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

[sl1pstream 551]

11 hours ago, Leah88 said:

I guess the worst case would be, to end up getting corona. I think we all know for sure that it’s a risky idea. 

Yes, but considering the numbers, you're way more likely to get it in the US, so that wouldn't be a consequence of going to that third country.

[Boiler 45,734]

33 minutes ago, sl1pstream said:

Yes, but considering the numbers, you're way more likely to get it in the US, so that wouldn't be a consequence of going to that third country.

Not if you are self isolating.

[sl1pstream 551]

5 hours ago, Boiler said:

Not if you are self isolating.

But that's also true for a third country you visit. As long as you're self-isolating, that risk is pretty low, which is why travel restrictions seemed like a more important problem.

Edited May 13, 2020 by sl1pstream

[Boiler 45,734]

4 hours ago, sl1pstream said:

But that's also true for a third country you visit. As long as you're self-isolating, that risk is pretty low, which is why travel restrictions seemed like a more important problem.

Self isolating at home vs all this travelling, eating out etc?

[RD7712 143]

Below a news article in the Washington Post. This would most likely mean that when one travels to Mexico one would not have to go through what Ela went through at the airports. 

 

Mexico to start reopening border region, other areas as coronavirus lockdown eases.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mexico-to-start-reopening-border-region-other-areas-as-coronavirus-lockdown-eases/ar-BB142iCi?ocid=ientp

 

[jvette 13]

On 5/11/2020 at 11:59 AM, cadr said:

 I keep reading speculation/fake news about the potential for non-immigrants to be blocked entirely from entering the US at some point soon, which is making me nervous about my future in the US. I'm based in England and I'm looking at alternative routes into the US. Similarly to a lot of you, I'm considering Mexico to quarantine for 14 days but have no idea if this is actually going to be possible. Trying to work out how long to leave it before booking a flight, just in case it looks like things will open up instead! 😨 

I've posted a few times in this thread but my girlfriend and I are in a similar situation and share your concerns. We've been long distance for the last 18 months after first meeting in Thailand and have been going back and forth between Germany and San Francisco every 2-3 months. 

 

We're not quite ready to pull the trigger on a K-1 and settled on a J-1 (trainee) as our best route to close the distance about 6 months ago. Long story short - we lucked out with regards to timing and she has her visa which is good through July of 2021. She was two weeks away from flying to SFO when the travel ban was put into place and along with many others in this thread have been considering going through the Mexico route.

 

Based on how things have developed over the last few weeks, these are our main concerns/thoughts with how to proceed from here: 

• Fly to US via Mexico: I believe most are aware at this point but it seems like the secondary Executive Order from Trump is due to come out any day now. It's rumored to affect employment visas like the H1/H2 and potentially F visas and the OPT program - but we're concerned that the J class may get sucked into it as well. If she were to fly to Mexico in the next few days, it's likely that the EO will come out during her 14-day waiting period. It seems way too risky to do this while not knowing if the EO will affect us or not - so this plan is unfortunately out for us right now We're 100% rooting from the sidelines for @Ela S. though as you've got a few weeks on us and are also in a very different situation with the K-1 vs a J-1 though. It's irrelevant now, but that was also a concern as to whether CBP would consider J-1 essential since it's an exchange program which is very different than entering the country to marry your partner. 
   
• Sit tight and hope the Schengen ban is lifted in the next 4-6 weeks: the situation in Germany is improving significantly as each day goes on. They're starting to loosen most of their border controls and have said they're hoping for open travel throughout the entire EU by June 15th. I know it's anyone's guess at this point, and I'm choosing to see the glass half-full despite our current administration, but we're both hoping that Trump will lift the Schengen ban given how things are improving over there. It's frustrating though watching people fly into the US unrestricted from countries like India, Brazil and Russia (who are dealing with much more infections than Germany) while we're stuck here waiting for a ban to be lifted on a country that really seems to be getting a handle on the outbreak. 
   
• Meet up in Germany/London: If nothing changes with regards to the Schengen ban by the end of the month, our plan is for me to fly to Germany in June assuming they open up to non-EU citizens on June 15th. Alternatively, we'll both meet up in London and spend two weeks together quarantining at an Airbnb. I know this isn't the safest plan and we both risk contracting the virus by traveling and then hunkering down together, but we haven't seen each other since the beginning of January. It's the longest we've been apart and we're both desperate to see one another. 

Apologies for rambling here but thank you for letting me think through my thoughts here and just vent a little Also open to any feedback or thoughts from you all. Sending my best to everyone and hoping we'll all be reunited with our partners sooner than later. 

[zrdn2019 35]

19 minutes ago, jvette said:

Alternatively, we'll both meet up in London and spend two weeks together quarantining at an Airbnb.

Hi jvette--why would you quarantine in London? The UK is part of the same ban as the Schengen area...

[jvette 13]

7 minutes ago, zrdn2019 said:

Hi jvette--why would you quarantine in London? The UK is part of the same ban as the Schengen area...

 

Sorry for the confusion, I'm with you and aware that the UK is part of the same travel ban. I just meant as a last resort we'd consider meeting up in London to see one another since we've been apart for so long. It's not ideal by any means, but we'd have to spend the entire trip under quarantine as the UK mandates it for anyone entering the country. 

[zrdn2019 35]

30 minutes ago, jvette said:

 

Sorry for the confusion, I'm with you and aware that the UK is part of the same travel ban. I just meant as a last resort we'd consider meeting up in London to see one another since we've been apart for so long. It's not ideal by any means, but we'd have to spend the entire trip under quarantine as the UK mandates it for anyone entering the country. 

Ah, got it...Well, 2 weeks together 24/7 in a hotel room is a good way to see what your relationship can handle! 🙃

[Just Paul 4,595]

2 hours ago, zrdn2019 said:

Ah, got it...Well, 2 weeks together 24/7 in a hotel room is a good way to see what your relationship can handle! 🙃

And hopefully you have good wifi!

[Ela G. 389]

9 hours ago, RD7712 said:

Below a news article in the Washington Post. This would most likely mean that when one travels to Mexico one would not have to go through what Ela went through at the airports. 

 

Mexico to start reopening border region, other areas as coronavirus lockdown eases.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mexico-to-start-reopening-border-region-other-areas-as-coronavirus-lockdown-eases/ar-BB142iCi?ocid=ientp

 

I know another spanish couple that arrived a couple days ago to quarantine as well and they didn’t have to go through what I did. But according to them there were barely any foreigners. They said they were almost entirely mexicans in their flight. Apparently it was very smooth for them. No secondary check or anything. They both have the Eb-3 visa though and I have the K-1 

[ohohoho 28]

On 5/12/2020 at 3:48 PM, RD7712 said:

Flights are cancelled till May 31 on Austrian Airline.

https://www.austrian.com/Info/Flightinformation/Travel Alerts.aspx?sc_lang=en&cc=US

 

 

Yes, but this has been extended already several times and I highly doubt they will start flying earlier than June 15 or more likely July. Lufthansa, their parent company, is supposed to add more flights from June 1, including some international routes and Germany plans to open up on June 15, too, but anyway with this Schengen travel ban in effect, it still doesn’t help getting into the US. I really wish they would cancel it already...

[ohohoho 28]

2 minutes ago, Ela S. said:

I know another spanish couple that arrived a couple days ago to quarantine as well and they didn’t have to go through what I did. But according to them there were barely any foreigners. They said they were almost entirely mexicans in their flight. Apparently it was very smooth for them. No secondary check or anything. They both have the Eb-3 visa though and I have the K-1 

Do you know if it’s possible to get any accommodation? Everyone I’ve reached out to about rentals told me only from June 1, and I can’t exactly spend 2 weeks confined to a small hotel room with my toddler.

[Ela G. 389]

Just now, ohohoho said:

Do you know if it’s possible to get any accommodation? Everyone I’ve reached out to about rentals told me only from June 1, and I can’t exactly spend 2 weeks confined to a small hotel room with my toddler.

This spanish couple got an Airbnb. You can’t book through airbnb for May but you can reach an agreement outside of the app. I’m sure you’ll be able to book for June already though

[Ririwoo37 4]

On 5/5/2020 at 5:20 AM, zrdn2019 said:

Following this thread! My fiance is in Croatia, his K-1 expires June 21, and we are freaking out...

Hi, why can't he fly from Croatia to the US? I thought it was ok since Croatia is not part of the Schengen area?