Mom was sent back home at EU transfer airport

[Traveler101 16]

Hi all,

 

My mother was coming to US on IMM grant visa which when she arrives in US will grant her Green Card. Well, she had a transfer at Zurich airport and they didn't let her go to us, she has to go back to Ukraine. US baned all entry from European countries due to the COVID. Only Americans and diplomats are allowed to entry. Now I do not know what's next since her visa expires on July 2. 

[payxibka 10,044]

6 minutes ago, Traveler101 said:

Hi all,

 

My mother was coming to US on IMM grant visa which when she arrives in US will grant her Green Card. Well, she had a transfer at Zurich airport and they didn't let her go to us, she has to go back to Ukraine. US baned all entry from European countries due to the COVID. Only Americans and diplomats are allowed to entry. Now I do not know what's next since her visa expires on July 2. 

Gotta go through a non schengen country such as Turkey, Qatar or UAE 

Edited June 28, 2020 by payxibka

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Unfortunately now that she has been in Zurich she will need to wait at least another 2 weeks before attempting entry (via a non banned country route). You will have to contact the embassy about a possible visa reissue once they reopen for routine visa processing.

Edited June 28, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

This is the second such post  I recall seeing here. I don’t understand why the airlines don’t tell the person at their initial boarding point that they will have a problem at their transfer point. I always used to have docs checked through to final destination for the US, and I had dozens of flights transiting on the way over the years.

[Traveler101 16]

Thanks for the replies.

We contacted US customs in Newark airport and they said only Americans and diplomats are allowed to enter.

[Crazy Cat 39,206]

24 minutes ago, Traveler101 said:

Hi all,

 

My mother was coming to US on IMM grant visa which when she arrives in US will grant her Green Card. Well, she had a transfer at Zurich airport and they didn't let her go to us, she has to go back to Ukraine. US baned all entry from European countries due to the COVID. Only Americans and diplomats are allowed to entry. Now I do not know what's next since her visa expires on July 2. 

Her visa will now expire before being allowed to enter the US ( 2 week quarantine).  She should contact her home country consulate, get a re-issued visa (if they will), then travel to the US after the restrictions are lifted.  

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

2 minutes ago, Traveler101 said:

Thanks for the replies.

We contacted US customs in Newark airport and they said only Americans and diplomats are allowed to enter.

From a schengen or other banned country, yes.  From elsewhere, it’s fine. 

Edited June 28, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[Traveler101 16]

But now she has to wait for 14 days and visa will expire and then who knows when and how it will be reissued.

 I just don't understand how they sold her tickets that's one, second how the heck they let her through in Ukraine and to board. Don't they know their job? Aren't they supposed to know that she won't be allowed in? I'm so irritated and frustrated 😫

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

8 minutes ago, Traveler101 said:

But now she has to wait for 14 days and visa will expire and then who knows when and how it will be reissued.

 I just don't understand how they sold her tickets that's one, second how the heck they let her through in Ukraine and to board. Don't they know their job? Aren't they supposed to know that she won't be allowed in? I'm so irritated and frustrated 😫

Well, about selling her the tickets, the airlines always state it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct travel documents etc to travel. In the normal course of things people often get visas after they book tickets (not to the US maybe but you need it for a schengen visa for example). I really don’t think you can blame the airline for selling her the ticket. I am surprised though that she wasn’t warned in Ukraine that she would face a problem in Zurich. (I presume she was booked on a through ticket?)

Edited June 28, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[igoyougoduke 1,604]

I dont know why people still dont read the proclamation for themselves before booking tickets. It was clear in March EO that passing through Europe was a No No. Even europeans are arriving in Mexico for 14 days before entering US

 

 

[Traveler101 16]

2 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Well, about selling her the tickets, the airlines always state it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct travel documents etc to travel. In the normal course of things people often get visas after they book tickets (not to the US maybe but you need it for a schengen visa for example). I really don’t think you can blame the airline for that. I am surprised though that she wasn’t warned in Ukraine that she would face a problem in Zurich. (I presume she was booked on a through ticket?)

Yes, it's our responsibility to check for docs. But shouldn't airline at check in to warn her or tell her that she can't be allowed in? And there is no information online where it says about the ban, only I could find that you have to be quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

[thepanda 87]

33 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

From a schengen or other banned country, yes.  From elsewhere, it’s fine. 

Where can I find the list of countries where you can re-enter the US? 

[aceegreene 34]

21 minutes ago, Traveler101 said:

And there is no information online where it says about the ban, only I could find that you have to be quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-2019-novel-coronavirus/

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

23 minutes ago, Traveler101 said:

Yes, it's our responsibility to check for docs. But shouldn't airline at check in to warn her or tell her that she can't be allowed in? And there is no information online where it says about the ban, only I could find that you have to be quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

I already said I agree the airline should have warned her.

Here is the DoS summary of the banned country proclamations. 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/presidential-proclamation-coronavirus.html
You’ll note it says “physically present” so that includes transit.

 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

10 minutes ago, thepanda said:

Where can I find the list of countries where you can re-enter the US? 

See the list of banned countries I linked to above. Any country not listed under there is ok.

Edited June 28, 2020 by SusieQQQ