January 4, 2010

U.S. HIV Travel Ban Ends Officially

On January 4, the United States ended its 22-year-old ban on HIV-positive foreigners entering the country, BBC News reports. President Barack Obama announced the policy change on October 30 of last year.

According to The Huffington Post, the first HIV-positive traveler to enter the United States since the official removal of the ban will be Clemens Ruland and his HIV-negative partner Hugo Bausch from the Netherlands. The men will arrive at JFK Airport in New York City this week.

Rachel Tiven, head of the campaign group Immigration Equality, told the BBC that the change was long overdue. “The 2012 World AIDS Conference, due to be held in the United States, was in jeopardy as a result of the restrictions,” Tiven said. “It’s now likely to go ahead as planned.”

Former president George W. Bush signed a law on July 30, 2008, eliminating travel restrictions on positive foreigners coming into America, but Congress was unable to put it into action before the Bush administration left office.

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Previous Comments:

jeanne, Los Angeles, 2010-02-20 22:14:12
You cannot decriminalize HIV/AIDS, think about it. Unfortunately, we have acquired it. Now its our responisibility to prevent it at all costs. Death is guaranteed to everyone, but we can improve lives by reducing transmission. AIDS/HIV doesn't have to affect the future generations. Be considerate, its a thought.

matcauf, Fortaleza, 2010-02-19 21:02:46
Well; having aplied for a visa waiver last year, which was denied because of the fact that I answered "yes" to the infamous question, I tjust tried again....and was AGAIN denied entry....probably because there was a discrepancy between the two applications....I refuse to submit myself to an interview at the US embassy in order to try to get access to that backwards country....I will go skiing in Europe....and spend money over there....at least I get in without a problem, even being HIV+

Saroj Bikram Rana, Kathmandu,Nepal, 2010-02-16 05:38:17
So we can attend the conference of IAS 2012 at Washington DC?But we need full scholarship because we do belong to poor country Nepal and do not know how to write abstracts or submit for scholarship.Is there any one to help or assist me to write abstract or apply for full scholarship so that I can land to my dream country and attend the IAS conference? HIV infected activist from poor country Nepal. Saroj Bikram Rana.

DarrenPardey, Southampton, 2010-01-07 18:45:02
This sounds very good news. I have been chatting to a New York girl for a while now, we are both positive but professional people. Does this lifted ban mean not only can i now visit the girl of my dreams but maybe also move there one day ??

IamStone, Mulberry AR., 2010-01-06 08:38:07
Its about time.I oftened wondered how the US could hold a world Aids conference when people who were poz werent allowed to come in to the US to attend it.Also I know several people from other countries that made themselves criminals for coming to the US and not letting anyone know.No one should be made to feel a criminal because of a health problem.I am glad the ban is no longer there.Let's hope it stays that way.

pegasusvancouver, Vancouver, Canada, 2010-01-05 20:41:22
As far as I know, this is for visitors only (ie. under 3 months). This is NOT about opening the floodgates to allow thousands of HIV positive people "on death's door" to "swamp" your "wonderful health care system", contrary to the rumours Republican fear-mongers were spreading. Finally, I can cross a border only 45 miles from my home to visit the U.S. without feeling like a criminal, a wanted man about to be permanently barred at a moment's notice. The U.S. just re-joined civilization.

dtn, Toronto, 2010-01-05 19:47:58
hey goingstrong09, check the link below for hiv travel restrictions. www.hivtravel.org some of the countries with restrictions are China, Cuba, Egypt, North Korea, Israel, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Iraq and Russia. I been to Lebanon, Spain, England for short term vist no problems at all.

goingstrong09, , 2010-01-05 16:59:23
Does this affect people immigrating to the US? And anybody know the namers of the countries banning travel or have a link to a website where I can find out?

Scott Hendrix, San Diego, CA, 2010-01-05 15:04:23
This is long overdue, HIV POZ people need to start demanding our rights back that have been taken away. We now need to work on decriminalizing HIV.

Rodney Little Mustache, Vancouver, 2010-01-05 11:56:07
FINALLY I do not have to fear Government impossed Stigma & Discrimination. No more shaking when crossing an imganinary border where being NATIVE I should Have NEVER feard crossing.

Mark Desjardins, Vancouver, B.C. Canada, 2010-01-05 11:31:37
This certainly is good news, however I beg to differ that the first two HIV positive visitors to the US are two men from Holland. The CBC News from Vancouver showed a HIV Poz man from Surrey, B.C. shopping in Blaine, Washington with a man dressed as a woman for a turkey on the six o'clock news, January 4, 2010. It was not clear if the cross dresser was from Blaine, but this certainly is a first!

Carl, New York City, 2010-01-05 09:15:48
Wow, one thing Bush did right!