Support thread for those with family abroad

[Schulte]

Anyone interested in a support thread for those of us who have family abroad, and don't know if we can see them this year? I had started to feel all positive and optimistic about going back to my home country this summer to see my parents, but it's now looking far from certain and I'm feeling increasingly depressed.

I thought maybe we can cheer each other up and share the latest on border openings, how and where to get tests for travel, etc.

Anyone?

Seems like Italy has banned anyone that has been in the uk in the last 2 weeks attending the Match
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9744919/amp/Euro-2020-Italy-bans-UK-two-weeks-attending-England-v-Ukraine.html

No more news about banning British people around.

@EasterIssland

Seems like Italy has banned anyone that has been in the uk in the last 2 weeks attending the Match www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9744919/amp/Euro-2020-Italy-bans-UK-two-weeks-attending-England-v-Ukraine.html

No more news about banning British people around.

Ah thank you, I didn't think to look at the DM site! So it looks like it's purely for the football (so far) so we could still be good to go if we can face all the other restrictions/quarantine/tests

Possibly some hope for Germany after Spahn's comments yesterday? Hopefully Boris doesn't rub Angela up the wrong way at the summit and mess it all up...

Angela Merkel hopes to open up travel for double-jabbed visitors to Germany
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57699000

I have ordered our Covid pass letters from the NHS just in case they do not accept the app.

Have you seen this?

British travellers hoping to visit Europe this summer face an extra hurdle as it emerged that those vaccinated with Indian-manufactured AstraZeneca jabs would not automatically skip quarantine.

The Telegraph said the jabs excluded by the EU scheme had the batch numbers 4120Z001, 4120Z002, 4120Z003.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/02/britons-with-indian-made-astrazeneca-vaccine-covishield-face-extra-eu-travel-hurdle?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

@YoutubeZoom this an Eu level thing but most countries have said they’ll accept them

This all complicates things. Adds to the uncertainty.

My first vaccine was one of the Indian batches - going to be really pissed if it doesn't count as made me really sick!

I read that the Indian made AZ batches will be accepted by most countries, so fingers crossed!

I’m still trying to get my head round which testing provider to use. The Germans are very specific re what needs to be included on the certificate and it’s almost impossible to find out from the providers what the certificate will look like!

@Schulte to get back into Germany? We used lateral flows.

Yes @GinMama1 - which provider did you use? It sounds like Germany wants the passport number included on the certificate but not all providers do that...

@Schulte we used collinson at Heathrow airport. I've just double checked and it did have our passport number on. Collinson have other sites in the U.K. too if you are not going from Heathrow.

Thanks so much, that's really helpful!

Good news from Germany today - and they have also taken India off their ‚red list‘. Now waiting to see what the UK decides to do. Fingers crossed!

@Einszwei

Good luck! Hope you are there by now and it all went smoothly. But are your family coming to Mexico? I've been researching this too but it looks to me like you can't get into the States as a non-resident or non-citizen from Mexico either??

@Schulte yes such a relief

I have just given up all hope now. I expect cases to rise in the UK bcos of no masks, and cases are now falling in India, so I expect India will ban me from visiting as they did at the beginning of the year. It's just an endless back and forth.

I seriously wonder if it is time to open up travel to everybody who is vaccinated. As Germany has done. Bcos now even "safe countries" have variants.

Good luck! Hope you are there by now and it all went smoothly. But are your family coming to Mexico? I've been researching this too but it looks to me like you can't get into the States as a non-resident or non-citizen from Mexico either??

You can come in from Mexico if you've been there 14 days. Lots of people are coming in to the US that way now. There are actually travel agents now specialising in it :-)

I'm increasingly despairing about when I'll ever get to be able to go home to NZ to see my family. My trip home last Christmas didn't happen obviously and I'm now desperately hoping for Christmas 2022.

Im also pregnant and facing the prospect of having my first child without my parents being able to be with me and meet their first grandchild.

I understand and support the position NZ took in relation to its borders but I'm increasingly worried about when and whether they'll ever change things.

I'm also very distressed by the comments from fellow NZers at home on articles "well expats have made their choice, they've not contributed to taxes, why should they be allowed back in". Yes I've been in the UK 17 years but NZ has never stopped being my home. I'm proud of being a Kiwi and proud of my country. I always thought all kiwis were also proud of our international connections and adventurous spirit. I thought we were a warm, welcoming people and I've been so upset by the lack of empathy towards those Kiwis cut off from their families.

Sending lots of sympathy @KiwiDramaQueen I can't imagine how hard it is.

KiwiDramaQueen I also have family in NZ and Australia and it is very hard. I genuinely have no idea if/when I'll ever see them again. My stepbrother is now in end-stage liver disease. Much sympathy.

@KiwiDramaQueen

I'm increasingly despairing about when I'll ever get to be able to go home to NZ to see my family. My trip home last Christmas didn't happen obviously and I'm now desperately hoping for Christmas 2022.

Im also pregnant and facing the prospect of having my first child without my parents being able to be with me and meet their first grandchild.

I understand and support the position NZ took in relation to its borders but I'm increasingly worried about when and whether they'll ever change things.

I'm also very distressed by the comments from fellow NZers at home on articles "well expats have made their choice, they've not contributed to taxes, why should they be allowed back in". Yes I've been in the UK 17 years but NZ has never stopped being my home. I'm proud of being a Kiwi and proud of my country. I always thought all kiwis were also proud of our international connections and adventurous spirit. I thought we were a warm, welcoming people and I've been so upset by the lack of empathy towards those Kiwis cut off from their families.

Sing it my Kiwi sister! You have just said everything I've been thinking and feeling. But even worse, for you, you're pregnant with your first wee tamaiti, and you won't have your whanau around you. My kids are going to be through school by the time we get back, I swear. If we ever get back.

ZZTop, I'm so sorry about your stepbrother. It's so hard. Just no way home.

It must be so so hard with family in Europe at least I may get to see them soon but there were times when they felt a million miles away... I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like when you have family in NZ or Australia...

Still hoping to be able to visit England without quarantine from Canada. Double vaxed. Booked in September.