Travel from US to UK

[nghsbf 22]

So as it seems like the US is about to be placed on the amber list in the UK travel review, my understanding is that my fiancé (the USC) is able to travel to visit me in the UK provided we follow the testing rules before the flight and comply with the 10 day quarantine (and subsequent tests/test to release after 5 days)? It all seems quite vague but she doesn't require a strong reason for travelling here such as for work beyond that if she's complied with the rules, right? Everything on the gov.uk site seems to suggest we're fine, anyone have any experience with this?

[Pheebs1201 269]

Yes, we are hoping to visit my mum next month and my understanding is that we will need a negative test result 72 hours or less prior to departure, to test on day 2 and 8 per the government guidelines (we also plan to test out on day 5 if possible) and then a test prior to flying home.

 

We will quarantine until we can test out at a family members home. 

 

Really disappointed that we are not slated to be on the green list, being on the amber list is no different to how things have been this whole time.

Edited May 7, 2021 by Pheebs1201
typo

[nghsbf 22]

It's particularly disappointing in that she has now had both vaccine doses, which we hoped would be taken into account, but it appears that's not going to be the case. It seems that we're looking at July for US green list, or at least that's what the current news is saying. Nonetheless I think we're going to chance her visiting later in the month and just quarantine for as long as we need to.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

I was looking at a United sale yesterday and could have booked round trip to Heathrow for 40,000 frequent flyer miles. I just gave up because all the rules, tests, quarantining, bubbles, etc. Not sure if I could be in anybody’s bubble since they are already in bubbles and I am nobody’s household member.  Nobody can ride in the car with you. My parent, siblings, children, and grandchildren are there but are already bubbled with other relatives/in-laws. It was doing my head in. Maybe I will see them next year. 
 

And what’s the deal about hotel quarantine? Are you doing that?

Edited May 7, 2021 by Wuozopo

[Pheebs1201 269]

Yes we are fully vaccinated too 😞

[nghsbf 22]

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

I was looking at a United sale yesterday and could have booked round trip to Heathrow for 40,000 frequent flyer miles. I just gave up because all the rules, tests, quarantining, bubbles, etc. Not sure if I could be in anybody’s bubble since they are already in bubbles and I am nobody’s household member.  Nobody can ride in the car with you. My parent, siblings, children, and grandchildren are there but are already bubbled with other relatives/in-laws. It was doing my head in. Maybe I will see them next year. 
 

And what’s the deal about hotel quarantine? Are you doing that?

Hotel quarantine not required from the US as it's not on the red list, thankfully only those few countries on the red list have required hotel quarantine. Amber means visit but a 10 day quarantine at home (cut to 5 with a test, at cost to us of course). Fortunately, I wouldn't need to be concerned about bubbles as it's only the two of us anyway. Since we haven't seen each other since last January I think we're just going to deal with the extra costs and inconvenience, then look forward to post July when (supposedly) the US will be added to our green list and the travel ban lifted.

[JFH 12,190]

From our perspective here in the US travel to the UK is going to be no different than it has been for the last several months - house arrest on arrival, tests, etc. What is changing is that people in the UK can, from May 17, travel out of the country for their own personal reasons. Until May 17 it’s only possible if your reason for travel falls within a certain list of “permitted” activities such as urgent business, funerals, etc. People going into the UK don’t have to have a permitted reason, they just have to agree to comply with the restrictions. I know many ex pats who have been back several times to visit family members during this situation. 

 

The relaxation on leaving the country is all moot considering many countries are not letting people in or are placing strict requirements on entry anyway. It’s all well and good being told you can go on holiday but it means nothing if the other countries won’t let you in or you have to quarantine elsewhere for such a long period that you have no annual leave left to get where you actually want to go. 

[Raja007 67]

15 hours ago, Npwrth said:

So as it seems like the US is about to be placed on the amber list in the UK travel review, my understanding is that my fiancé (the USC) is able to travel to visit me in the UK provided we follow the testing rules before the flight and comply with the 10 day quarantine (and subsequent tests/test to release after 5 days)? It all seems quite vague but she doesn't require a strong reason for travelling here such as for work beyond that if she's complied with the rules, right? Everything on the gov.uk site seems to suggest we're fine, anyone have any experience with this?

I recently came back from UK to states. Like others have suggested you don't need to do hotel quarantine as it is required for people travelling from countries which are on red list. You have to take day 2 and day 8 covid test and it has to be booked prior to your travel day as the immigration officer checks it at the airport. And similarly when you are flying out of uk you also have to re take the covid test which you can take from NHS.

[charlie2020 5]

4 hours ago, Raja007 said:

I recently came back from UK to states. Like others have suggested you don't need to do hotel quarantine as it is required for people travelling from countries which are on red list. You have to take day 2 and day 8 covid test and it has to be booked prior to your travel day as the immigration officer checks it at the airport. And similarly when you are flying out of uk you also have to re take the covid test which you can take from NHS.

Hi Raja, are you a US or UK citizen? 

 

I've booked flights to from the UK to the US in June hoping to see my partner, but from what I'm read UK citizen cant travel/ wont be allowed in until the US grants permission. I've heard you cant even get a holiday VISA. Was this the same for you?

[Raja007 67]

1 hour ago, charlie2020 said:

Hi Raja, are you a US or UK citizen? 

 

I've booked flights to from the UK to the US in June hoping to see my partner, but from what I'm read UK citizen cant travel/ wont be allowed in until the US grants permission. I've heard you cant even get a holiday VISA. Was this the same for you?

I am a green card holder. At the moment UK is on not to travel destination list so it might be difficult to travel into states considering you are a UK citizen and your purpose of travelling is visit. I had to go through a secondary interview after landing into states since I came from UK. But again since you booked flights in June so alot could happen in between since UK will soften the restriction further on may 17th so may be usa changes the travel restrictions for UK citizens as well.

[charlie2020 5]

2 hours ago, Raja007 said:

I am a green card holder. At the moment UK is on not to travel destination list so it might be difficult to travel into states considering you are a UK citizen and your purpose of travelling is visit. I had to go through a secondary interview after landing into states since I came from UK. But again since you booked flights in June so alot could happen in between since UK will soften the restriction further on may 17th so may be usa changes the travel restrictions for UK citizens as well.

thanks for the response. It's been a awful process, I'm 2 years into HB-3 work visa application and I'm just awaiting an interview date, but nothing is moving. I hope your situation is moving forward 

[Raja007 67]

5 hours ago, charlie2020 said:

thanks for the response. It's been a awful process, I'm 2 years into HB-3 work visa application and I'm just awaiting an interview date, but nothing is moving. I hope your situation is moving forward 

This pandemic has caused lot of delays in every visa category. Hopefully with every one getting vaccinated and the effect of pandemic dying down processing times get better for every visa category. All the best to you.