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I asked before whether UK citizen can enter after 15-day stopover in Bermuda and the answer seemed to be "yes." I have some critical new information that I believe justified a follow-up question.

I just spoke with the US government (US Citizens Crisis Assistance from travel.state.gov) and someone there told me this is not possible, that only US citizens and lawful permanent residents are allowed to enter the US, even after having been out for 14 days.

But the government website seems pretty clear:

foreign nationals who have been in any of the following countries during the past 14 days may not enter the United States

It does not say anything about foreign nationals who have not been in those countries during the past 14 days. Surely it would be easier for them to just say "no foreign nationals, at all"? Why enumerate the 14 day rule if the reality is different?

I have received contradictory information and was wondering if anyone here could help clear it up.

Maybe there is confusion on their end between the "no new visas" and the "no foreigners who've been in Europe/China/Iran/Brazil in past 14 days" rules? The UK citizen in question is not attempting to permanently immigrate for any reason–and already has an ESTA from September 2019 (valid for 2yrs).

Edit I think this question is just different enough due to how interesting it is that I was told seemingly contradictory information to many official online US government sources. The old question was already edited and full of comments. I apologize to anyone whose time I may have wasted.

Second edit I re-worded the question to stress that my question is about the contradiction between advice received from the US State Department Crisis Hotline (+1(202) 501-4444) and official advice. Please, stop trying to close this question as there is still lively truth-seeking going on.

Final edit I called Customs and Border Protection and they said the 14-day rule is the law. They also said they have no idea why the state department said what they did.

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I have no idea why the Department of State gave you that answer, but you were asking the wrong people. It's rather as though you called your local fire department's fire safety inspector to find out whether you can get a license from the health department to operate a fruit stand. They really shouldn't have given you any answer at all:

  1. The office of US Citizens' Crisis Assistance is not concerned with entry requirements. Its job to help US citizens, but the question you're trying to answer concerns only people who are not US citizens.

  2. The Department of State does not operate immigration control at ports of entry; that is the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security. While the State Department does issue visas, its employees are not necessarily trained on the terms of the Visa Waiver Program, and even for travelers with visas the final decision lies with Customs and Border Protection, an agency of DHS.

Try calling an office of Customs and Border Protection. They are the ones who actually decide whether someone can enter the US. Their contact page links to a map allowing you to locate ports of entry by state.

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The ESTA FAQ seems to confirm that after a stay of 14 days in Bermuda ('United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe,'), a holder of a valid ESTA may enter the United States.

What if I am a passport holder of a Schengen country with a valid ESTA but I have not been present in a Schengen country within 14 days of my travel to the United States?
Travelers are subject to the Proclamation if they were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry to the United States. This prohibition necessarily includes direct travel from, and transit through, the Schengen Area within the 14 day period.

If you have not been in the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding entry, and you are not departing from or transiting through the Schengen Area during your travel to the United States, then you are not subject to the Proclamation.

What if I am a British Citizen (GBR) and/or an Irish passport holder with a valid ESTA but I have not been present in a Schengen country within 14 days of my travel to the United States?
Travelers are now subject to the March 14, 2020 Proclamation if they were physically present within the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe, or the Republic of Ireland during the 14-day period preceding their entry to the United States. This prohibition necessarily includes direct travel from, and transit through, the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe, or the Republic of Ireland within the 14 day period.

If you have not been in the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe, or the Republic of Ireland during the 14-day period preceding entry, and you are not departing from or transiting through the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe, or the Republic of Ireland during your travel to the United States, then you are not subject to the March 14, 2020 Proclamation. However, you may be subject to Proclamation 9993 applicable to the Schengen Area if you have been physically present in the Schengen Area within 14 days of travel to the United States.

Sources:

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I am almost certainly sure that the US Citizens Distress Hotline was confused, either with the question you asked or were unsure of the information themselves.

The US Government page clearly states traveling from these countries is possible after not being there for 14 days:

After arriving to the United States from one of these countries, CDC recommends that travelers stay home and monitor their health for 14 days.

This clearly shows that passengers who have been in these countries (more than 14 days ago) are still allowed.

I have a feeling that the US Citizens Distress Hotline was confused with the rules for people who are exempt from this 14-day rule. The exemptions are published under section 2 here.

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  • Just called again and they doubled down
    – Derek Fulton
    Commented Jun 22, 2020 at 15:32
  • @DerekFulton very strange, did you tell them about the document I linked to?
    – Xnero
    Commented Jun 22, 2020 at 15:33
  • Yes. They told me that the March proclamation (whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/…) allows for the 15-day Caribbean plan, but that there was an additional proclamation (whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/…) which bans entry of aliens entirely, and was apparently extended over the weekend to July 21.
    – Derek Fulton
    Commented Jun 22, 2020 at 15:48
  • @DerekFulton see my updated answer
    – Xnero
    Commented Jun 22, 2020 at 15:55
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    I don't think this April 22, 2020 proclamation is relevant to OP's question, nor does it disallow most alien entry. The key phrase as immigrants in section 1 means that this proclamation only applies to people trying to immigrate to the US. I think OP is not asking about immigrating, but entering as a tourist or other short-term non-immigrant category.
    – krubo
    Commented Jun 22, 2020 at 16:51

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