Question
I am HIV positive, can I travel to the USA?
30 April 2012. Related: All topics, Travel.
Hi – I have two questions:
1. Can I travel to the USA if I am positive? If so, must I tell the airport authorities what my drugs are if they stop me? If so, will this be noted on my record anywhere? Or passport?
2. I normally take my meds at 8am (UK time). How do I change the time and to what now that I am going to the USA? I will be 5 hours behind which means I would need to take them at 3am which isn’t practical.
Answer
Hello,
Thank-you for your question.
There are no travel restrictions for HIV positive people traveling to the USA. All American travel restrictions relating to HIV status were lifted in January 2010.
Customs regulations require people entering with prescription medication like antiretroviral drugs to carry a doctor’s certificate in English, stating that the drugs are required to treat a personal condition. This requirement applies to all prescription drugs, not just HIV treatment.
Medication should always be carried in hand luggage, as checked luggage may be delayed or get lost. If you are carrying-on liquid medication exceeding 3 ounces / 100 ml, you must declare it at the checkpoint for inspection.
As for what time to take your medication, this really depends on which ARVs you are taking. For answers to similar questions please follow the links below:
I’m moving from Asia to Europe- when do I take my meds?
Can I occasionally stretch my atazanavir dose to 32 hours?
How do I time my meds when travelling?
Hi Lisa, I’m travel to Miami, and I will thinking put my medicine in the check in baggage, but I have fear that they stop me and ask about the medicine in front of my family, and I don’t know what to do…
Hi Antonio.
Where is it that you’re traveling to? Are you traveling by air? Will your meds be in your hand luggage or in your check in baggage? Being quizzed about medication will only be an issue if you’re stopped and your baggage is checked. As to how this will be done, or if it will be done, I can’t say.
Hi I have a question, I’m traveling with my family and they don’t know about my condition, when you pass with the authorities they exposes you with all the people that go with you? Or it’s more private??
Hi Eunice,
It’s a good idea to take enough ARVs with you for your entire stay.
As Rececca says above, customs regulations require people entering with prescription medication like ARVs to carry a doctor’s certificate in English. This should state that the drugs are required to treat a personal condition. This requirement applies to all prescription drugs, not just HIV treatment.
Hi I will be visiting USA for 8 months and am on arvs am I allowed to carry enough drugs to last me for my entire stay?And if so will it be written in my passport?
Hi John,
There are no restrictions on taking antiretrovirals into Australia. Please see this page on HIV travel.
Can you get a note from your doctor about the meds too?
hi may i know is there any restrictions bring antiretroviral to melbourne? i heard the airports were so mean to anything that us bring.
Hi Libanga,
Have you tried the community forums at poz.com. They have free registration and many thousands of international users.
Hello how can I make a friend who is also hiv positive in the USA
Hi Thiru,
You can check with the American Embassy in your country. Do you live in India? Here’s a link to the US Embassy in New Delhi.