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?

I've hit the wall today. All I want to do is curl up in a vat of (Kiwi) sauvignon blanc.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

@mbosnz It really does suck doesn't it? And I can't even have the sav to comfort me, dammit!

@ZZTopGuitarSolo

So sorry about your step brother. Hugs x

@KiwiDramaQueen it really does suck! I shall have a sav blanc for you (how noble am I?!) Feel free to PM me if you want, if you need a rant or a rave. I'm in the South East of England, and if you were near, I'd be more than happy to meet up and have a cuppa. I must admit, the attitude of our fellow flightless birds who have the good fortune to be back at home does grate a bit. My daughter was just saying that her friends back in NZ keep on asking how she is, and she was saying that the last people she's going to have that conversation with is them, lol!

Alright, we booked a 9 day trip to Sweden for first week of August to see partner's family. They have limited entry to 30 August for most general tourists, is only citizens and other exempted categories who are allowed in. We will see how it goes here over the next two weeks but I think we may just about manage this. Trying to figure out the testing is overwhelming!

Hopefully the amber list no quarantine announcement today helps some of us! One less test to book...

Not those of us UK nationals vaccinated abroad though. Only NHS delivered vaccines allow entry to UK without quarantine.

If you have insurances check fco as it’s changed today

The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to Spain, based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks

Means I can use my insurance ! No need to look for a new one

Flying in 2 weeks!!!!

We’ve taken the decision of pulling my son out of nursery for his last week. I can’t handle the anxiety with the cases rising where I live
I’ve realised that whilst I’m in Spain the government will review the list again I think. Spain is not doing well (delta) so hope they’re not put red that week. I think with all the Portugal drama tho the government will think twice before putting countries into higher tiers for giving mixing messages. But thats my hope as don’t want to end up in a hotel. Stress Til the last minute

Same here, meant to travel in 2 weeks’ time. Very worried that something may still get in the way, at our local school hundreds of kids are self isolating!

How’s everyone doing? I think some of us are meant to travel soon? 🤞🏻

9 days for me ! I’d say really anxious. Been quite poorly with anxiety since last week. Hoping the new travel update doesn’t add Spain to the red list this week

Oops it’s 10 :) I’ve a countdown in my WhatsApp status

I went and picked fights on another thread. It is not like me, but I have no prospects of travelling any time soon. I hope you all can soon though!

DH wants us to book tests and everything, but we have weeks left. I am anxious, too.

@MareofBeasttown so sorry. It is so incredibly hard - even more so the further your family is away. Germany took India off its red list, does that help in any way?

I wasn’t aware there’s a new traffic light update coming... hope it brings more good than bad news!

And agree with the anxiety... main fear for is is that the DDs may be told to self isolate...

@YoutubeZoom

DH wants us to book tests and everything, but we have weeks left. I am anxious, too.

I've been looking into them this week, waiting for todays announcement on travel (the traffic system) and if this weekend my son is not called to self isolate then I'll book them

We do not know if DH can come at all, but not booking a test for him is like giving up on him.

[quote Schulte]@MareofBeasttown so sorry. It is so incredibly hard - even more so the further your family is away. Germany took India off its red list, does that help in any way?

I wasn’t aware there’s a new traffic light update coming... hope it brings more good than bad news![/quote]
Thanks Schulte. I don't think Germany allowing Indians in helps me, but I was very surprised by that decision. It is vaccinated Indians and maybe that will set a precedent for vaccinated people being able to travel? I do not know. I admit I have stopped following updates on the science.

Has any of you transited via Schiphol recently? I heard some alarming reports about immigration control for UK citizens to enter the Schengen zone.

Hey 👋
I’ve just taken my kids to see their overseas father

I was in and out in less than 48 hours

To say I was anxious would be an understatement

But it’s possible and do able

@Thisisworsethananticpated Well done.

This is an article on Dutch border control yorkshirebylines.co.uk/reality-for-citizens-outside-eu/
If you ever came into the UK as a non-EU citizen, you know it sounds like just desserts. DH says he is too anxious for this. 🤦‍♀️ I have been spoken to harshly and with suspicion many times in the past by immigration officers, you just roll with it and don't lie.
We definitely need our marriage certificate.

Goodness. Yes I do feel that Brexit may cause extra problems that we haven’t anticipated. DH is meant to follow us by plane and I will tell him to take our marriage certificate but I don’t think the certificate says I’m German and I won’t be there, so if they ask him to prove he’s family of an EU citizen, how is he going to do that?

Between Brexit and COVID, travelling seems to have become a total minefield!