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Support thread for those with family abroad

838 replies

Schulte · 20/05/2021 10:12

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?

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YoutubeZoom · 15/07/2021 09:51

@Schulte I do not mean to cause further anxiety, but e.g. the Hungarian rules make it clear that DH as a British citizen cannot enter without me or DS present (unless he is on a business trip, or going to another exempt event). I hope Germany is more understanding.

Schulte · 15/07/2021 09:53

The way I understand it is at the moment he is allowed to enter Germany because he is double jabbed... I hope the border control chaps agree!

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lostandlonely20 · 15/07/2021 10:06

I've lived abroad since Feb 2020 - not seen most of my family since then (or the Christmas before), apart from my mum and dad for a week in September after I lost a mid term pregnancy. All through the winter I was just looking forward to spring and summer hoping we could see family again. I got pregnant in Feb, before we knew anything about the delta variant. I can't be vaccinated here as it's not recommended for pregnant women and as things open up here I'm still being careful and following the rules (masks, not meeting people inside etc) and I can't travel due to risks to the pregnancy (advised not to). I was hoping my parents could come over now as they are double vaccinated and the borders are open but with the numbers increasing in the UK I'm not sure I want to risk it. The baby is due in November so I'm also worried about what the situation will be then. Hoping to see my family before 2022 but I'm not holding my breath :(

It's been so difficult, I can't wait for all this to be over (if it ever will!).

Alondra · 15/07/2021 10:22

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?

Take a certified copy of your marriage certificate and your birth certificate. The marriage certificate will show your maiden name, hopefully it'll be enough but frankly I will contact your German Consulate first off. Consulates are the ones dealing with these type of issues.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 15/07/2021 13:05

It’s all rather heartbreaking

I was only able (or rather empowered) to travel as I read a deeply hidden law stating that contact between sibling or parents is permissible

One thing I’ve seen is the UK are the strictest

Our country that we visited didn’t even enforce anything
France waved my friend in !!!

But it’s bloody stressful and expensive

Thisisworsethananticpated · 15/07/2021 13:07

I got everything translated and their birth certificates translated and apostiled

I’m fact I was rather annoyed That no one checked them !!!!

Thunderpunt · 15/07/2021 14:36

@Schulte

How’s everyone doing? I think some of us are meant to travel soon? 🤞🏻
We cancelled- my DS is isolating again as a close contact, and the thought of him testing positive the day before we leave on the PCR and having to cancel anyway- couldn't bear it. DH might try and get away if Italy relax the 5 day quarantine- but with our cases on the rise I can't see that happening
Schulte · 16/07/2021 08:17

Oh no @Thunderpunt Sad. How are you feeling?

Horrible news this morning saying France may go on the red list.

www.reuters.com/world/uk/british-ministers-consider-putting-france-travel-red-list-the-telegraph-2021-07-15/

Anyone have any idea when that might happen, if it does happen?

I cannot bear the thought of not seeing my parents.

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MareofBeasttown · 16/07/2021 08:30

I am increasingly beginning to think that all vaccinated ppl should be allowed to travel, variant or no variant. It now seems possible that variants may arise anywhere-given France- and if we are going to live with Covid, international travel should be resumed. Borders can't be closed for ever.

Ofc I am biased, as we all are on this thread!

GlencoraP · 16/07/2021 08:36

Have just found this thread , have not seen my db, SIL or two nephews for two years , 2.5 for nephews and SIL. Am starting to seriously worry that my otherwise reasonably healthy parents might not see them again, they are in their eighties but sudden things can happen and it’s scary . Y brother has just had Covid for the second time , despite being vaccinated , and has been pretty unwell which is also a worry and they are in a place with rocketing cases and limited healthcare .

Thunderpunt · 16/07/2021 17:02

@Schulte thanks - I'm ok but I know DH is gutted. Means so much to his mum to see our kids and youngest DS is in exam year otherwise I'd pull him out of school as soon as they open up if I could.

I read that about France... really hope they don't, will be awful

Aria999 · 16/07/2021 17:26

Can I join?

We're in the airport on the way to the uk from the USA at the moment. We have spent over £1000 on compulsory covid tests for the family (days 2 and 8 x3 and day 5 x4) and a lot more than that on flights. Everything is really expensive.

Neither of our families has met DD yet (17 months). My dad is 90. DS starts primary school in August after which we will be constrained by school holidays.

I really didn't believe this trip was going to happen. I'm glad but so anxious.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 16/07/2021 18:31

Hopefully good news coming for Europeans who want to visit the US.

www.reuters.com/world/europe/biden-says-us-reviewing-european-travel-ban-sees-update-coming-days-2021-07-15/

"WASHINGTON, July 15 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden said on Thursday the United States is reviewing when it can lift restrictions that ban most-non U.S. citizens from traveling to the United States from much of Europe after German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue.

"It's in process now," Biden said of discussions about when restrictions could be lifted. He said he expects to be able to answer "within the next several days what is likely to happen... I'm waiting to hear from our folks in our COVID team as to when that should be done."

Merkel said Biden told her the same that he told the press and they discussed the impact of the COVID-19 Delta variant. "It has to be a sustainable decision. It is certainly not sensible to have to take it back after only a few days," Merkel said.

In early June, the White House launched interagency working groups with the European Union, Britain, Canada, and Mexico to look at how to eventually to lift restrictions. Those meetings have generally been occurring every two weeks but some have recently been delayed.

A White House official told Reuters last week "there are further discussions to be had before we can announce any next steps on travel reopening with any country... We want to ensure that we move deliberately and are in a position to sustainably reopen international travel when it is safe to do so."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants airlines to implement international passenger contact tracing as part of any lifting of restrictions, sources told Reuters. It is unclear how long that will take to implement."

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 16/07/2021 18:32

I can feel your anxiety Aria999! I really hope all goes well.

Schulte · 16/07/2021 20:31

@Aria999 exciting and nerve racking I’m sure! Hope you have a smooth journey. It will be amazing for your families to meet your daughter! So glad some reunions are happening.

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Aria999 · 16/07/2021 20:47

Thanks!

EasterIssland · 16/07/2021 20:53

New light in the traffic light. Those from France will have to self isolate as it’s amber plus now
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/france-holiday-amber-plus-quarantine-b1885644.html

stopgap · 16/07/2021 22:17

@Aria999, good luck! Mind posting about how everything goes?

We are about to do the same thing in a couple of weeks. I’m an ex-pat while my husband and kids are Americans. My parents are booked to come to the US in August, but I just can’t see it happening, so we are biting the bullet. I usually see my parents four times a year, so going without contact for 19 months has been nothing short of horrendous.

Schulte · 16/07/2021 22:30

Amber plus ffs. This is absolutely devastating! Apparently the rule also applies if you have only driven through France without even stopping. And of course the Eurotunnel is the standard way of travelling to the continent Angry

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Thisisworsethananticpated · 16/07/2021 22:31

Safe travels aria !

I’ve been back since Tuesday and I’m still not quite Over the pre trip stress !

Tormundsbeard · 16/07/2021 22:39

So I am booked on Eurostar to travel to France next week to visit my parents (85+) with my 17 year old daughter. I am double jabbed, she is not jabbed. We were going to travel with our PCR results (taken just before departure) and stay for a week. The announcement today means that we can still do that, but we will be quarantined for 10 days when we come home? Is that right?

Aria999 · 16/07/2021 22:46

@stopgap sure!

(Currently in the middle of a 5 hour stopover at Philadelphia as they kept canceling and rebooking the flights 😩)

EasterIssland · 16/07/2021 22:48

You’re right @Tormundsbeard

autumntimebrowns · 16/07/2021 22:55

Just a little happy story. My son flew in from Portland Oregon last Saturday. Less than an hour from touchdown to car park. 5 day test and release completed yesterday ( and they were visited twice to check they were isolating ). So now I have his company for two weeks. After 22 months apart. I am extremely happy. X

EasterIssland · 16/07/2021 22:56

Enjoy it @autumntimebrowns!!