talia0506

3 hours ago, Ja3germeister said:

I. Am. Here.

 

Thank God. But it wasn't as I expected. I got the biggest spook of my life. Right before landing the flight attendant told me to wait at the door so I could be the first one to leave. When the hatch opened 4 guys from CBP were ready to escort me. The head of the squad asked me how long I've been in Mexico for. I showed him the stamp in my passport and that's all he needed to know. We then joked about how scared I was and talked for a little bit; very nice people. I just had to go through second immigration just to confirm my arrival. This is Orlando airport btw.

 

BUT what counts the most is that I'm here. Thank you all for your inspiring messages and stories and I wish the rest of y'all good luck. So; if the CBP squad is waiting for you just know it'll be fine. 

Omg happy you made it. really happy for you! we are praying all works out for us too! how was the check in Mexico? Did you fly with American airlines?

1 minute ago, Kaatje said:

Yes, they have discounts and promotions. It looks gorgeous! When my fiance suggested that I should stay there instead of Cancun I did not argue with him  😂😁

It looks beautiful but is really expensive, 5000 dollars for 14 days omg. but it looks gorgeous

2 minutes ago, Kaatje said:

I'll be staying at Ahau Tulum: https://www.ahaucollection.com/ahau-tulum

A friend of my fiance works there, he feels more comfortable if I stay with someone he knows 🙂

 

Thats amazing, and they have a promotion going on? their place looks pretty!

So as mentioned earlier, our flight to Cancun Mexico is on the 20th from Frankfurt. I was following the whole thread and saw that lots of you had issues to explain the situation at check-in.

I just want to be prepared and hope all works out. What documents do you usually need to show them to make sure you are allowed to board the flight to Mexico?

Obviously the flight to the US after 14 days right and probably the reservation Mexico. Do you also need to show emails with CBP and Mexican government? Just want to make sure we are prepared.

I saw that most of you have a K-1 visa that have entered so far. My husband and I have L-1 visas and I guess the difference is that we actually already live in the US since a couple years. We are nervous but hope all will be fine!

9 hours ago, Kaatje said:

I will be flying to Cancun the 20th and will be staying in a resort in Tulum. The resort is open and giving big discounts 😉

Awesome, we will be in Cancun from 21st June, where do you stay in tulum? we also wanted to drive to tulum and are looking for an apartment with kitchen 

38 minutes ago, Deoiel said:

Hi! I hope everyone is doing well 😊

 

Someone started a petition for borders to reopen with Europe, I thought you might be interested!

 

Petition here!

 

If you could sign it and share it around, that would be fantastic 🙏

 

I personally cannot spend 15 days abroad so waiting is my only option, I am glad that many of you could do the trip and reunite with family! 🤗

love the idea!!

1 hour ago, HRQX said:

Directly from where? Just making sure it doesn't have a layover within Canada.

Transit through Canada to another country from any location is permitted

1 hour ago, HRQX said:

Directly from where? Just making sure it doesn't have a layover within Canada.

It has a layover but Canada said it is ok if it is transit and we can show we have flight to Mexico. We confirmed

We did it too! Booked our flight directly to Cancun with Air Canada for June 20th. Hoping that all works out. We kind of feel safer in this region.

Is anybody else in Cancun during this time?

I found a flight from Zagreb via Serbia to JFK though - https://www.momondo.com/flight-search/ZAG-JFK/2020-06-28/2adults?sort=bestflight_a 

But again, it is only a flight per week

8 minutes ago, zrdn2019 said:

Started poking around and took a look at recent arrivals at JFK Airport (New York). It shows that a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul landed there on Saturday! 😮  I don't know why the "landed" status is gray, not green, but if this is accurate then this could be a complete game changer.

 

https://www.airport-jfk.com/arrivals.php?day=yesterday

 

So weird, when I check on Turkish Airlines, I cannot see any flights to the US for June

4 minutes ago, Sarah84 said:

In fact, Serbia is an option and it is safe there. But there is only like 1 flight per week, so if that flight gets canceled, you would be stuck there.

Yeah only one flight seems not to be enough. Same as Croatia, all flights going to the USA are via Schengen

https://www.flightglobal.com/cambodia-lifts-entry-ban-on-six-nationalities-as-covid-19-ebbs/138470.article

Here is an article if you are interested

1 minute ago, devonydan said:

 

It sounds like Serbia is also an option now. 

 

Serbia is not a Schengen country so travel from Serbia to the USA is not restricted.  Air Serbia just started direct flights from Belgrade to New York JFK, and Serbia doesn't currently have restrictions on foreigners visiting and staying in the country (think they were requiring foreign visitors to present a health certificate showing they were negative for COVID but that restriction has been lifted).

 

There is an earlier post in this thread by someone who is planning to transit via Serbia. 

 

Yeah I saw that too but not sure if Serbia is a very safe option. At least I lived in Mexico a while ago and have friends there. In Thailand we have family, but not sure about Serbia. Thank you for letting me know though. Cambodia is also open already and flights to the US are going too. They require a negative COVID test and a travel insurance when entering.

1 hour ago, RFOM said:

My K1 expires on 5th July so I had to act fast, but if you have more time and can actually quarantine in Thailand/Cambodia it would be amazing, these countries are simply amazing, you might want to stay there instead of moving to US haha. 

i already live in the US since 3 years and pay rent hahah and have job there but am stuck here since 3 months... so not moving to thailand anytime soon, but definitely love it and since we have family there it is safer for us.

1 hour ago, RD7712 said:

I opened up this thread and did a lot of research into countries and their travel restrictions and getting a feel for the chatter out in the news media about what lies ahead for international travel in the near. After weeks and spending many hours in this and with the help of those who walked this path ahead of us, I personally concluded that Mexico was the best option at this time. We are here in Mexico City and I must say, despite rises in cases as seen in the news from time to time, the Covid-19 standards for entering the food store is higher than in my home state. You are required to wear mask, they spray your hands with sanitizer before you enter the shopping complex, they spray the shopping carts, and they check your temperature - just to buy groceries. The non essential stores for the most part are closed here and not so many people are out in the streets. Most people wear mask when they are outside. I found a nice flat in Polanco through airbnb for about $50. I read the news everyday to see if Mexico is on the radar for any action from the USA to ban any further travel from there - there is none.  So far, so good. We have another 11 days here.

Yeah this seems like the only possible option for the moment and it gives me reassurance that so many have done it successfully here

5 minutes ago, ek1357 said:

Hello. Like you I did some research and Mexico is the most logistically sensible route. I check the news daily for any hint at travel restrictions from Mexico but nothing so far. They have already restricted the land border and there’s very little talk of the air space which gives me some confidence. 
I have booked a hotel, with a large balcony and full kitchen so intend to stay in my room for almost 2 weeks straight if I can! I have emailed the hotel twice to check and double check my reservation and they assure me they are open!

I stuck with Mexico City because In my opinion the flying is the highest risk part in terms of falling ill, so I’d rather just get into my hotel and hide out!

ok that is reassuring! what hotel are you staying in?

1 hour ago, Ja3germeister said:

Everyone wears a mask here. If you want to enter a store they check your temperature and you get hand sanitizer. Honestly you could do groceries for the entire week so you don't have to go out that much, or you could order food on Uber Eats it's incredibly cheap (like €6 for a full meal). Hotels I don't know. I booked an Airbnb.

Thank you! that is good to know! are you in Mexico city or cancun now?

https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/coronavirus-travel-updates/

Just sharing this article. Places like Thailand are opening up to tourist 1 July. Combodia is also open already and you have to get a COVID test upon arrival. Flights from these places are going to the US. I also am still doing lots of research, but maybe this is helpful

Hey guys, so my husband and I are about to book tickets to Mexico this week and plan to fly end of this week/beginning of next week. How do you feel in Mexico since COVID cases are pretty high. We were waiting for any other country to open, but it feels like even if they open, they are not opening to all countries and second there need to be flights going to the US as well. Mexico really seems like the only logical option. Croatia wont work since Turkish again suspended their flights to the US until June... Aruba is not saying when they open, so really not sure if it is worth waiting. 

How did you manage to book hotels? Did you had trouble to find some in Cancun? We wanted to travel to Cancun but then take a cab to Tulum since it is more quite... please share your experiences so far. We are really worried about the COVID  cases in Mexico.

3 hours ago, Ja3germeister said:

I'm in Mexico-City!

 

Honestly still can't believe that I'm here. Stumbled upon this thread 3 weeks ago and now I actually did it. Thank you to all the people for your continuous support. 

 

Here's how it went:

Flight was packed, like as if there is no pandemic going on. Insane. KLM's service is great. Long flight but I had extra leg room so I was good hahaha. 

Then came immigration. Long line. The lady asked me why I'm here and for how long. I said I was staying with a friend for 2 weeks and then I'm flying to the US. Didn't have to show anything. Super easy and super relieved it went that smooth. 

Hey where did you fly from exactly and how the check in there? Did they ask you any questions at all about why you travel to Mexico? Also where do you stay in Mexico city? Actually with a friend?

On 5/30/2020 at 3:09 PM, Sarah84 said:

I just booked a flight from Amsterdam to Mexico City for June 17th. I will stay there for 4 nights and fly to Cancun on the 21st 🙂 It is a refundable ticket, so if Trump lifts the travel ban, I can still cancel my flights and my hotels are refundable as well.

thats amazing, where did you book it?KLM directly? we are also thinking of mexico flying 13th june or croatia, depending on turkey. They resumed domestic flights this week, so lets see if international flights will be happenig from june 10th 

27 minutes ago, Lskifghj said:

Sorry to hear you had to go through this bad experience. You probably got unlucky with idiots at work. Your documents were already impressive. It sounds like it is just a hit or miss with the workers. Yes, you’re lucky you have time on your side. Or maybe try a different country and flight? Croatia via Turkey? (If you can find a flight)

There are flights at the moment from 10th June but who knows if Turkish Airline suspends them again: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/flights/booking/availability/?cId=75f276de-f52f-4230-b5dd-cb57bf2df622

1 hour ago, thisguyflies said:

Hi, everyone. I've been monitoring this thread very closely for quite some time and want to share some vital new information on the Mexico travel route that people with a K1 visa are considering.

 

As I type this, I am literally just back from the airport.

 

Long story short: KLM DIDN'T ALLOW ME TO BOARD THE FLIGHT. My planned route was Manchester (UK) > AMS > MEX and after trying my best and talking with them for around 1hr 30min, they didn't allow me through.

 

Here's what I experienced at check in:

I arrived super early, as I guessed something like this would happen; needing a discussion.

I explained what my plans were. I showed them the K1 visa in my passport and two emails I received from the Mexican consulate in the UK saying I can travel and an email from CBP (bit of a copy paste job from them...).

I had a flight booked from Mexico to the US for 12th June (to Oakland, CA), which I showed them the conformation for.

The lady at check-in was very nice about it, but was talking with her colleagues about the validity of my travel. They weren't sure what was allowed, despite me explaining the situation.

They called up Amsterdam airport to talk with somebody who handles immigration for KLM and explained the situation.

THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART: OVER THE WEEKEND, THEY HAD AN UPDATE FROM THE MEXICAN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITY ON WHAT CONSTITUTES AS NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL. ACCORDING TO THEM, THIS UPDAT STATED THAT STAYING IN MEXICO FOR THE 14 DAY PERIOD BEFORE TRAVELING TO THE USA IS NOT ALLOWED AND NOT CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL.

Sadly, this option doesn't seem like a possibility anymore.

They really tried to help me. They sent a photo of my K1 to Amsterdam and even suggested a direct flight to the USA might work...but another call to KLM immigration in Amsterdam told us that this wasn't enough for entry either.

 

So, I'm back where I started. I can at least say that I tried. My visa expires in 2nd Sept, so my best hope is for flights to resume before then. Past that, hopefully a re-issuance is successful.

 

I understand that this might be frustrating for those with things booked like I did, but I hope it can help somebody out.

 

Attached is proof of my tickets [PERSONAL INFO REDACTED] if you needed to see that I'm very serious about this.

 

My boarding pass from MAN > AMS > MEX

 

My flight confirmation from MEX > USA

 

My email from the Mexico consulate

 

My email from CBP

 

(Oh, and consider my username ironic now...I made it a few days ago hoping the provide an update from journey to Mexico.)

 

Good luck, everyone.

 

Oh wow this is insane! So far no one had issues to enter, I dont understand why they did not let you board. Or did anyone else encounter those problems? I think people always had discussions, but were always able to board. Especially since Mexico is opening up officially.

2 hours ago, Leah88 said:

So you’re not going to Cancun? Congrats on booking your ticket!

do you have an accommodation?