day of departure).

· For recovered patients, X-ray/CT is no longer required. Only two PCR tests (with at least 24 hours interval) at a lab designated by the Consulate General in Chicago are needed. The self-health monitoring period has been extended to 6 weeks (starting from the date of receiving the recovery confirmation email), after which the same testing procedures as for normal passengers apply.

Testing Procedure

· 7 days before departure, take the first PCR test at a designated facility in the Detroit or Chicago area.

· Within 1 day before departure, take the last PCR test at a designated facility in Detroit or Chicago (for passengers fully vaccinated with inactivated vaccines, this testing site must be different from the one used for the second test).

· On the departure day, after 11:00 AM Eastern Time, go to a designated facility in Detroit or Chicago for the antigen test.

Consulate General in San Francisco

Routes:

United Airlines UA857, San Francisco - Shanghai

Delta DL287, Seattle - Shanghai

1 San Francisco

· Effective April 22, 2022 (boarding time), airlines must check the health code [Blue Code] and the antigen test report before boarding.

· The "dual PCR dual test" or PCR plus serum IgM must be completed within 24 hours before departure (practically, any time the day before departure).

· TargetDx testing facility has been authorized for antigen testing.

· For recovered patients, X-ray/CT is no longer required. Only two PCR tests (with at least 24 hours interval) at any accredited lab are needed. The self-health monitoring period has been extended to 6 weeks (starting from the date of receiving the recovery confirmation email), after which the same testing procedures as for normal passengers apply.

Testing Procedure

· 7 days before departure, take the first PCR test at a designated facility in San Francisco.

· Within 1 day before departure, complete the "dual PCR dual test" (for those fully vaccinated with inactivated vaccines) or PCR plus serum IgM antibody and N protein antibody (for other groups) at a designated facility in San Francisco.

· The afternoon of the day before departure, go to a designated facility in San Francisco for the antigen test.

Seattle

· Effective April 22, 2022 (boarding time), airlines must check the health code [Blue Code] and the antigen test report before boarding.

· The "dual PCR dual test" or PCR plus serum IgM must be completed on the day of departure.

Testing Procedure

· 7 days before departure, take the first PCR test at a designated facility in Seattle.

· In the afternoon of the departure day, complete the antigen test at a designated [Antigen] testing facility in Seattle.

Embassy of China in the U.S.

Route:

American Airlines AA127, Dallas - Shanghai

· Effective April 22, 2022 (boarding time), airlines must check the health code [Blue Code] and the antigen test report before boarding.

· The last PCR test must be taken within 24 hours before departure (any time the day before departure).

· The antigen test time is adjusted to after 2:00 PM on the day before departure.

Testing Procedure

· 7 days before departure, take the first PCR test at a designated facility in Dallas.

· Within 1 day before departure, take the last PCR test at a designated facility in Dallas (for passengers fully vaccinated with inactivated vaccines, this testing site must be different from the one used for the second test).

After 2:00 PM on the day before departure, go to a designated facility in Dallas for the antigen test.

Health Code Application

How to Apply

Chinese citizens (including holders of Chinese passports, travel documents, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, and Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents): search "Health Code International Version" on WeChat or scan the QR code below to enter the WeChat mini-program for the international health code, fill in the information, submit, and apply for the health code.

Application Materials

1. Provide all test results according to your vaccination status (e.g., three PCR tests, or two PCR tests plus one antibody test, etc.).

2. Completed "Self-Health Monitoring Form".

3. Vaccinated individuals must provide proof of vaccination (such as the CDC vaccination card) and a completed "Vaccination Declaration Form".

4. Full official flight tickets or itinerary for travel to the U.S. and then to China.

5. Valid travel documents for travel to China and proof of legal residence in the U.S. (including visa, "green card", I-20 form, etc.).

Important Notes

1. Ensure that screenshots or scanned copies of the above materials are complete and legible.

2. You do not need to provide the rapid antigen test result when applying for the health code.

3. When obtaining the PCR test negative result on the 7th day before boarding, there is no need to upload it separately.

4. After obtaining the required PCR test results from the 7th day before boarding and the tests within 24 hours before boarding, please upload all materials at once as soon as possible to apply for the health code.

5. The embassy will still issue health codes after comprehensive review, so there may be cases in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Dallas where eligible applicants do not receive a health code.

Check-in Inspection

Passengers traveling to China must open and log in to the mini-program or webpage at the check-in counter to present the health code. Screenshots, printed versions, or other forms will not be accepted.

Both "blue code + original antigen test report within 12 hours" and "green code" are acceptable for boarding. Both paper and electronic versions of the antigen test report are accepted.

Policies may change at any time. Students returning to China soon should remember to check the official websites of the Chinese embassies and consulates in the U.S. to avoid travel disruptions due to policy changes. CheersYou（清柚教育） will also keep watching for updates!

In addition to the policy updates above, CheersYou（清柚教育） previously compiled a list of return routes for major airlines, including direct flights, stopover flights, and transit options, for students' reference.

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