When will we be allowed into another country to see our grandchildren?

Sadly, because there is no uniformity with how the pandemic is being handled between countries, I think we are all in for a long wait!
Doubt if petitions will work when many countries are just looking after their own , usually financial and business interests, rather than actual scientific and medical advice and knowledge, a load of requests or signatures will make little difference.

One of my DD's oldest friends is married to an American and they have two children. They have been over here for several years as his firm transferred him. His firm has now transferred him back to America - postponed for the last year because of Covid. During the time they have been waiting her green card and one of the children's passports have expired. Obvious answer is to speak to the American embassy, who are not taking phone calls. Theoretically they can travel to the US and see if they are allowed in. but risk immediate deportation or being held in custody while inquiries are made. Another complication is the dog. The dog will be flown by American Airlines who will not land a dog in the US if the temperature there will be more than 85 F, which in Boston will be most of the time. The dog will be kenneled in Windsor while it waits for a flight - they are currently in Norwich. She has asked what happens to the dog if it can't be landed but nobody seems to know.

Can’t a family member look after the dog I always feel so sorry for dogs being transported around the world
I know a lady who has moved country three times each time taking her cat with her but I think that’s really not on just a personal opinion

Agree with you BlueBelle. Very sad for the pets in these situations and referred to as ‘another complication’, waiting in kennels for a flight alone and no-one knows if he/she (not ‘it’ please) will be allowed to land. I couldn’t contemplate doing this to my beloved dog.

Haven't seen one of our GC since we put them on a plane beginning of Jan 2020, they have also not been able to travel to their parents (our eldest AC), it's flipping heartbreaking ?

Havnt seen my daughter since 2019. It’s under 2 hours flight but still another country.

I gave up my overseas job because I wasn't able to come home to visit. GS was 2 when I left. Is now 3 1/2. I was very lucky he remembered me.

I am still sad I had to give the job it. It was a really good one and at my age, I won't find another as good. But family first.

Not seen my son since december 2018….. hate it.

(so I’m less bothered about the dog frankly !)

The virus frankly doesn’t care whether or not it is to see your grandchildren , your children, your parents, your partner, husband or wife, to look after a property abroad, to complete a business deal, to have a holiday or indeed any purpose. So your question should really be
When will we be allowed into another country
And none of us knows the answer to that.

The dog will be looked after by her mother but she will have to be ready to drive it over to Windsor from Norwich if it looks as if there will be a flight. And of course a lot will depend on whether half the family gets turned away by US border force.

It depends which country your children live in. According to their government website, Canada allows people to enter the country to reunite with their immediate family for a minimum of 15 days. Since July, this no longer requires a period of quarantine, as long as the visitors are doubly vaccinated. We are hoping to go over next month to see our son and grandchildren but there are lots of hoops to jump through and documentation to provide as evidence. Keep checking the official website of the country you hope to visit - things are changing very fast (both forwards and backwards!).

FaceTime is just not the same as an actual hug is it … so frustrating when the goal posts keep changing too … it’s heartbreaking for all the family ?

My only grandchildren are in USA. I havent seen them for two and a half years now. I miss my son and the whole family, wonder if I will be up to the journey if I get much older !

where are you? I thought the UK were letting anyone in tbh

So when will expats be allowed into this country?

My eldest dad and family live in the U.S, not seen her for 2 years
My youngest dad and younger gods live in oz, thankfully I went over for a month in 2019, before the virus became prevalent and countries locked down
But like others, I miss them all so much and now my dh has early onset dementia, and depends on how quick that progresses, will I beable to leave him, to visit family

sorry that should have said daughter, not dad

My son, his wife and two of our grandchildren are in the USA and we’ve not seen them since early 2020. Since then their Canadian grandfather, to whom they were very close , suddenly died. My youngest granddaughter said to me on FaceTime “ will we ever see you again Nanny”. It is so hard for the children when time seems to go so slowly. I really doubt we’ll. be seeing them anytime soon, however much we want to.

I don't think that my son and daughter in law would want to travel at the moment when the advice is not to come to UK . Children are 8 and 10, they visited every year when children were babies but it is rather an expensive trip for all four of them now. I have been visiting them in recent years.

As usual there seems to be 1 law for the rich…. There are plenty people still jetting round the world on private jets etc avoiding the COVID rules…it is heartbreaking for families who haven’t been able to meet up for what is now becoming years….

There are still people from America visiting the UK, unfortunately a friend for a funeral. Would they let us visit for the same I wonder?

My only brother lives in Australia. We used to take it in turns to visit but he was here in 2019 and we have not been able to go to Oz.
He is 69 and I am nearly 71. I am just being patient and keeping safe. He hasn’t even been vaccinated yet and no sign of this happening so he has taken off on a six month camping trip around WA and living the dream.
My travel insurance will be more expensive when I can finally visit. However, we are both pragmatic and hope we can see out this crisis in order to hug each other again.
Be patient folks!!

I live in France and missing my family in UK so much. My eldest son is Head Groundsman at Yorkshire Sculpture Park so can’t isolate at home. As soon as the need to quarantine on return was lifted for double jabbees he booked a flight for him and our granddaughters. We were all over the moon but in no time at all the UK government changed the rules and made a new category, Amber +, just for France. Heartbreaking. He tried to change his flights with just over a week before departure and was unable to do so, despite Ryanair websites saying you can. He was kicked of the online “chat” so tried online customer service and he was number 499 in the queue! The money people have lost with all this flip flopping and the heartache it has caused. I feel for all grandparents who are separated from their grandchildren. We speak on zoom but they are growing up so fast! It is so sad and much of it is unnecessary. There are people who have made a lot of money out of Covid and they don’t want the gravy train to stop. Stay safe everyone.

Webcam has given me the opportunity to visit my U.S family until they or myself can once again meet in person.