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ResourcesVisa & Immigration LawVisa NewsUS Embassy Thailand Warns Expats of COVID Related Travel Problems

US Embassy Thailand Warns Expats of COVID Related Travel Problems

Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing a warning by the US Embassy regarding travel problems arising from COVID. 

A recent tweet from ACS Bangkok, that is at: @acsbkk, we are going to go ahead and throw this up there on the screen. Quoting directly: "Alert! Be prepared you may unexpectedly test positive for COVID-19 while overseas and be unable to fly home as planned. Before you travel, have medical travel insurance that covers you overseas and a financial plan if you or your family have to extend your trip abroad." 

Now what they are talking about here and l really do appreciate the Embassy bringing this up, because American expats and tourists, people that are just traveling out here, they may not really be fully aware of the ramifications of this. Long story short, within the past I think it actually came into effect January 26th, but I could be wrong on that well it is in effect now, there is a restriction on anyone coming to the United States if they test positive for COVID. You now have to get a COVID test much like you do to come to Thailand you have to get a COVID test within 72 hours of departure from the US, and testing positive will negate one's ability to travel back to the United States.

So not to get into the legalities of that although I do have my own thoughts especially with respect to the specific clause in the US Constitution regarding the right to travel, but not getting into that and that is not the purpose of this video, and I don't want to really bring that up. Well I have already brought it up. I get it but I bring it up because I know there are going to be a bunch of people in the comments that are going to bring it up so I am bringing it up, but that is not the purpose of this video. I do appreciate the US Embassy for pointing this out because this has practical implications. We can get into debates on the constitutionality of the legality of the restriction but long story short the restriction is there for now and as a practical matter, if you text positive for COVID, you are not going to be able to board a plane and they are requiring a COVID test for everyone going to the United States.

So Americans who are abroad or they are thinking of traveling to for example Thailand, be aware of this return restriction. Travel insurance is probably a pretty good idea because failure to heed this and keep this in mind, could result in a situation where you effectively get stuck abroad and then you have got to deal with being in COVID quarantine overseas and having to deal with all that before being able to return to the United States.