America - urgently

[Petrus1983]

Does anyone have any friendly travel advice/tips/contacts regarding flying LHR to Dallas this week? It will be a flight out, fly back the next day and doing it again 5 weeks later. BA prices are very high atm.

[Petrus1983]

Bluesgirl said:

It looks to be a lot cheaper to fly to Miami or New York for example and then take an internal flight, but of course you'll be juggling connection times. Have you looked at United or American instead?

Currently American via BA and I’m worried about internal flights due to the nature of the delays and cancellations makes me nervous.

[Petrus1983]

bigandclever said:

You won’t get in.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/traveler...

I’m going to pick my son up and will have the court order (made yesterday) with me - I’m staying at the airport and flying back the next day. I’m hoping this covers it “ Some 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, children (under the age of 21),”

[Petrus1983]

bigandclever said:

In that case I think you’ll want...

Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus
..
Sec. 2. Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry.
(a) Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:
..
(iii) any alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21;

Thanks for this - really appreciated. Who issues it? A judge? My US lawyer?

[Petrus1983]

Or do I print off and travel with this?

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/pr...

[Petrus1983]

bigandclever said:

I’m only passing on what I’m googling

I would’ve thought you need to take as much documentation as you can get hold of, anticipating a long ballache at immigration. Do you have / can you get a copy of the birth certificate, for example.

Based on what you’ve said I’m going to ask for the court order to reflect the exemption. I’ll try and find a copy of the birth certificate.

[Petrus1983]

Thanks for all the insight - flights are booked.

[Petrus1983]

GT03ROB said:

Did you work out how to get on the flight?

Airline & US border need to be aligned or you will be denied boarding?

I booked the ticket via the BA app, I have the court mandate and a copy of the Presidential proclamation. I’ll update the thread on Sunday.

[Petrus1983]

interstellar said:

Yes good luck but I thought you will need to quarantine there for 2 weeks?

My friend flew to Miami last week for work and he is quarantining for 2 weeks there before being allowed to work then same when he gets home.

I remember your previous thread about this Petrus, Is this now a permanent move for you?

If so, good luck with it all.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

Not permanent as such due to Covid- but there’s now a single judge handling things who seems very good and has already made some significant and useful changes going forwards.

Re quarantine in America - I’m flying in on Sunday and out on Monday and then will quarantine in the UK.

Edited by Petrus1983 on Wednesday 24th June 08:40

[Petrus1983]

satans worm said:

How did he get in?

It’s a blanket ban on all people from Europe unless your a permanent resident or direct family

I live there , ut under a L visa, I had to come back to the U.K. for family reasons couple of weeks ago and now cannot return to my wife, home or job until they lift the ban, so I don’t know how you get across under a business reason?

Is your wife American? Does this apply to you -

(a) Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:

(i) any lawful permanent resident of the United States;

(ii) any alien who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;

[Petrus1983]

Thanks Geeman - was a mask required on the actual flight? Were shops open to buy refreshments from airside at the airport. I’ve been trying to get hold of BA to no avail so far - they’re not even putting you on hold.

Edited by Petrus1983 on Wednesday 24th June 17:21

[Petrus1983]

Thanks - those shops provide me with what I need for the flight. I’m T2 apparently as my BA flight was bumped over to AA.

[Petrus1983]

I’m genuinely appreciative of everything that is being said and actively changing my travel plans to incorporate the suggestions offered. I’ll be updating what’s happening as much as possible to hopefully help anyone else in this very weird situation. Thanks again.

[Petrus1983]

GCH - thanks - the Texan governor wants family situations to continue no matter the locations. I actually don’t fly on an ESTA but a B1 visa.

[Petrus1983]

Wow - thanks so much.

[Petrus1983]

I’ve made it - so far so good.

On arrival at the airport only those travelling on a flight are allowed into the terminal, masks are mandatory.

On checking in I faced my first (and so far only) problem - American Homeland Security is now at check in, if you’re not flying with a full US passport you must wait to see them. Despite having my sons passport and court order with me they wouldn’t let me fly without his birth certificate. I think someone had mentioned it on this thread so was kicking myself I didn’t have it - and they weren’t making any exceptions. Luckily a phone call to my mother allowed me to get one emailed over and he was happy enough to let me complete check in.

The airport is quiet - WHSmiths and Duty Free is open and Leon (a cafe) is for takeaways. That’s all I saw and don’t really understand why the other coffee shops/bars couldn’t open for take aways but there you go.

The flight is quiet but took off exactly at 11am which is a first - no waiting for delayed passengers or queuing for the runway.



Now to watch some movies for 9 hours and see what Dallas has in store!

[Petrus1983]

I’ve just asked - there’s 60 passengers out of a usual max of 303 so you’re correct! Interestingly she’s just told me there’s 300,000lbs of cargo on board - so even though we’re empty up here the hold is full.

[Petrus1983]

interstellar said:

Good luck mate, hope it’s smooth collecting him and you get home easily tomorrow!!

Thanks - now flying back Tuesday - I added a day incase of any complications, such as what this morning nearly became!

[Petrus1983]

GT03ROB said:

Glad you made it!

Thank you - I still have US immigration to go but I’m hoping that having passed Homeland Security at Heathrow will make that process easier.

The cases in Texas are so severe I’ll be heading to a 7 Eleven to stock up on some things and then firmly staying in the room - I won’t even have the cleaners in tomorrow.

[Petrus1983]

GCH said:

Good to hear... I suspected the birth certificate would be a deal breaker, which is why I mentioned it.
You should have no problems at immigration on arrival, as DHS have effectively pre-screened you.

Stay safe

Thanks for the advice - it would have been even more useful if I remembered to use it

I’m hoping Homeland Security have effectively green lighted things - but it’s America so even if I heard a tannoy announcement from the cockpit announcing we’re turning around it wouldn’t surprise me.

We’re just over Lake Michigan and I’ve just Googled it and think it has roughly 5x the surface area as Wales - crazy. (Yes, I’m that bored)