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Original poster

Travel to USA, has anyone managed it this year?

15 replies

Mindgone · 16/08/2021 20:34

We have annual leave booked, and would love to travel to America for DH to see his mum and sister, neither of whom we have seen in the last 18 months. They can’t come here. Has anyone managed to get there this year, and if so, how?

OP posts:
Theoscargoesto · 16/08/2021 20:41

Watching with interest. My DD is out there, I really want to see her. As I understand it, I am allowed to go to the USA by our government, but the USA won’t let me in. I’m led to believe there are exceptions in life or death circumstances (not applicable in my case thank goodness) but otherwise it isn’t possible. To be told otherwise would be great!!

DoubleNegativePanda · 16/08/2021 20:49

I'm not exactly who you are asking, because I am already in the states. If you absolutely must, I think it depends on where you want to go in the US. If it's anywhere in the south, I'd avoid it.

We live in Texas and it's an absolute dumpster fire. Based on our numbers, we should be Stage 5 and in lockdown, but our Govorner signed a bill barring any mask, distance or lockdown mandates last month. The hospitals are stuffed full, there are less than 15 ICU beds for a combined 12 counties in my area. No one is taking Covid seriously, despite the fact that they are putting up tents in hospital parking lots to house covid patients.

The south is very, very bad and because Delta spreads so easily and so quickly, it's moving north. My honest opinion: don't come here. So many of us are willfully ignorant that it's actually dangerous to breathe our air at this point. A visit is not worth it.

DesperateForSun · 16/08/2021 20:54

US borders are closed - if you’d have to travel on an ESTA or visa you can’t go

EileenGC · 16/08/2021 20:55

I have students and clients who have, they are US citizens (or spouses of one) and fully vaccinated. They took a very relaxed approach to flights and booked busy routes so they could simply be transferred onto another flight if theirs was cancelled. They're staying somewhere quiet though, so nothing of the craziness Panda is describing. I think it depends where you're going.

idontlikealdi · 16/08/2021 20:56

FIL lives there - he has been able to fly here and back. We cannot get in to visit him.

Frazzled2207 · 16/08/2021 20:57

I think there is a ban unless you are a US citizen or spouse/child of one. Small number or other exceptions too. Plenty of planes are flying across the Atlantic assume they have Americans rather than british onboard.

TinaYouFatLard · 16/08/2021 20:59

I am in the USA.

Basically we had to spend 15 nights in a third country that is not on the banned list. Lucky for us we had the time and means to do that.

No sign of the travel ban being lifted. I can’t see them ever bothering.

Pallisers · 16/08/2021 21:06

If your MIL is a citizen, I think your dh can get an exemption/visa to enter. Not sure you will though.

Like pp, I am in the US (New England) and would not travel to Florida, Texas or most southern states right now.

Doublenegative, sorry to hear that. the entire thing beggars belief really. Feels safer in NE where we have a very high vaccine uptake - even so, after a brief month or so of not masking, most people are back to wearing masks and being careful.

TinaYouFatLard · 16/08/2021 21:11

I’m pretty sure the parent/child exemption only applies if the child is under 21 years old.

I have spent A LOT of time studying the proclamation!

elp30 · 16/08/2021 21:18

@DoubleNegativePanda

I'm not exactly who you are asking, because I am already in the states. If you absolutely must, I think it depends on where you want to go in the US. If it's anywhere in the south, I'd avoid it.

We live in Texas and it's an absolute dumpster fire. Based on our numbers, we should be Stage 5 and in lockdown, but our Govorner signed a bill barring any mask, distance or lockdown mandates last month. The hospitals are stuffed full, there are less than 15 ICU beds for a combined 12 counties in my area. No one is taking Covid seriously, despite the fact that they are putting up tents in hospital parking lots to house covid patients.

The south is very, very bad and because Delta spreads so easily and so quickly, it's moving north. My honest opinion: don't come here. So many of us are willfully ignorant that it's actually dangerous to breathe our air at this point. A visit is not worth it.

Where in Texas are you?

I'm in Harris County, in a suburb of Houston, and although Judge Hidalgo has asked schools, daycare centers and hospitals to mask-up, I wouldn't refer to my area as a "dumpster fire". My family is in El Paso and they are wearing masks but life is still going on as close to normal there too.

@Mindgone I totally get where your spouse is coming from because it's imperative to visit family and the priority is to visit family. My husband's family is in England and he's desperate to visit his parents too. Are either you or your spouse USA citizens? If either of you are, you can travel. Otherwise no, it's not possible. Mexico is currently closed to people coming into the country too. So you may have to find another third country. Personally, it's not worth the aggravation and I would recommend you wait it out. I'm sorry.

pollylocketpickedapocket · 16/08/2021 21:32

@TinaYouFatLard

I am in the USA.

Basically we had to spend 15 nights in a third country that is not on the banned list. Lucky for us we had the time and means to do that.

No sign of the travel ban being lifted. I can’t see them ever bothering.

You honestly think they’ll never lift the travel ban? Actually, in normal circumstances it sounds crazy to think they’ll never allow British back in but Biden is a complete fucking idiot that makes trump look normal so you may have a point.
TinaYouFatLard · 16/08/2021 21:45

@pollylocketpickedapocket I don’t think I really do think that!

Then again I would never have believed the ban would have gone on this long. They didn’t lift it when cases were really low last summer, they won’t lift it with our vaccination success - even for vaccinated people. There have been so many times it’s rumoured to be lifted and it just never happens.

I’m trying not to fall into a conspiracy theory hole!

Dauphinois · 16/08/2021 22:09

Yes, borders currently closed to uk residents, but us residents can come here.

We've got a trip booked for next Easter to visit my brother - really really hope they open the borders by then!

JessicaPeach · 16/08/2021 23:20

I read somewhere that there's going to be an announcement on the 22nd august so you may get good news then.

bert3400 · 16/08/2021 23:25

My son flew there in April for a sporting event, but had to quarantine in Mexico for 2 weeks first . It was a faff but he had two weeks in Cancun ....so silver linings Grin

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