TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands supervised rapid antigen test

What do you mean wrong? There are still lots of categories of people who need to test.

Unless Delta is flying you to Beef Island somehow, they have no obligation to check you. Either the ferry or airline bringing you to the BVI is required to confirm you have been tested and vaccinated.

I have flown American from the US to STT 3 times since last April. Never asked for test results. As mentioned they check in STT after you deplane.
G

If you have a through ticket to the BVI, can't the airline ask for your test results? I have seen a lot of itineraries going through STT connecting to the BVI on Cape Air.

Somewhere along the path, someone is going to ask so be prepared to show it. Lots of confusion out there among the gate agents about rules.

When I flew thru SJU at the end of September, I was the first person to let the Cape Air ticket counter agent know that the gateway requirement was going away in 2 days and they would have to start confirming vaccination status.

So they hold you after deplaning in STT to check that everyone has test paperwork?
I will certainly get tested beforehand but this 48 hr window seems like it is asking for problems. Especially with airline delays, now going into the holiday and winter weather! What happens if you are delayed at the airport due to a snowstorm or something and your test expires? Bring extra Emed tests and test in the airport? UGH!

I think somewhere I missed a rule change. I keep seeing reference to a 48 hour test requirement for flying into STT. Is this a actual change?

Read the article posted above. It calls out that in the event of a delay and your test is over 48 hours old, they will retest you at your port of entry to the BVI ($50).

They actually are just looking for your Green QR code from the USVI Travel Portal. In order to get that, you will have already uploaded your test results.

This thread seems to be confusing entry into STT and entry into BVI.

It's also important to realize that the rules for entry into STT differ depending on whether your travel is domestic (i.e., from the "mainland" U.S.) of from a foreign country (i.e., from the BVI).

For fully vaccinated travelers . .

Entry to STT from "mainland" U.S. - Test within 5 days of travel
Entry to BVI (as of this week) - Test within 48 hours of travel
Re-entry to STT from BVI - Test within 5 days if traveling by boat, test within 3 days if traveling by air.

Wait, I need to fill out the USVI travel portal when arriving from mainland US into the STT airport? I thought we only did that when we are in the BVI looking to get back into the US. Head. Spinning.

That is correct.

This is the "pop-up" banner at the USVIUpdate.com site - a good summary of the USVI requirements.

Yes, the USVI requires a portal approval every time you arrive in the USVI. It has nothing to do with the BVI.

Is there a minimum time ahead of your trip you need to apply? Just worried about getting our 48hr test and getting USVI approval all on Christmas eve.

I am still lost on this 48 hour test. Can you clarify what that is? If you are fully vaccinated both the USVI and BVI only require a test 5 days prior.

The BVI test changed from 5 days to 48 hours.

BVI changed their regulation this week.

If fully vaccinated, in order to enter the BVI (without any further testing) you must present results from a test not older than 48 hours from when you enter. If your test is older, you must take (and pay for) a Rapid Test upon entry.

Ok, there is however still no requirement to test 48 hours prior so not sure what the panic is. Just take the rapid test on arrival.

I'm not really sure that's true. There is a grace period to allow people who had already tested or scheduled a test in preparation for their travel in the next 5 days.

It's unclear if that exception will remain or if 48 is the new rule. According to the Gazetted statutory instrument with is the official rule, the verbiage for timing is only 48 hours. The 5 days verbiage has been removed.
------------------
The COVID-19 Control and Suppression (Entry of Persons) (No. 3)
Regulations, 2021 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Regulations) is amended
in regulation 5(2)(a) by deleting the words “five days” and substituting with the
words “forty-eight hours”.

Is there a link to the new rule? I have been using BVI.gov. Here is what it says.
Each vaccinated traveller must provide:

· results of a negative PCR test or antigen rapid test no older than five (5) days;

· proof of vaccination (card or otherwise);

· travel insurance (visitors) which includes minimum approved coverage for:

o COVID-19 medical costs including hospitalisation, doctor’s visit and prescriptions

o medical repatriation

o quarantine accommodation costs

As I posted 11/16/2021 12:50 PM.

COVID-19 CONTROL AND SUPPRESSION (ENTRY OF PERSONS)
(NO. 3) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 5) REGULATIONS, 2021

I brought the rapid tests down with me..but didnt check the expiration date! With the help of my great pals at The Sugar Mill yesterday we tried to hook up for the test only to find out the kits were two months out of date! Andrea, the manager actually called a lady Dr who met me in the parking lot of Mulligan's to do the test. Looked like a drug deal going down! But what service. Check those dates!!

Mal - those tests have an automatic 3 months extension. Did you try to use them and were told no?

The rapid antigen test is not available in my area. Reading the rules unvaccinated can still test 5 days prior and test on arrival. Vaccinated must test 48 hours prior. I think they will still allow vaccinated to test 5 days out and test on arrival. Anyone know for sure? As written the rule makes no sense.
G

I just checked our Binax tests and they were expired before they were sent to us... expiry 9/22/21.

If it can be confirmed that they are still usable that would be important info.

All were automatically extended 3 months. Somewhere on their website is a place to get an exact answer based on the lot number.

Look here for your lot number and new expiration date.

When I searched it looks like the extension is now 6 months. Relieved!

https://tdem.texas.gov/k-12testing/

It just would not let us log on and then we noticed the date on the box..just completed my USVI portal with help from Sugar Mill Rupert. Had to do that a couple of times because if you tick the last box it wipes out your submitted tests! Think we finally got it right..Take me back to the days of travel with a passport and credit card!!

If I were travelling fully vaccinated and tested 48 hrs before travel, can I assume that I also do not need to register on the Hummingbird site?

correct.

The expiration issue is confusing…when we did our tests earlier this month my box wouldn’t scan. The instructions said to use the test anyway. So there was never a barcode that indicated when my test expired.

it's printed on the label next to a little symbol of an hour glass

Yes, it just errored off every time I tried to scan it. The instructions said if you couldn’t get the scan to work to go ahead and take the test through eMed.

With the new rules, I think I still need two tests. We are arriving at STT on Friday 12/3, and staying the night on STT. We will take the ferry on Sat morning to Roadtown. So if I try to take one test to cover both USVI and BVI, I can only take the test after 12:00(noon) on Thursday. I would get my results on Thursday and submit to the USVI portal, to fly early Fri morning. I think that is too tight to get my approval from USVI portal. It might happen, but would not be good to head to the airport without it. I think I need to test 5 days prior to USVI arrival and then just take the entry test in Roadtown when I get off the ferry. What do you think?
I could also do a second Binax test when I get to STT.

Thanks for all the great information as I engage again to get back down 12/11...I didn't realize the requirement changed and did the Hummingbird (we are vaccinated). DCA to SJU to EIS

Quick question-Can I get the emed 6 pack and use it for 4 people for reentry to US? I know the answer is on this site somewhere but wanted to get the latest.

Thanks in advance my friends

USVI Department of Tourism has confirmed the acceptability of the Abbott BinaxNOW Covid-19 Ag At-Home Test Kit with telehealth provided by eMed Labs LLC.

We've had quite a few reports of this test being accepted but this is as close as I have come to an official pronouncement.

We will be staying in St. Thomas for two days before heading to the BVI so we will have a chance to test this out and I will update should I learn anything new or different in the process (still a few weeks off).

If you are vaccinated and have a negative test result within 48 hours of arrival, you would not need to use the BVI Hummingbird Portal as you will not need a rapid test upon arrival in the BVI.

My thought at this point is to just have the hummingbird portal as a backup if I cant get results in 48 hours...

Bailau - we are testing it out next week…..stay tuned.

Cool...will follow your lead and have a great time