How to find a Covid test to get back into the US?

In the ever-changing world affected by the Covid pandemic, health and safety regulation continue to change all the time. While this can be stressful for a regular citizen, frequent travelers are usually the group that is most affected on a day-to-day basis.

The fact that these changes can vary greatly from one country to another might be the biggest issue, especially for digital nomads who are used to visiting two or three countries in a very short time span.

What happens when travelers want to come back to the United States, where a Covid test is required? How can they find the appropriate facility in which they can perform these tests? Find the answers you are looking for in the text below.

Where to find the most current information?

Visiting new sites in order to find the appropriate information can not only be confusing but misleading as well. A difference between fresh information and the one that was present two days ago can be the difference between getting in the country with no issues or being forced to stay in quarantine.

Airline websites can be a surprising source of reliable information. Not only that you’ll be able to find info about the country you’re traveling to, but you will also have a chance to see all sorts of useful information that will keep you safe and healthy during your travels.

Among everything else, the best thing about the airline websites is that they normally also contain a list of available locations where passengers can take antigen and PCR tests ahead of their flight. Even if your airline of choice does not offer this info, take a look at some of their competitors, as this information should not be too hard to track down.

Where to perform F.D.A.-approved tests?

Certain countries such as Mexico allow for testing in high-end resorts, which greatly simplifies the whole process for travelers. However, what does this process looks like for those who are not as fortunate or simply find themselves in countries that do not accept such a policy?

The most important thing is to find facilities that conduct F.D.A.-approved tests. While it might be tricky to find these facilities, based on the country you find yourself in, there are always several available options you can turn to. Experiences of other travelers can help with this greatly, as forums might be a good place to start your search. Still, if you want to find trusted information, you have other, more important places you can turn to. More on that below.

Find a United States embassy for trusted information

In case you need to get 100% reliable info, there is no better source than an embassy. Unfortunately, we are very much aware of just how difficult it can be to get any answers back from the embassy quickly, as they can be overwhelmed with many requests.

As always, you will probably get your answers quicker if you try to use the website, but in case you have any additional questions, you can contact them by finding a phone number on the website or through email. Naturally, this can take quite a while, so it’s best to prepare in advance. Still, more on that in the next section.

Do not wait for the last minute to book your test

Whichever way you choose for testing, be sure to act on time and schedule your test a few days in advance. You can usually do that by calling in, or setting up your appointment over the website. In certain situations, hotels and resorts also have dedicated members of staff who would be willing to help you with this task.

Just know that the price of testing may also vary greatly depending on the location you find yourself in. Certain countries offer PCR testing for free for travelers, while others charge up to $100 per test. The cost of antigen testing is usually cheaper in comparison, also the quality of results may also vary, so make sure to choose the test that you’re most comfortable with.