EHAS Update 120v72 - Your Mileage May Vary...

Hello, all!

I thought I would repay the advice / kindness received here (at least a little.)

We are in the US and heading down this weekend. I have been following the discussion on the 120 hours versus 72 hours (from the US / Canada) with stressed interest. Since I am fortunate and have access to quick and inexpensive COVID testing, I thought I would test the 120 hour window (not to mention I have at least a half-dozen e-mail addresses I can play with in case I was denied.) I submitted in the 95-100 hour window.

Tested this morning, completed the form, uploaded the test results to the EHAS website, paid my $30 dollars and hit submit. I uploaded around 12:06CST. I received the "Authorization Pre-Approved" at 13:20CST. The approval has my departure date, airline info, name and passport info.. There is no information on the form indicating test date, etc.. One less thing to worry about now (thank the gods!)

Your experience may be different (insert additional disclaimers here.)

I will be testing again within the 72 hour window in the off chance my residence manager on the French side requests the 72 hour documentation.

Warmly,
S&M

OK, hopefully you are good to go then.

Interesting, as I was just told within an hour ago that the 72 hour window would apply for departure dates after 2-12-21...

@Southbound: I do not know what to tell you, other than I do I have a nice green Pre-Authorization letter in hand. Perhaps when they say 12-Feb-2021, they actually mean flights on 13-Feb-2021? I agree, it is very confusing. Ultimately, I have to believe that the person approving my application knows what he/she is doing with respect to the rules. Nothing on the Authorization form indicates when I submitted the application, the date of my covid tests or even when the authorization was approved.

Warmly,
S&M

Good luck and thanks for the update.

Southbound; St Maarten Government exempted USA and Canada from 72 hour rule for testing prior to coming to SXM . They reverted back to the 120 hour rule that has been the case for some time now. In USA it is difficult to get tested and apply within 72 hours and the Government in St Maarten took that into consideration when applying the amended rules.

Would love to see that in exact wording on an official document from an official.

I just received something from the airline (AA) tonight indicating the test needs to be within 72 hours of the connecting flight. I wish 120 hours was the case, but it is not what I am seeing. I also received an email from someone (based on email I sent from the government site) saying 72 hours is the standard post 2/13.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news here, but I scheduled mine Wednesday for a Saturday flight. Crossing fingers--this is a mess!

The government clearly needs to fix communication, but I'm sure many of us are shrugging it off to "the way things happen in the islands". Unfortunately, the island needs tourists and the government is not doing what they need to communicate (or negotiate) what people need to fell comfortable to travel to the island.

Thanks for all the updates from those in the know on here.....

Good luck. You are spot on with your assessment.

For now I guess it's 72 hours. I just received the following email I response to my questions.

Good morning,

I agree with you, Mrs. Arrindell did answer according to what was given us. But there is a discrepancy that we are trying to get fixed. But until now it have not. So I will suggest for now going with what is on the St. Maarten entry website. Reduced from 120 to 72 hours.

Best regards,

William Bell
Promotional Officer
St. Maarten Tourism Bureau
Krippa Commercial Building 2
6 Juancho Yrausquin Blvd
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Tel.: +1 721 549 0200





-----Original Message-----
From: info=stmaartenupdates.com@wpdatacenter.com <info=stmaartenupdates.com@wpdatacenter.com> On Behalf Of George Watson
Sent: Monday, February 8, 2021 5:49 PM
To: EHAS <EHAS@sintmaartengov.org>
Subject: SXM Tourism Contact Form Inquiry

From: George Watson


Message Body:
I am so confused. The EHAS Travel Requirements paragraph 5 say the Time for a negative PCR test is being reduced for 120 to 72 hours as of Feb. 12. Yet Claudia Arrindell of the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau is saying that travels from the US will be exempt from this change and that a negative test 120 hour out will continue to be acceptable for travelers from the US. Which is it? Please let me know ASAP!

--

Right now the BIGGEST threat and deterrent to tourism is NOT Covid, it is the ineptness of the SXM government and their inconsistent and haphazard approach to tourists wanting to come.



This has gone on from day one of the island opening back up to visitors. We are a good 2 weeks into the latest "discrepancy".

JD, you are absolutely correct.

Having just checked the PJIA website, there is another source of conflicting information.

To all those going this weekend, best wishes. Sint Maarten needs to get their sh*t straight. This is ridiculous.

Yup...lot's of best wishes deserved. I can see getting approved via EHAS (120 hours) and having the airline say you can board"72 hours"). Gasp!

Our group of 6 is scheduled to depart on Saturday. We got tested yesterday (5 days out), for free at the Baltimore County testing site. We received our results early this morning. We submitted our applications online this morning and all 6 of us have been pre-approved. We received our responses within an hour.
I still don't trust the 5 day versus 3 day situation, so we are being tested again tomorrow just to be safe.
Our test results just had a date on the report, they did not have a specific time.
Scott

I thought about the airline as well, noting that I did not get approval in November until I was at the airport and not that long from needing to board. My thought is you either have approval or don't, I would like to think that the approval forms would make the difference but I do remember AA looking at the dates listed. So not only are you depending upon SXM to get the info to us correctly but they need to get it to the airlines as well. I still fully expect it to be the 120 hours.
Cheers and good luck,
Todd

The fact that you received approvals makes one believe that the 120 hours is in play. But who really knows?? Probably smart to get tested again, but sadly not everyone has that ability.

I'm scheduled to travel to our island on Saturday morning. I got tested on Monday afternoon. Got the results at 19:44 EST on Tuesday.

Submitted my results to EHAS at 20:08 EST. Received approval within three minutes.

Next step for me... In the event that the airline has conflicting information regarding travel requirements with respect to flights to SXM, I intend to travel with <72 hour negative test results.

See you on the island...

FYI - the EHAS page has finally been updated that now clearly defines the 120 hour window for US/Canadian travelers.

👍

so will you get tested again before your saturday travel?...if not, you will not be travelling with "<72 hour negative test results"

the clock starts when the test is given, not when you get the results back...so unless you get tested again, you will be travelling with 100+ hour results

cutting it close, but depending on your test date/time and actual flight time, still possibly within the 120 hour window

Well, it won’t be needed after all. I just got an email from United stating that the test window is 120 hours.


Destination: St. Maarten
Test type: Molecular: PCR or Antigen/AG
Timing: Test results must be dated no earlier than 120 hours before your departure from Washington (IAD) to St. Maarten (SXM)

Based on your itinerary, your test results must be dated no earlier than February 08, 2021.

Other information that may be required before boarding or entry:

Complete Sint Maarten's Electronic Health Authorization at least 12 hours before departure at https://stmaartenehas.com/.

This continues with more detail, shortened for brevity’s sake.

Kudos to UA for doing that

Hope all airlines follow suit with this in notifying passengers prior to their flights.

The only thing is that this information isn't completely accurate. The antigen test must be performed within 48 hours of flight, not 120. Only the rt-PCR test is allowed in the 120-hour timeframe. And it's the test, not the results, that must be dated within that timeframe.

Correct. 48 for Antigen test but at least the info is getting out there.

Here's the rest of the email message:

If health authorization is approved, you will receive an authorization via e-mail, which must be printed and displayed during check-in and presented to the health and immigration authorities upon arrival. Travelers with an Antigen test based on a nasal swab, must have a negative COVID-19 result issued at most 48 hours before departure of the flight to St. Maarten. The Antigen test must be Abbott Panbio COVID-19, Becton Dickinson Veritor Plus or Roche/SD Biosensor F only, no other Antigen tests are accepted. A COVID-19 test is not required of any customer under the age of 10. Nationals and Resident of St. Maarten are permitted to travel without a negative test and are subject to a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival at their own expense

American Airlines just updated their website to reflect the latest change. Of course, I already went this morning to get my 2nd covid test. Even though i am already approved, I want to make sure I have a test within 72 hours.
We are lucky, the process to schedule an appointment and the efficiency of the staff at the Baltimore County sites made the testing a breeze (and it is free).

Glad you were able to be accommodated. Testing in my area was $139. Hope you have a good trip.