Travelling to USA

[Zippy1510]

DH is an American citizen meaning technically myself and two DC (3 and 10 weeks) are currently able to enter the USA. FIL has a terminal illness and we don’t know how long he has left. He has expressed his wishes to meet DD (10 weeks) before it’s too late. DH wants us to travel over to see him. I am anxious to do this as 1) we have only had 1 of our vaccinations so far and therefore aren’t particularly protected against the newer variant 2) there have been reports on the BBC that the queues to clear immigration are going to be up to 10 times longer than normal- this has previously taken us up to 3h- I don’t see how we can queue with two young children for 30h?!? 3) I am hesitant to travel at all incase it contributes to spreading- we are both scientists and are on fairly edge about the constant viral evolution and what this means for vaccine efficacy. DH and I are currently divided on this issue- AIBU? I am happy to be told that I am!

No, families do not always go together. And there's no guarantee at all the OP and the kids will be allowed in.

For those saying the OP cannot enter the US - here's the bit of the proclamation that says she can.

travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/presidential-proclamation-coronavirus.html

On January 25, 2021 President Biden signed a proclamation continuing the suspension of entry of certain travelers from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, and expanding restrictions to include travelers from South Africa. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are not subject to the proclamations. Some other exceptions include, but are not limited to: foreign diplomats traveling to the United States on A or G visas and certain family members of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents including spouses, minor children, parents (provided that his/her U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident child is unmarried and under the age of 21), and siblings (provided that both the sibling and the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident are unmarried and under the age of 21). There is also an exception for air and sea crew traveling to the United States on C, D, or C1/D visas. For the full list of exceptions, please refer to the proclamations.

@Zippy1510

In normal circumstances I wouldn’t hesitate to go- we usually visit twice a year and I am used to travelling long hall with a young child- covid and it’s associated impacts are the issue. The children are not dual- neither is DH he has right to remain in the UK. Thanks to the poster who posted the TSA app info- I didn’t realise that existed!

What specifically are you worried about, regarding Covid and its impacts? Perhaps those of us in the US can help reassure you?

I’m mostly concerned about being exposed during travel to one of the newer variants that the vaccines aren’t as protective against at one dose- I’m not concerned about being exposed once we arrive as the rates are higher in the city I live in here and I was also concerned about being in a queue for “ten times longer than normal” with the two young children- however it does sound like the queue may have been a slight exaggeration by our media.

@ZZTopGuitarSolo thanks, I hadnt read the full proclamation so wasnt sure on the full ins and outs. I just know as UK citizens we cant go visit British relatives who have US Residency.

Really hard call. On balance, I think ( terror of flying too) I would agree.
It’s a life moment that your husband will never get back.
One dose gives good protection.

I have very recently lost my FIL and had just had a baby (who wasn't even a week old) I would go in your shoes. He only lived round the corner but not getting a chance to meet my DC before his unexpected death has been hard on my DP. Totally understand it's different circumstances but it has made me view things very differently and think a lot of what ifs and I should have gone to see him sooner.

Issues are

• you may have to quarantine on arrival there and also on the way back
• if your kids are entitled to US passports you may have issues at immigration travelling on other passports
• normal travel insurance won't cover travel to amber list countries
• prepare for your 3 year old having to wear a mask on the flight

Why would you want your DD, who won't actually know anything about it to meet a very sick man thousands of miles away, with a journey on which you may get COVID?
Best not to go, but if your DH needs to, good luck to him.

I felt pretty safe on the plane. Masks were required the entire time except for eating and it seemed like they made an effort to spread everyone out. And I think the ventilation is pretty good, better than most places indoors at least. But, again, I flew weeks ago before the cases started going up again in the UK.

I had been kind of worried about the airport beforehand but it was ok, not super busy although not super quiet either. I flew out of LHR T5 where there are always places to get away from people, not sure about other airports!

One thing is that the airline will absolutely not let you on without the COVID travel test required. They checked this multiple times: when checking in, boarding the plane and then there was a CDC thing to fill out on board which got handed back to them to go who knows where. I mean, probably the CDC right? 😊

Regarding exposure to the newer variants, it's my impression that they're more widespread in the UK sooner, then get to the US later. So we're now at peak UK variant, with the Indian variant just starting to spread, if that helps at all?

I get your worries OP. You've only had one vaccine and travelling is scary. We did fly within the US to a high-Covid area in Feb, having just had one vaccine, and we were OK, but it felt like a risk.

I do think the risk of Covid here in the US is much much lower now, even if you've only had one of the vaccinations.

Other things people have pointed out are definitely worth checking - Covid test, quarantine, travel insurance will all affect you.

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html

if your kids are entitled to US passports you may have issues at immigration travelling on other passports

Yes this is also important to check. US citizens are supposed to only fly in on a US passport, and if your kids are US citizens this can affect them. My children were born in the UK to one British and one American parent, and they were all classed as Americans born abroad (they don't get a US birth certificate but they do get a Consular Report of Birth Abroad). We had to get DS a US passport before he could fly to the US at 3 months.

Have most people travelling US to UK had to quarantine for the full 10 days even if you’re double vaccinated? Our flights are booked for second week of July and I’m getting worried about whether we’ll need to cancel again...

@IncorrigibleTitmouse

Have most people travelling US to UK had to quarantine for the full 10 days even if you’re double vaccinated? Our flights are booked for second week of July and I’m getting worried about whether we’ll need to cancel again...

UK makes no allowances for vaccination status = 10 days quarantine (although I think there is a test and release option that knocks a couple of day s off)

I went to California for my brother's funeral, OP. It was absolutely fine.
The thing is, you have to do a PCR test prior to boarding the flight, PCR test in the US prior to boarding back to the UK AND you have to book in advance your PCR tests on days 2 and 8 upon return (isolate for 10 days once you're back in the UK and I believe, depending on the rules now, you'll have to isolate upon arrival in the States). So that's 4 PCR tests per person and it is expensive.

In many ways, it was the best time I've ever had travelling because the planes and the airports at both ends were empty. No one on the plane will have covid (or at least chances are slim to none)- they all have to test negative before boarding. You do have to wear a mask the entire flight- not a big deal (and I was worried about the discomfort but it was fine, really).

It's a huge pain in the butt to do the PCR tests and fill out the forms online, but for your FIL I'd do it, if I were you. All we have is now and his time here is limited.

It's expensive (PCR tests for a family and yes, they MUST be private... no NHS ones- SUCH a racket!). It's a pain in the arse.
When I went (as a US citizen) Los Angeles (LAX) was a ghost town. I don't know what it's like a month later (now).

What a difficult situation. I know people who have travelled to the US (citizens and those that have immediate family who are) they said LA airport was so quiet and they said it felt safe

It’s hard travelling with young children but I would go its a time your dh will struggle with

I may go abs see my dad I’m not sure just yet may leave it to later in the year I would take ds (he is a teenager so easier)

Read the fine print on the testing requirements and follow them to the letter. I can’t comment on individual lines in immigration or airports but the travel is still down in total numbers. You’ll be fine and no, there aren’t 30 hour wait times.

Airplanes and airports have mask requirements, after that it’s down to the state (and in some cases the city) you are visiting. But it’s all loosing up here. If you would normally take your family on this trip, then I wouldn’t let the current state of things put you off.

@TheVanguardSix

I went to California for my brother's funeral, OP. It was absolutely fine. The thing is, you have to do a PCR test prior to boarding the flight, PCR test in the US prior to boarding back to the UK AND you have to book in advance your PCR tests on days 2 and 8 upon return (isolate for 10 days once you're back in the UK and I believe, depending on the rules now, you'll have to isolate upon arrival in the States). So that's 4 PCR tests per person and it is expensive.

In many ways, it was the best time I've ever had travelling because the planes and the airports at both ends were empty. No one on the plane will have covid (or at least chances are slim to none)- they all have to test negative before boarding. You do have to wear a mask the entire flight- not a big deal (and I was worried about the discomfort but it was fine, really).

It's a huge pain in the butt to do the PCR tests and fill out the forms online, but for your FIL I'd do it, if I were you. All we have is now and his time here is limited.

It's expensive (PCR tests for a family and yes, they MUST be private... no NHS ones- SUCH a racket!). It's a pain in the arse.
When I went (as a US citizen) Los Angeles (LAX) was a ghost town. I don't know what it's like a month later (now).

A lot of the PCR tests are still free in the US, so there’s one less expense.

I went to California for my brother's funeral, OP. It was absolutely fine.

Ahh I'm so sorry.

I live in the USA and am a dual citizen. Husband is born and raised American. We went to Mexico in September last year and when we came back to LAX all entry was done by the machines to “reduce human contact”. At that time I was still a green card holder, not a citizen, and the machine went into a bit of a tizzy that there was a USC and GC holder in the same party (we couldn’t have been the only ones!) but someone sitting at a desk did something to the machine and we were on our way in no time at all. Fastest we have been through an airport. Even before I was a US citizen I was able to go with my husband through the USC lane at immigration so you should be able to also.

Another thing I’ve just remembered...at LAX (at least in the terminal where we were) all the food concessions were closed. The usual Hudson News places had only a few bottles of very warm water left. No other drinks anywhere to be found. And no food.

We've flown through a few airports recently on internal flights. Chicago O'Hare and Orlando were all packed. Everyone wears masks, but distancing is a thing of the past.

I flew through Logan in March and it was empty, but DS flew through late May and said the TSA security check lines were the longest he'd ever seen.

I don't know if that's true of the international terminals though - I'd imagine they're much emptier.