TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Exit testing

Well, it's almost time to depart. We fly out at noon Monday. Do we count back 3 days or 72 hours for our test? Help!

3 calendar days, which can be OVER 72 hours..

Ok, that's a relief, because someone had made a comment about counting back 72 hours to fly in to San Juan, but I didn't hear about it anywhere else!
Thank you

it isnt hours based coming or going back to US...

Has anyone tried the Lucira Self test to re-enter USVI?

Careful most countries are asking for the PCR test which is definitely not rapid and unless you are on video while doing it not acceptable for entry.

Anyone have any experience with this self-test product from Abbott/United?

https://hub.united.com/2021-05-12-u...s-with-home-testing-kits-2652963699.html

The BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Home Test looks promising. Meets CDC guidelines for international arrivals.

Article here

Yes it does. But this should not be confused with the BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen SELF TEST, which is sold at CVS and Walgreens OTC. They had to put a correction at the bottom of the page. When that article was initially published, even the author confused the two.

I’m two months past my second shot, and yesterday I had an antibody test done at a CVS. I got my positive result in 10 minutes, and I will be using that result to enter the USVI in June when on my way to Tortola and when I return after my charter. US/USVI entry requirements accept a positive antibody test that is up to four months old. I’m hoping the BVI starts accepting that too.

I went to get mine test done at CVS last night, but they could not log in to their system. I am returning tonight. I donated blood last week and they testing for Covid antibodies and I am positive, but OneBlood was not able to give me proper results on paper. Does the CVS results have the proper documentation to be used for re-entry?

They gave me a paper report like you would get from your doctor for an annual physical with the test date, specific antibodies tested for, batch number, etc. They also send an email prompting you to set up a CVS-specific MyChart account, and the results are there. I’m in touch with someone on Tortola to verify that the BVI authorities will recognize the USVI’s acceptance of a positive antibody test rather than requiring an exit PCR to get on the ferry to St. Thomas. I’ll post on here when I get that clarification.

There is no question that the USVI accepts the antibody test: https://usvitravelportal.com/

The BVI does not have any exit test requirements. You will only need to show your USVI Travel Portal certification. See the departure steps attached...

Thank you, Jason!

Thanks for the updates!!!

Thanks Tom,

I had not heard that. So if you have a positive titer and document from provider, the 3 day test prior to departure in the bvi is unnecessary to board at EIS and enter SAn Juan for flight home? Or is that just USVI ?

Just USVI. PR requires negative COVID-19 molecular-based test.

USVI also allows the test 5 days in advance if you are traveling by sea.

Sorry, but now I am confused. Are you saying that a positive antibody test will allow one into USVI, AND THEREFORE NO NEGATIVE pcr REQUIRED to board plane home to continental US? Also, any rumors re: adding more than one ferry a day to St Thomas?

That is correct. Here is the language from the USVI Portal:

Travelers are required to provide evidence of:


a COVID-19 molecular (e.g., RT-PCR, viral or nucleic acid amplification) test from a nasal or throat or saliva swab sample taken and NEGATIVE result received (both within five days of commencement of travel to the Territory)

OR

a COVID-19 antigen (rapid) test from a nasal or throat swab sample taken and NEGATIVE result received (both within five days of commencement of travel to the Territory)

OR

a COVID-19 antibody (rapid) finger stick or blood draw test taken and POSITIVE result received (both within four months of commencement of travel to the Territory)

That’s consistency in government I’m used to.:) Thanks Jason. I chose SJU cause did not like the few ferry’s, though generally come via STT and ferry last several years.

So not sure why positive titer works for a 40 minute ferry ride and doesn’t for a 40 min plane ride..but tis what it is.
Given current delays in testing how confident would you be in this working out well for the exit testing when it’s likely much higher numbers are involved in using the same time intensive testing for more people arriving. There will be lots of kids cause school is out and they are exempt from quarantine but testing day 4. And if plan is successful there will be a lot more seeking exit tests.

They have not been terribly punctual to this point with very little tourism. It’s terribly important those 3 day going home tests can be counted on if tourists increase in number. The health minister talked about moving to a quick test . That did not gain traction as I think it should. I don’t know the situation today in the lab, but from delayed results I’d guess not good. What is confidence in this working with pcr testing for 3 or 4 times current level of tourism. Under typical Junes with lots of families but much much greater than current testing.

It's two different regulatory bodies that don't bother to talk to each other.

Tom - it is my understanding that you may use the positive antibody test to return to USVI from BVI by sea but that the CDC is still requiring all air travel arrivals from foreign countries to have a negative COVID test. STT is the first port of entry from EIS so you need the 3 day Covid test if arriving by air carrier. We are returning by ferry so plan to use our positive antibody test for entry from BVI.

Yes, that’s my situation too: BVI to USVI via ferry, then on to US mainland via air. Based on Jason’s and others’ posts, there are different rules for air travel, though I don’t understand why.

When traveling from the USVI to the US there are actually no rules or covid requirements. If you are coming from the BVI then you comply with the USVI entry rules. Once you arrive in the USVI you can stay as long as you like before going home and no additional testing is required. The current rule is a test within 5 days of travel for USVI entry. There is I heard a rumor talk of eliminating that test if your vaccinated but nothing released.

The USVI Portal requirements that I quoted above do not make a distinction between arrival by air or sea, so it looks to me that the antibody test will suffice for arriving from the mainland by air. Of course, if you’re going on to the BVI via ferry as I am, you’ll still need the PCR test to enter there.

Just be careful as the USVI requirements reference the CDC requirements if you arrive in the USVI by air from a foreign country.

Has anyone tried the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Home Test to exit BVI to USVI?
I tried one yesterday and it was pretty easy to do.

I just spoke to someone at the USVI Dept. of Tourism. They told me that they do accept a positive antibody test for entry via ferry from the BVI. Great news! The only caveat they mentioned is if the BVI requires an exit test irrespective of your destination's requirements. Anyone wishing to confirm can call them at 1-800-372-8784. It is my understanding that all the BVI requires is proof of entry clerance from the USVI portal. I got a busy signal the first couple of tries, but when it rang through they immediately answered.

The BVI does not require any "Exit Test".

Yes, I’m aware of that, I was simply stating what they said.

Like there aren't enough hoops to jump through, some people want to invent more.

Is it just me or is the US being totally clueless. You can get “guidance” from the cdc for any country you choose to go to. The bvi to their credit has one of the lowest incidents in the world. The same cdc said that vaccinated people can skip masks in the entire country. This is not a political statement at all. It’s a travel requirement that does not match with health concerns.

The cdc tells the government to not allow entry from India or other countries with high incidence of Covid. Why do they need to require pre testing via pcr for citizens that are vaccinated or children ineligible for vaccination that all have been tested multiple times in a two week or so period while vacationing in a country they know to have an exceedingly low incidence of Covid.

Doubly stupid,why do they not accept positive titer as proof of safe traverse back to their country where they were vaccinated and the incidence is low and dropping.

I asked a friend involved in all this why they are not waiving the test requirement if vaccinated. The answer was politics. Be aware however that there is no requirement to be tested to fly from the USVI to the US. The test requirements are local USVI rules for entry into the territory. If tomorrow the US agrees to no test for vaccinated travelers the USVI rules still apply. I am hoping since the USVI already allows antibody positive people to enter without testing they may change their policy to allow vaccinated travelers also.