To think my DB will be able to travel home to the UK for Christmas from the States?

[josben]

Just wondered if you think this might be possible or am I being overly optimistic ...?!

He is freelance and is planning to be here for 4-6 weeks

TIA

Hmm, I think you're being a bit optimistic.

I thought the US borders were closed? I’d say no. Sorry it’s really going to be a hard time for many families

He might in theory be able to travel here if there's a flight but assuming that he's British, he then won't be allowed back into the States. I've got friends in the same position and they've had to cancel. His only option in theory would be to come to the UK, and then travel somewhere else for 14 days to then be allowed back into the US

The only way I know of getting in and out of closed border countries is if you have a ministerial or military reason, from your post I get the impression this isn't the case so I'd say you're being overly optimistic. Sorry, I know it sucks.

Highly unlikely, and if he managed to get here he may end up not being able to get back

JagerPlease - that's an interesting possible option ..? Will have to speak to DB and look in to that

Thanks for your responses - will try and break this to my DM.... :(

Yes but he will have to quarantine when he gets here and may have an issue getting back in unless he's on a US passport too?

They aren’t closed to permanent residents. Does your brother have a green card?

He has a green card, but does not have US
Citizenship / US Passport..

No one I know who lives longterm in the US but isn’t a citizen is coming home.

I think he should be fine then as he’s classed as a permanent resident.

US citizens and permanent residents of the USA, certain specified close family members and certain other limited categories of visas holders (such as UN staff and diplomats) are exempt. They will still be able to enter the USA, subject to normal entry requirements.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements

Obviously he would have to do two weeks quarantine when he got here.

JKRisagryff - thank you so much for that information - that is really helpful, yep he is staying here longer to incorporate his quarantine when he arrives

Who knows what the situation will be in December, it's a moving target. I would say the most likely scenario is that he'd be allowed in and there would be some flights available, but obviously he'd have to quarantine. I wouldn't be 100% certain of him being allowed back into the US, even with permanent residency. It's obviously the policy at the moment but subject to change at short notice, so if he absolutely needs to get back by a certain date then he should factor that in. I have a friend who has permanent residency in a different country (not US) but was refused re-entry earlier in the year after their policy changed at short notice. She'd only planned to leave for 3 days but ended up being separated from her baby and children for months.

I’m in the same boat, and know that I would have to quarantine for two weeks in the UK, and same on the reverse journey. Impractical for most.

Yes, that's true - it is a very difficult situation, I'm sure many people will not travel home for Christmas because of that

Fink - I think that the uncertainty of things changing at the last minute will put a lot of people off - your poor friend being separated from her family ...

It will probably be possible, but I wouldn’t travel anywhere at the moment unless I was able to accept the possibility of being stuck in the other country to additional days/weeks/months, as well as racking up costs.