Expats stranded abroad?

Silvan0 Active member

95POSTS

5 years ago

I am a Mauritius resident stranded abroad since March, due to Covid-19. In the past months the gov't has repatriated a fair number of Mauritian citizens stranded abroad, but nothing has been done for us. We contribute to the economy by bringing in foreign capitals, projects, employing Mauritians and tech know how. Yet, we are obviously not taken into account as a pillar of the economy and a main part of the system. I was told that we will be allowed back in when the island will decide to reopen for tourism.
This may however never happen this year because, while most other holiday destinations around the World have opened in July to cash in from the EU summer holidays period and allow their expats back, Mauritius is still too cautious and is missing out on their only chance for tourism income this year. In fact as most scientists say, October will bring a new, probably stronger wave of the pandemic, compromising the chances of a Christmas-NewYear season in 2020.
Expats however should be allowed in during August-September. Europe is fairly safe from the virus now and the risk of newly imported infections is very low, much below the one represented by the return of citizens in the past months. Allowing us back in will help resuscitate the economy. Many of us bring into the Country some 50-100K USD per year, amounting to hundreds of millions dollars and thousands of jobs for Mauritians. We are not just tourists, we are part of the wealth of Mauritius as the capitals we bring in are a main wheel of the economy. Staying out any longer is just not sustainable, since we are still paying a rent in Mauritius and salaries for our employees there, plus another rent abroad, car rental etc. But if not allowed back in soon, many of us may defect and elect another, more expat welcoming country as residence.
Any expats in the same situation, please feel free to share your thoughts and your experience.

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phipiemar VIP Member

4733POSTS

5 years ago

Hi,

As much as I can understand your frustration, I am also surprised.

Because all countries have set up repatriation flights that can be used by their compatriots and by foreigners with a residence visa.

Have you checked with the Mauritian Embassy in Italy?

Even here in Ghana, returns of foreigners with residence visas are working.

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/intern … 226297.htm
Published 18.06.2020
1. Passengers are not allowed to enter and transit until 31 August 2020.
- This does not apply to nationals or residents of Mauritius, their spouses and children. They are subject to quarantine.
2. Airline crew are subject to quarantine until their next flight.

Silvan0 Active member

95POSTS

5 years ago

Actually, I spoke directly to the Min. of FA, who is in charge of repatriation. Those flights are reserved to citizens. Residents may be allowed once there are no more citizens stranded abroad, however there are still quite a few. The point is that those flights are payed by the gov't. We expats have no problem paying for our ticket and doing the quarantine however there are no commercial flights to take us there. The second problem is that the quarantine must be don in one of the hotels specially equipped for that. Quarantine at home, as in most other countries, is not allowed. This is why the repatriation flights are rare, because there must be room in those quarantine hotels. From what I have heard, returning citizens are placed in these hotels for 2 weeks, however if anyone of your quarantine mates develops covid-19, the whole hotel is locked for another 2 weeks. So some have spent a month in quarantine.
I was on holidays in Costa Rica in March. Mauritius closed down on the 18th, 2 days before my return (!). I spent 3 months in exile in Costa Rica and finally made it on board a repatriation flight to Italy in mid June (I am Italian). I quarantined 2 weeks in my house and now I am trying to find a way back to Mauritius. In the link you posted the gov't announced the opening to tourism for Sep 1st, however this may change. They have not decided if that's still the case or not. With new local outbursts in EU and the fear of a second wave in Autumn, this may not happen at all.

phipiemar VIP Member

4733POSTS

5 years ago

My situation is no better than yours. I have been on assignment in Ghana for my employer since 2018. I returned to Ghana in mid-January for work. And since then I have been stuck. I'm only going to be able to go home in two weeks. While usually I do 10 week rotations then 2 at home. And whether I make the trip one way or the other, I have at least two weeks of quarantine ...

Anou86 ViP

1047POSTS

5 years ago

Hi everyone,

@ Syivan0, I can't imagine what you are going through during these difficult times. You are right on so many points. There are lots of expats going through the same difficulties but they haven't spoken out on the forum.

On the francophone forum, you will find a couple of them like Pimpy here :

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=901594

and Julien : https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =3#4915339

I have seen many other comments on social media from residents of different nationalities, hoping that the government would soon set up a plan so that they can come back but, as you must be already well aware, things have not moved a bit so far.

Hopefully they find a solution or atleast reach out to those affected to identify the needs and reassure them. Lack of communication is also a big problem and has been creating so much annoyance.

Stay safe, my thoughts are with you
Anoushka

Graeme Manning New member

5POSTS

5 years ago

Good morning Sir,
My wife also is waiting for a rerurn flight back to Mauritius from Czech. Please can you keep me posted when it will be possible to return. Many thanks and take care Graeme

Julien Founder

53137POSTS

5 years ago

Hi Silvano,

Hope your family and you are doing well. Thanks for your testimony. My mauritian spouse, ou daughter (mauritian and french) and myself (french) were in NYC when everything happened. We had no other choice than flying to France in April, and we're waiting for updates from the government. We've already moved 4 times, quarantined in NYC (4 weeks) and in France (3 weeks), hopefully we'll be able to fly back in the coming weeks .. or months ? so far no information.

All the best,

Julien

Silvan0 Active member

95POSTS

5 years ago

The gov policy is to give priority to citizens. The first bottleneck is the capacity of the quarantine hotels, the second the capacity of the medical system to accommodate infected passengers. Unfortunately they are taking a very conservative approach at estimating the latter. So they only repatriate a limited number, assuming that almost all of them would end up in ICU. This is not the case any more in Europe, where Covid is very low at present. I have written to the PM, the EDB, the Min. of FA... no reply.
Furthermore the oil spill will not play in our favour, as the gov. will be too busy coping with the blame game to take a decision on reopening for tourism.
But we are not tourists- We bring in much more money, pay tax, pay rents etc.

As for your wife, Julien, she should be able to be repatriated. There is a waiting list for citizens, but they are going very slow because of the capacity I mentioned above.

Problem is, Europe is certainly going for a second wave as from end September, so if they don't open at the end of August, they may not reopen at all this year.

Stanika New member

3POSTS

5 years ago

Hi Silvan0, hope we get the chance to return before the end of 2020. I'm in the Czech republic and my husband in Mauritius where we have resident visa. It would be beyond my comprehension if the border didn't open to us. Hoping though.

Departmaurice Active member

59POSTS

5 years ago

#10

Bonjour a tous,
Je suis bloquée en France aussi et résidente a Maurice. Mon fils doit faire sa rentrée le 26 août et nous n y serons pas.
On a vendu société, maison pour partir dans notre résidence a Maurice. Nous n aurons plus de logement le 25 août et nous ne savons pas si la frontière va réouvrir. Nous sommes plusieurs résidents dans cette situation. Nos mails envoyés au PM font retour à l envoyeur sans être lus. Pouvons nous regrouper nos demandes ? Par qui faut-il passer pour se faire entendre ???

Durban75 Active member

67POSTS

5 years ago

#11

Hi
I’m also french resident and my wife is Mauritian. Together with my 4 kids we are waiting since April for a flight and clearly it’s taking too long... just to clarify the gov is paying for the quarantine cost and you have to either have a valid MK ticket or buy one. This is clearly slowing the speed.
I’ve written and spoken almost every week to the embassy and suggesting paying for the quarantine with the same answer we have to wait!!!
We have a hope for the flight planned on the 30th of August from Paris.

Departmaurice Active member

59POSTS

5 years ago

#12

Nous vivons dans l espoir, et l incertitude. Il serait bien qu'il confirme ou infirme l ouverture mais pas nous laisser dans le doute.
Je nous souhaite de pouvoir avoir une réponse claire!!!

Silvan0 Active member

95POSTS

5 years ago

#13

Justement, le premier pas est de se regrouper pour avoir plus de poids. Il y a aussi un bon nombre de posts sur le blog en français. Je vais commencer par compiler une liste de témoignages, dont le tien est l'un des plus forts et urgents. Ensuite je vais bombarder le gouvernement et l'opposition avec ça. Je connais un bon nombre de ministres et MPs. Il faut qu'ils nous écoutent, et je sais ou faire levier.

Durban75 Active member

67POSTS

5 years ago

#14

A moins de connaitre le PM en personne ou à travers une très bonne connaissance je Doute fortement qu’on puisse avoir une réponse claire et précise.
Espérons que la tragédie du pétrolier se termine bien dans les prochains jours pour espérer avoir l’attention du gov!

Durban75 Active member

67POSTS

5 years ago

#15

Ce serait super:
Pour ma part français résident en couple avec une Mauricienne et 4 enfants français.
Merci

Durban75 Active member

67POSTS

5 years ago

#16

Sur liste de rapatriement à l’ambassade de Maurice à Paris depuis Avril.

Departmaurice Active member

59POSTS

5 years ago

#17

Ce serait vraiment génial qu'on puisse réunir nos situations et faire bouger les choses!!! Je suis à ta dispo si besoin.

Stanika New member

3POSTS

5 years ago

#18

That's a new information, thank you. How do i go about buying the ticket? I guess at this stage it's not clear. Thank you.

Durban75 Active member

67POSTS

5 years ago

#19

Well, first you need to make yourselves known by either the embassy in London or France ti make them aware that you want to go back home. Once done they’ll contact you to offer you a flight which will most probably be either from London or Paris.

pimpy Contributor

185POSTS

5 years ago

#20

Silvan0 wrote:
Justement, le premier pas est de se regrouper pour avoir plus de poids. Il y a aussi un bon nombre de posts sur le blog en français. Je vais commencer par compiler une liste de témoignages, dont le tien est l'un des plus forts et urgents. Ensuite je vais bombarder le gouvernement et l'opposition avec ça. Je connais un bon nombre de ministres et MPs. Il faut qu'ils nous écoutent, et je sais ou faire levier.

bonjour,
nous sommes un couple avec un enfant de 9 ans et nous sommes également bloqués en France. Nous sommes sur liste d'attente à l'ambassade de Maurice depuis début juin et à chacun de mes message on me répond qu'il faut être patient, que notre tour va venir.... mais à la question quand?? jamais de réponse.... nous ne pouvons continuer à rester dans ce floue artistique, c'est très destabilisant....ous avons vendu notre maison, toute nos affaires sont dans le container qui doit partir pour Maurice, nous avons notre maison qui nous attend labas, et surtout notre fils qui doit reprendre l'école dans un nouveau pays ce n'est déjà pas facile mais d'arriver en retrad et de ne pas faire sa rentrée avec tout le monde ça l'est encore plus.....ous remuons ciel et terre, mes e mails aux affaires étrangère et bureau du premier ministre me reviennent comme étant non lus....Air Mauritius me dit agir au doigt et à l'oeil du gouvernement, l'ambassade aussi, enfin on dirait que notre rapatriement est un vrai secret de polichinel....
ça suffit maintenant, si vous avez réellement de bons contacts bien placés, nous sommes partant bien entendu pour faire tout notre possible pour que ce rapatriement se fasse.... SVP tenez nous au courant de vos démarches et si l'on peut faire quoique se soit pour vous aider, il n'y a qu'à demander!!!
très bonne soirée
géraldine

Stanika New member

3POSTS

5 years ago

#21

Thank you for your reply. Makes sense. Thanks a lot.

Departmaurice Active member

59POSTS

5 years ago

#22

Bonjour
Vous pouvez nous aider?

pimpy Contributor

185POSTS

5 years ago

#23

Departmaurice wrote:
Bonjour
Vous pouvez nous aider?

Oui , pouvez vous nous aider SVP?

Diksha Moderator

4832POSTS

5 years ago

#24

Hello everybody,

I empathize with the difficult situation a lot of you are going through at the moment and hope that this issue gets sorted out quickly so that you can return home safely.

However, please note that you are currently posting to a thread on the anglophone version of the Mauritius forum, and subsequently, you should only be using English to communicate among yourselves.

To converse in French on the same subject, I would request you to continue the conversation by posting on a similar thread (topic-wise) on the francophone forum: vol de rapatriement de la France pour Maurice.

Thanks for your understanding.

Stay strong and safe,

Diksha
Team Expat.com

Silvan0 Active member

95POSTS

5 years ago

#25

You're right, but you know, Mauritius is bilingual and we and we end up speaking Franglais very often.

French speakers, let's move to https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =3#4923509

Francophones, on continue sur https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … =3#4923509

Julien Founder

53137POSTS

5 years ago

#26

Just spoke to the embassy ... still no information, if someone is selected for a repatriation flight, they'll call 5 days before the flight ... "it can last months" told me the agent.

Silvan0 Active member

95POSTS

5 years ago

#27

This is crazy. There is no reason to lock the country totally like that. Monday I'm flying from Rome to Cyprus. They just test you at the arrival and that's all. Of course countries like the US, Brazil, the UK etc. are not allowed in, but most of Europe is OK. If they don't open now, they will not open for another year, as Covid is likely to go up in October.
I will just send a removal company to pick up my stuff and will move to somewhere less stupid.

External ViP

2822POSTS

5 years ago

#28

Silvan0 wrote:
This is crazy. There is no reason to lock the country totally like that. Monday I'm flying from Rome to Cyprus. They just test you at the arrival and that's all. Of course countries like the US, Brazil, the UK etc. are not allowed in, but most of Europe is OK. If they don't open now, they will not open for another year, as Covid is likely to go up in October.
I will just send a removal company to pick up my stuff and will move to somewhere less stupid.

Because both Italy and Cyprus are in the EU and members are free to do what they want with their borders even bolstering C-19 testing at airports and taking other border measures to combat the threat of increased infections sparked by returning holidaymakers, especially those from hot spots. Italy is considered to be less risky as compared to Spain for example.

Matteram New member

4POSTS

5 years ago

#29

***

Moderated by Cheryl 5 years ago
Reason : Kindly write in English only please.
We invite you to read the forum code of conduct

Silvan0 Active member

95POSTS

5 years ago

#30

What I call crazy is the paranoia about this virus. Mauritius is destroying its tourism economy and its foreign investment by taking a total closure attitude. It's the only country in the world to do that.
The probability of 1 case of Covid on a plane of 250 people from Italy is 2%, from France 7%. That means that you will find one Covid positive passenger every 14 planes from Paris and 50 planes from Rome. But think how much money and employment in the tourist sector these planes are bringing.
And even when you find a positive case, think that today the death rate in those countries has dropped below 1%. There are only 55 people in ICU in Italy, and we see 2-5 deaths per day, which is the rates of seasonal flue. That means that Summer has weakened the virus in Europe, and the risks involved with importing positive cases are similar of those for a common cold.
This is the kind of risk assessment that the government should be making if they want to avoid a financial disaster.

yeti1952 Active member

47POSTS

5 years ago

#31

We have been here all through the lock down and yes we need the tourist income back do not need the virus. We have to trust that the government makes the right decision as do re opening the borders