Has Anyone Left Europe's Schengen Area for 14 Days to Then Enter USA?

[thisguyflies 72]

Hi, all.

 

Here is a deep dive into my experience of my journey from Serbia into the US. I will try to be as detailed as possible and provide as much help and advice as I can, but please keep in mind that this was my experience as of 26 June - 11 July. Use this as a reference for your own plans. To read about my journey flying into Serbia from the UK, please read this post from when I first arrived in Belgrade.

 

--

 

Let me start by saying that Serbia's attitude toward coronavirus changed DRASTICALLY in my time there. When I first arrived, everything (and I mean everything) was open and running like normal. By the following week, the city was protesting new curfew rules, which eventually turned into rioting/police brutality. The curfew didn't happen due to the response from the public. I'll refrain from making any comments on politics in Serbia, and I can't predict what'll happen next, but more restrictions are a very real possibility that you should take into consideration.

 

I won't go into too much detail on this, but I had to leave my airbnb halfway through my stay due to a cockroach problem... I then went to a hotel in the middle of the city and the protests erupted right outside. I THEN moved to an airport hotel for the final two days, which was not a pleasant experience due to it being in the middle of nowhere with barely any amenities.

 

My journey began by getting a ride arranged by the hotel to the airport. You cannot check in for the flight with Air Serbia online due to a new rule about only citizens of the country you're traveling to being able to. So, I walk to the check in desk and tell the guy where i'm staying in the US. He checks my passport and visa. Asks his colleague if a K1 visa is ok. They say "yes". Asks me if i've visited the schengen area in the past two weeks. I say "no". I am given my boarding pass. I'm checked in.

 

Next, in Belgrade airport, you walk up the stairs and through a passport control area where they give you an exit stamp. I was a little surprised that I hadn't gone through any security, but found out later that the security is at the gate. The problem with this is that they don't allow water bottles through, so you're going to be without access to much water for a while other than what they give you on the flight (which is minimal).

 

At security, they once again checked my visa and once again ask if I've visited the schengen area in the past two weeks. I say "no", go through security and i'm at the gate. The place is pretty packed with varying amounts of mask discipline from other passengers. Can't do much about it other than remaining as careful as you can be. Be aware that you'll be wearing a mask this entire time other than when airport staff ask you to pull it down when checking your passport pic.

 

My flight got delayed by about an hour, which wasn't great for the nerves because they didn't announce anything during the wait and I had to make a connecting flight in JFK and had no idea how long immigration would take.

 

They announce boarding. I go on the plane. The plane is reasonably full, but most people had space around them. The plane takes off. So far, so good...

 

The flight is just like any other long distance flight except that you don't get much service. The food was a cold mix of this cheese, turkey slice and cornbread combo. Bit weird. I only had a little. You're asked to fill a form (BRING YOUR OWN PEN, I BROUGHT TWO BECAUSE I KNEW THE PERSON NEXT TO ME WOULD ASK AND I'M NOT GONNA SHARE. I LET THEM KEEP IT AFTER USE). It's like the usual landing card for the US (address you're staying at in the US, passport number, flight number etc.) except there's a section asking about COVID symptoms and a section asking "IN THE PAST 14 DAYS HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY OF THE COUNTRIES OR GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS LISTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS FORM?". The list will have these countries.

 

Flight is 9 hours and 15 min. It'll say it's a 10 hour flight online, but they regularly get there in 9hr 15min. I was already sitting quite close to the front, but before we land, I moved to the very front so that I could be first off. The plane lands. The airbridge is delayed. I'm standing next to the door nervously willing it to attach. Around 10 min pass before the door opens and I bolt it. I overtake the two business class people who were let off first and run with all my stuff to beat the lines. It took about 5 min. When I get there, it's empty. I spot the border agent and walk over.

 

I tell them i'm entering on a K1 visa. They ask me if I have the visa packet. I get it out of my bag and give it to them. They check my passport and the form that I filled out on the plane. They open the packet, call over a CBP college, hand them the packet and tell me to go with them. All very friendly. I walk with the CBP agent to a room off to the side where they place my passport and packet on a raised desk with about 5 people on it and ask me to wait until my name is called. Around 5 min pass before they call me over. They say "you're staying at xxxx, right?" which is respond yes. They do something with my paperwork. They ask me "you know the rules, right?" to which I say "yes" even though i'm not sure which rules they're specifying, but they clear it up with a "you have 90 days to get married". I tell them i'm really looking forward to it. They hand me back my passport with a green slip inside of it and tell me "congratulations". I thank them. I did it. The emotions I felt were immense that I almost missed having to hand that green slip to the guard on the way out. The whole process took no more than 15 minutes and was very straightforward.  

 

I made my connecting flight easily. I landed at my destination some hours later and met my fiance. We drive to our apartment. We begin our lives together. We made it.

 

Thank you to everyone on here who helped out and was following my story. It's been an incredibly challenging time and i've experienced some of the lowest points of my entire life. The anxiety and overthinking involved is unbearable at times. To the people reading this who were in a similar situation, you have my full empathy and respect.

 

I can now confidently say that this guy did indeed fly.

[NOR2020 10]

Congratulations.

[In4theJourney 171]

I hope you guys go and get tested. Being in a plane full of strangers around the world who can be asymptomatic for hours and hours is no where to be in that Petri dish of germs these days. But anyhow, congratulations 

[agataa 88]

2 hours ago, thisguyflies said:

Hi, all.

 

Here is a deep dive into my experience of my journey from Serbia into the US. I will try to be as detailed as possible and provide as much help and advice as I can, but please keep in mind that this was my experience as of 26 June - 11 July. Use this as a reference for your own plans. To read about my journey flying into Serbia from the UK, please read this post from when I first arrived in Belgrade.

 

--

 

Let me start by saying that Serbia's attitude toward coronavirus changed DRASTICALLY in my time there. When I first arrived, everything (and I mean everything) was open and running like normal. By the following week, the city was protesting new curfew rules, which eventually turned into rioting/police brutality. The curfew didn't happen due to the response from the public. I'll refrain from making any comments on politics in Serbia, and I can't predict what'll happen next, but more restrictions are a very real possibility that you should take into consideration.

 

I won't go into too much detail on this, but I had to leave my airbnb halfway through my stay due to a cockroach problem... I then went to a hotel in the middle of the city and the protests erupted right outside. I THEN moved to an airport hotel for the final two days, which was not a pleasant experience due to it being in the middle of nowhere with barely any amenities.

 

My journey began by getting a ride arranged by the hotel to the airport. You cannot check in for the flight with Air Serbia online due to a new rule about only citizens of the country you're traveling to being able to. So, I walk to the check in desk and tell the guy where i'm staying in the US. He checks my passport and visa. Asks his colleague if a K1 visa is ok. They say "yes". Asks me if i've visited the schengen area in the past two weeks. I say "no". I am given my boarding pass. I'm checked in.

 

Next, in Belgrade airport, you walk up the stairs and through a passport control area where they give you an exit stamp. I was a little surprised that I hadn't gone through any security, but found out later that the security is at the gate. The problem with this is that they don't allow water bottles through, so you're going to be without access to much water for a while other than what they give you on the flight (which is minimal).

 

At security, they once again checked my visa and once again ask if I've visited the schengen area in the past two weeks. I say "no", go through security and i'm at the gate. The place is pretty packed with varying amounts of mask discipline from other passengers. Can't do much about it other than remaining as careful as you can be. Be aware that you'll be wearing a mask this entire time other than when airport staff ask you to pull it down when checking your passport pic.

 

My flight got delayed by about an hour, which wasn't great for the nerves because they didn't announce anything during the wait and I had to make a connecting flight in JFK and had no idea how long immigration would take.

 

They announce boarding. I go on the plane. The plane is reasonably full, but most people had space around them. The plane takes off. So far, so good...

 

The flight is just like any other long distance flight except that you don't get much service. The food was a cold mix of this cheese, turkey slice and cornbread combo. Bit weird. I only had a little. You're asked to fill a form (BRING YOUR OWN PEN, I BROUGHT TWO BECAUSE I KNEW THE PERSON NEXT TO ME WOULD ASK AND I'M NOT GONNA SHARE. I LET THEM KEEP IT AFTER USE). It's like the usual landing card for the US (address you're staying at in the US, passport number, flight number etc.) except there's a section asking about COVID symptoms and a section asking "IN THE PAST 14 DAYS HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY OF THE COUNTRIES OR GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS LISTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS FORM?". The list will have these countries.

 

Flight is 9 hours and 15 min. It'll say it's a 10 hour flight online, but they regularly get there in 9hr 15min. I was already sitting quite close to the front, but before we land, I moved to the very front so that I could be first off. The plane lands. The airbridge is delayed. I'm standing next to the door nervously willing it to attach. Around 10 min pass before the door opens and I bolt it. I overtake the two business class people who were let off first and run with all my stuff to beat the lines. It took about 5 min. When I get there, it's empty. I spot the border agent and walk over.

 

I tell them i'm entering on a K1 visa. They ask me if I have the visa packet. I get it out of my bag and give it to them. They check my passport and the form that I filled out on the plane. They open the packet, call over a CBP college, hand them the packet and tell me to go with them. All very friendly. I walk with the CBP agent to a room off to the side where they place my passport and packet on a raised desk with about 5 people on it and ask me to wait until my name is called. Around 5 min pass before they call me over. They say "you're staying at xxxx, right?" which is respond yes. They do something with my paperwork. They ask me "you know the rules, right?" to which I say "yes" even though i'm not sure which rules they're specifying, but they clear it up with a "you have 90 days to get married". I tell them i'm really looking forward to it. They hand me back my passport with a green slip inside of it and tell me "congratulations". I thank them. I did it. The emotions I felt were immense that I almost missed having to hand that green slip to the guard on the way out. The whole process took no more than 15 minutes and was very straightforward.  

 

I made my connecting flight easily. I landed at my destination some hours later and met my fiance. We drive to our apartment. We begin our lives together. We made it.

 

Thank you to everyone on here who helped out and was following my story. It's been an incredibly challenging time and i've experienced some of the lowest points of my entire life. The anxiety and overthinking involved is unbearable at times. To the people reading this who were in a similar situation, you have my full empathy and respect.

 

I can now confidently say that this guy did indeed fly.

Congratulations!! Ngl, reading this made me tear up in a good way, I’m so happy that you made it

[Fenja 229]

Hi everyone,
I FINALLY made it to the USA!!! That was quite an adventure. In the beginning everything was totally relaxed in Serbia, but when the protests started I felt really uneasy. I just hoped that there would be no new restrictions. 😅

 

@thisguyflies actually explained everything quite nice, our flight was exactly the same. We only had a different experience at customs.

 

On Monday morning we left for the airport at four in the morning. They checked there twice that I was in Serbia long enough and then we already started. The flight was relatively empty (but quite a lot of older and very old people!). When we arrived in NY, my fiancé and I went through customs together. The officer only took the sealed package, my fingerprints, a photo of my face and then put me in a room (by the way, he didn't ask me a single question, e.g. how long I was outside the Schengen zone). In the other room, another officer stamped my passport, left for a short time and then wrote in the passport. Also the officer didn't ask me anything at all, he also didn't say that we have 90 days to get married and so on. He just gave me the passport and said 'Have a nice day'. To be honest every entry on the ESTA and student visa was longer and more complicated than that. But I'm just glad that we're finally getting this behind us. The flight to Charlotte was a breeze.

 

We are now planning to get married on Friday and send off the AOS asap. 😊

 

Wishing everyone who still has that adventure coming all the best and good luck!!! 💕

[Ririwoo37 4]

3 hours ago, Fenja said:

Hi everyone,
I FINALLY made it to the USA!!! That was quite an adventure. In the beginning everything was totally relaxed in Serbia, but when the protests started I felt really uneasy. I just hoped that there would be no new restrictions. 😅

 

@thisguyflies actually explained everything quite nice, our flight was exactly the same. We only had a different experience at customs.

 

On Monday morning we left for the airport at four in the morning. They checked there twice that I was in Serbia long enough and then we already started. The flight was relatively empty (but quite a lot of older and very old people!). When we arrived in NY, my fiancé and I went through customs together. The officer only took the sealed package, my fingerprints, a photo of my face and then put me in a room (by the way, he didn't ask me a single question, e.g. how long I was outside the Schengen zone). In the other room, another officer stamped my passport, left for a short time and then wrote in the passport. Also the officer didn't ask me anything at all, he also didn't say that we have 90 days to get married and so on. He just gave me the passport and said 'Have a nice day'. To be honest every entry on the ESTA and student visa was longer and more complicated than that. But I'm just glad that we're finally getting this behind us. The flight to Charlotte was a breeze.

 

We are now planning to get married on Friday and send off the AOS asap. 😊

 

Wishing everyone who still has that adventure coming all the best and good luck!!! 💕

Hi there congrats!!! Can u tell us if you had just the passport stamps from Serbia as a piece of evidence of ur stay?

[Fenja 229]

13 minutes ago, Ririwoo37 said:

Hi there congrats!!! Can u tell us if you had just the passport stamps from Serbia as a piece of evidence of ur stay?

I had the passport stamp and the white card (the police certification thingy), but all they did is asked me at the airport in Belgrade and didn’t want to see any proof (neither did the Officers at customs).

[Leah88 192]

On 7/14/2020 at 1:00 PM, thisguyflies said:

Hi, all.

 

Here is a deep dive into my experience of my journey from Serbia into the US. I will try to be as detailed as possible and provide as much help and advice as I can, but please keep in mind that this was my experience as of 26 June - 11 July. Use this as a reference for your own plans. To read about my journey flying into Serbia from the UK, please read this post from when I first arrived in Belgrade.

 

--

 

Let me start by saying that Serbia's attitude toward coronavirus changed DRASTICALLY in my time there. When I first arrived, everything (and I mean everything) was open and running like normal. By the following week, the city was protesting new curfew rules, which eventually turned into rioting/police brutality. The curfew didn't happen due to the response from the public. I'll refrain from making any comments on politics in Serbia, and I can't predict what'll happen next, but more restrictions are a very real possibility that you should take into consideration.

 

I won't go into too much detail on this, but I had to leave my airbnb halfway through my stay due to a cockroach problem... I then went to a hotel in the middle of the city and the protests erupted right outside. I THEN moved to an airport hotel for the final two days, which was not a pleasant experience due to it being in the middle of nowhere with barely any amenities.

 

My journey began by getting a ride arranged by the hotel to the airport. You cannot check in for the flight with Air Serbia online due to a new rule about only citizens of the country you're traveling to being able to. So, I walk to the check in desk and tell the guy where i'm staying in the US. He checks my passport and visa. Asks his colleague if a K1 visa is ok. They say "yes". Asks me if i've visited the schengen area in the past two weeks. I say "no". I am given my boarding pass. I'm checked in.

 

Next, in Belgrade airport, you walk up the stairs and through a passport control area where they give you an exit stamp. I was a little surprised that I hadn't gone through any security, but found out later that the security is at the gate. The problem with this is that they don't allow water bottles through, so you're going to be without access to much water for a while other than what they give you on the flight (which is minimal).

 

At security, they once again checked my visa and once again ask if I've visited the schengen area in the past two weeks. I say "no", go through security and i'm at the gate. The place is pretty packed with varying amounts of mask discipline from other passengers. Can't do much about it other than remaining as careful as you can be. Be aware that you'll be wearing a mask this entire time other than when airport staff ask you to pull it down when checking your passport pic.

 

My flight got delayed by about an hour, which wasn't great for the nerves because they didn't announce anything during the wait and I had to make a connecting flight in JFK and had no idea how long immigration would take.

 

They announce boarding. I go on the plane. The plane is reasonably full, but most people had space around them. The plane takes off. So far, so good...

 

The flight is just like any other long distance flight except that you don't get much service. The food was a cold mix of this cheese, turkey slice and cornbread combo. Bit weird. I only had a little. You're asked to fill a form (BRING YOUR OWN PEN, I BROUGHT TWO BECAUSE I KNEW THE PERSON NEXT TO ME WOULD ASK AND I'M NOT GONNA SHARE. I LET THEM KEEP IT AFTER USE). It's like the usual landing card for the US (address you're staying at in the US, passport number, flight number etc.) except there's a section asking about COVID symptoms and a section asking "IN THE PAST 14 DAYS HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY OF THE COUNTRIES OR GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS LISTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS FORM?". The list will have these countries.

 

Flight is 9 hours and 15 min. It'll say it's a 10 hour flight online, but they regularly get there in 9hr 15min. I was already sitting quite close to the front, but before we land, I moved to the very front so that I could be first off. The plane lands. The airbridge is delayed. I'm standing next to the door nervously willing it to attach. Around 10 min pass before the door opens and I bolt it. I overtake the two business class people who were let off first and run with all my stuff to beat the lines. It took about 5 min. When I get there, it's empty. I spot the border agent and walk over.

 

I tell them i'm entering on a K1 visa. They ask me if I have the visa packet. I get it out of my bag and give it to them. They check my passport and the form that I filled out on the plane. They open the packet, call over a CBP college, hand them the packet and tell me to go with them. All very friendly. I walk with the CBP agent to a room off to the side where they place my passport and packet on a raised desk with about 5 people on it and ask me to wait until my name is called. Around 5 min pass before they call me over. They say "you're staying at xxxx, right?" which is respond yes. They do something with my paperwork. They ask me "you know the rules, right?" to which I say "yes" even though i'm not sure which rules they're specifying, but they clear it up with a "you have 90 days to get married". I tell them i'm really looking forward to it. They hand me back my passport with a green slip inside of it and tell me "congratulations". I thank them. I did it. The emotions I felt were immense that I almost missed having to hand that green slip to the guard on the way out. The whole process took no more than 15 minutes and was very straightforward.  

 

I made my connecting flight easily. I landed at my destination some hours later and met my fiance. We drive to our apartment. We begin our lives together. We made it.

 

Thank you to everyone on here who helped out and was following my story. It's been an incredibly challenging time and i've experienced some of the lowest points of my entire life. The anxiety and overthinking involved is unbearable at times. To the people reading this who were in a similar situation, you have my full empathy and respect.

 

I can now confidently say that this guy did indeed fly.

I love your stories and think you should become a writer!! Good luck 🍀 and hope all will go well in the future!!! I’ve been here since 3 weeks now, and I can tell you, everything is closed due to corona so thinks take FOREVER right now lol. But it all doesn’t even matter I’m so glad I’m here with my new HUSBAND. it’s all worth it!!!

[Asterix78 27]

I just discovered this thread and I am curious, hope someone can give advice.

 

my fiancée is a Lithuanian citizen (schengen) but residing in Russia. Our K1 case is with the Moscow embassy but of course, on hold. I have two questions as we are increasingly impatient to visit:

 

1 Can she come visit me in the US with her ESTA if she flies directly from a non Schengen country? For example Moscow to JFK is a regular flight these days. Will her passport make her ineligible? She has been here twice already so hoping her history will help. She has a job in Russia, not that it’s any kind of strong tie. She intends to tell the truth, if asked, about the approved K1 petition and definitely no intent to jeopardize it. she would go back within the 3 month ESTA limit, hoping K1s restart by then or shortly after. 

2. Can we meet in Mexico for a week or two? Seems like Mexico would allow both of our passports and residence countries in at this time. 

We are not thinking about marriage while on ESTA , just to be clear. 
 

Thank you very much in advance for all responses. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

7 minutes ago, Asterix78 said:

1 Can she come visit me in the US with her ESTA if she flies directly from a non Schengen country?

Yes

7 minutes ago, Asterix78 said:

2. Can we meet in Mexico for a week or two?

Yes - if she meets the entrance requirements.

[HRQX 4,145]

11 minutes ago, Asterix78 said:

Will her passport make her ineligible?

The ban is based on physical presence in the 14 days prior to attempting entry. Thus, she's eligible to travel directly from Russia to US, as she's currently at her Russian residence.

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

[Asterix78 27]

28 minutes ago, HRQX said:

The ban is based on physical presence in the 14 days prior to attempting entry. Thus, she's eligible to travel directly from Russia to US, as she's currently at her Russian residence.

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

I know, I am just worried that any denial of entry, which is always at CBP officer discretion in the best of times but likely more strict now, might come up later in the K-1 interview or something. I am just paranoid. So I was just curious if anyone has tried this since the executive order. 

[HRQX 4,145]

9 minutes ago, Asterix78 said:

So I was just curious if anyone has tried this since the executive order. 

Visiting fiances or boyfriends/girlfriends with ESTA has successfully occurred. Recent examples:

 

Edited July 17, 2020 by HRQX

[Asterix78 27]

11 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Visiting fiances or boyfriends/girlfriends with ESTA has successfully occurred. Recent examples:

 

That’s great! One more thing. Is the Public Charge form needed? In other words, do I need to buy her a health insurance policy before arrival?

 

thanks again!

[HRQX 4,145]

2 minutes ago, Asterix78 said:

That’s great! One more thing. Is the Public Charge form needed? In other words, do I need to buy her a health insurance policy before arrival?

That form isn't needed for visitors. That being said, it's a good idea in general to look into travel medical insurance.