Traveling from the US to the UK and back again

[JPD91 49]

16 hours ago, The4Sands said:

Well, just to update you all, I made it safely to the UK. In the end I took several, local COVID tests in my state and both airlines and UK immigration we’re happy with the email results that I received. 
 

Entering the UK is not a quick process these days. I had to show my negative test results, my passenger locator form, my proof of having booked the UK COVID testing package and my residence permit multiple times, which was fine. But at every stage there were other people who not prepared to do this and that slowed everything right down. My queue at Immigration at the UK border probably only had 100 people in it, but it took two and half hours to get through (which is nothing compared to “all other passports” queue which had about 300 people in it and was hardly moving at all).

 

Thanks to the advice given here, I booked my COVID testing package well in advance and it was waiting at my quarantine location when I arrived. I’ve taken it and posted it back and in the meantime am enjoying a quiet quarantine. I’ve done a little research and am going to try and book a LAMP test at Heathrow early on the day I depart. I might have to hang around the airport for a long time, but better that than increasing the chance of missing my flight back to the US, I guess. I don’t think the results from test I just took will still be valid to use to go back to the States. 
 

It’s a bit weird how locked down it is here compared to my state, but I absolutely understand why they’ve done it. And really am just grateful I’m able to be here at all. Anyways, thanks for all your suggestions and advice, it was all really helpful!!!

Where online did you book your COVID testing package if you don't mind me asking?

[The4Sands 67]

On 3/20/2021 at 2:15 AM, JPD91 said:

Where online did you book your COVID testing package if you don't mind me asking?

This website has a list of the providers you can use to book the package.  I used CTM and it was all pretty straightforward. 
 

That is, assuming you are coming from a non-red list country. There’s a different process to follow if you’re coming from a red list country that involves paying to stay in a hotel to quarantine which I know much less about. 
 

Hope that helps!!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

On 3/19/2021 at 5:08 AM, The4Sands said:

Well, just to update you all, I made it safely to the UK. In the end I took several, local COVID tests in my state and both airlines and UK immigration we’re happy with the email results that I received. 

When is your oath ceremony?

Edited March 22, 2021 by Wuozopo

[The4Sands 67]

22 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

When is your oath ceremony?

I had it on Thursday! It was literally just a Teams video call with someone from the county council’s registrars office. I had to send them proof of ID and the letter from the Home Office telling me I was eligible ahead of time and then she had me repeat the oath and that was it. They’re posting me the certificate. Kinda crazy. 

[The4Sands 67]

Just for the sake of completeness, I have made it back to the US. The process has a similar challenge level to going to the UK, but the challenges themselves were different, chief amongst which is that you can’t get always an NHS COVID test if you don’t have symptoms AND you’re quarantining. Thankfully it was mentioned here that you can get tested at the airport, so I booked a LAMP COVID test at Heathrow like 5 hours before my flight. It did indeed take the suggested 90 minutes to get my negative results certificate in the email and that and a physical, signed attestation form were all I needed to get back in the US. And my passport, obvs. 
 

Heathrow was pretty quiet but the Atlanta airport was crazy. Social distancing is not a thing there, I guess. 
 

It is definitely possible to travel abroad during COVID, but I don’t recommend it unless you have to.  It was pretty stressful.