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Original poster

Have been an idiot - hoping for urgent help

30 replies

NeedASolution · 01/05/2022 14:18

Posting on here in a desperate attempt to find a solution!

I am due to travel to the US for work tomorrow, flying at 4pm with BA. Sorting out my documents today, I have realised that I have massively messed up the Covid vaccine passport. I didn't realise that you have to submit ID that can take 7 days to be verified.

I am flying to Atlanta in the US and do need to be vaccinated to go. I am (tripled-jabbed) but have only the paper card that they give you at the vaccine centre to prove it. I am an idiot because I thought that the cards WERE the passport or that I could just prove it using my online NHS profile. I haven't flown in 3 years and just had no idea! I have done the 24-hr lateral flow test so that part is fine.

I cannot miss this trip. It will cost me thousands of pounds and make a terrible impression in a new job. Does anyone have any ideas / knowledge that could help? I have submitted my online ID of course (NHS site has a 'we have not checked your ID' message). I have also tried calling BA but can't get through to their helpline.

Am even less hopeful because tomorrow is a bank holiday and I don't imagine anyone will be manning the NHS system... any ideas would be so gratefully received!!

OP posts:
ABoynamedsue2022 · 01/05/2022 14:21

You can use your online NHS profile can’t you? It will say on there the dates you had your jabs? Surely you can..
try tweeting BA, others will see and probably give you an answer? Fingers crossed for you

chipsandpeas · 01/05/2022 14:21

you can check in at the desks with the paperwork - as long as you have your negative test, vaccine status and visa/esta it will be fine
you dont have to use the verifly app

mackthepony · 01/05/2022 14:23

Print the NHS profile screenshot

You're not the first person to do this, believe me.

Just show up with that and they'll let you through.

You have your ESTA?

SeaToSki · 01/05/2022 14:24

use the verifly app. If it accepts it, you are good to go.

also, if it doesnt accept it on the first try, keep going as it sometimes rejects it because the photo isnt good enough etc

Original poster
NeedASolution · 01/05/2022 14:24

I don't have the Covid pass though, only the paper card they give you - my understanding is that that doesn't cut it going to the US??

OP posts:
pinktransit · 01/05/2022 14:24

I had to sort a covid passport recently, kept putting it off. When I did do it, I also got the 'It can take up to 7 days to verify your ID' message. It actually took about 20 minutes before I got a confirmation email that all was good.
Fingers crossed that it's the same for you.

Original poster
NeedASolution · 01/05/2022 14:24

Thank you for the ideas!

OP posts:
Crocky · 01/05/2022 14:25

My son did this last week. The verify Id bit took a couple of hours.

BungleandGeorge · 01/05/2022 14:26

Do you have the nhs app?

Glenthebattleostrich · 01/05/2022 14:26

We just flew to Florida and used the covid passes from the NHS app. I had to verify my identity with my passport when setting up the app but it took 5 minutes.

SeaToSki · 01/05/2022 14:26

also the US arent bothered about if you have the official nhs international thingy, they just want something that looks official that has your name, dob, vaccine type, date and location. They have people arriving from all over the world with different bits of paper. More importantly do you have a negative covid test… thats more tricky

SeaToSki · 01/05/2022 14:27

Verifly take a photo of a vaccine card. Just use your phone and upload it and see what it says

DogsAndGin · 01/05/2022 14:35

Is your Dr open tomorrow? You can ask them to print out your vaccine history and then take the paper copy with you. Also, I had a similar problem although it came
through in time - but there is a number you can call if you are flying and your pass hasn’t come through yet.

Original poster
NeedASolution · 01/05/2022 14:36

OK, my blood pressure is coming down a bit reading these, thank you so much!

I do have the Covid test (and an ESTA, thank you @mackthepony!)

I will try uploading the cards to the app as suggested... fingers crossed...

OP posts:
DownToTheSeaAgain · 01/05/2022 14:45

If you are registered for online account with your GP (appointments/ prescriptions etc) you don't need the 7 day verification.

BungleandGeorge · 01/05/2022 14:50

If you download the nhs app the verification is automated if you have the right ID (which you should with a valid passport). As people say there may be a short delay but you should have it today and it will include a link to download your covid pass for international travel. I don’t really understand some of your post as haven’t been to the US

Original poster
NeedASolution · 01/05/2022 15:06

Ok, I definitely can't access any NHS records or get the pass via the app until my ID is approved (status is still 'we have not checked'). I have now uploaded a photo of my vaccine cards to the Verify app and also printed the NHS domestic Covid pass (which doesn't require ID, but obviously doesn't permit international travel). Covid Pass helpline was useless, however, I am hoping that either these documents will work or else I will get the verification through before I fly. I will sleep better if it does come through but these messages have stopped me from panicking... thank you all so much!

OP posts:
Original poster
NeedASolution · 01/05/2022 15:07

DownToTheSeaAgain · 01/05/2022 14:45

If you are registered for online account with your GP (appointments/ prescriptions etc) you don't need the 7 day verification.

I used to be able to access my records online but this now seems to be diverted to the app... which requires the ID verification!

OP posts:
Harpydragon · 01/05/2022 15:12

My son needed the covid pass, download the app and follow the identification process it takes you through, he had to upload a photo of his passport and then do a 10 second video starting his name, date and the code sent to his phone. Verification came through in less than 10 minutes. He was then able to access the international covid pass.

danni0509 · 01/05/2022 15:14

When I did the nhs app to view my covid vaccines thing it was done the same day, same for dh too.

hope you get sorted!

HisHX · 01/05/2022 15:22

I did the same last week. It took 5 minutes for my passport to be verified via NHS app and about an hour for my husband’s.

Original poster
NeedASolution · 01/05/2022 15:54

Did anyone who got a quick reply to the ID check do this on a Sunday...?

In the meantime, Verify has accepted my photo of the vaccine card so that's something! Huge thank you to @SeaToSki

OP posts:
KatharinaRosalie · 01/05/2022 15:57

if verifly was fine, you'll be fine. I just went to US and only place anybody checked any vaccinations or test were at check in. Nobody cared after that.

gogohm · 01/05/2022 16:22

I'm about to go to the us. I downloaded the vaccine passport from the nhs website, took a couple of minutes. I'm also carrying the card for extra proof

TokyoTen · 01/05/2022 16:53

As PP, I was warned on the app it would take 7 days to set up, actually it took about 30 mins to come through and be authorised.