Topic: Leaving Australia's Border to Transition during COVID Crisis (any one tried it?)

[Miss Kitty]

Hello every one,

I am writing to discuss the on going issue of being kept trapped within Australia's borders. The reason I am bringing this up is I have already pre-paid FFS in Spain with the Facial Team and for a Breast Augmentation in Thailand with Kamol hospital and both of those places are just waiting for me to give them the date when I can fly over there. Unfortunately our government see's it fit to keep changing the dates when we can leave over seas, I had heard that December 27th this year they will be opening borders to select countries but I heard another report today saying I could be waiting until 2023!

My gender dysphoria has been acting up a lot lately, so much so that I have taken to abusing alcohol and cigarettes again (some thing I haven't really done since I came out as Trans). I have even been prescribed anti-depressants (again, some thing I haven't done since I came out).

I am well aware a lot of Australians are going through problems at the moment but what I would like to know is if suffering with Gender Dysphoria, Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation would be enough reason to be granted a permit to leave Australia. Apparently you can apply for an exemption to leave but the basis for granting them seems to literally be random. I have heard of people receiving them just for casually conducting business then others being denied one when they are suffering with terminal diseases.

Has any one tried to apply for one on the basis of having to use surgery to Transition? Or has any one heard of trying to?
My surgery isn't supposed to go ahead until February (I booked far in the future hoping this Covid crisis would have calmed down by then), but every time I hear an update, despite the fact it's normally just gossip from strangers, the future of being able to leave without or permit (or the ability to obtain one) seems more and more grim.

If any one has any insight or suggestions I would love to hear from you.
Thanks

[Allie Jayne]

Miss Kitty, I'm and Aussie too, but my surgeries are booked locally. There is a chance some international 'bubbles' will open up in the new year, but I haven't heard that Thailand will be part of that scheme yet. There is so much uncertainty with this virus that nobody is in a hurry to open up. I think all you can do is either move your dates back or try to negotiate a refund. So sorry Covid has so affected you, and the many who have had their surgeries postponed or even cancelled. It truly sucks.

Hugs,

Allie

[Rakel]

If any one has any insight or suggestions I would love to hear from you.

Once we have an effective vaccine, this virus should be under control and we will be back to near normal situation. My best guess is sometime early next year.

[Devlyn]

Once we have an effective vaccine, this virus should be under control and we will be back to near normal situation. My best guess is sometime early next year.

... because everyone gets vaccines that protect the population at large without
any squawking at all......   

[Miss Kitty]

thank you all for the replies, I am trying my hardest to not think about what is going on. All I can do is hope for the best, apply for permission to leave or see what the politicians decide is best, a positive attitude is the best I can do until next year.

I think a realistic guess as to being able to leave is July next year, it is probably telling that Qantas is rescheduling all of their international flights then (they are all cancelled at the moment). I met an economists not long ago who said the government is effectively being forced to open international borders at that time else they are going to see over a decade of severe debt (he had a much better way of explaining it) which means July is hopefully the latest I am going to have to wait (instead of 2024 or some other horrid time).

[Fleur]

Hi Miss Kitty,
I'm in the boat I think. My GRS was meant to happen in March in Thailand but got cancelled at the last minute. It's been really rough these last 8 months, so I can definitely empathize! But I got an email last week from the Suporn Clinic (whose doing the operation) saying they are reopened and inviting me back. I would really like to go as soon as possible, so I'm going to try to apply for an exemption on medical grounds. I'm asking for supporting letters from my GP and the surgeon himself and the psychiatrist who wrote my original surgery letters and my therapist. I'm a bit worried reject me since the operation is available in Australia. My understanding is the Thai surgical technique is different and not available here and I think the Thai technique better suits my needs. It is going to be expansive though, since I will probably have to pay for 2 weeks' quarantine both on arrival in Thailand and coming back to Australia. I wouldn't go before January to allow enough time to get documents together (the Thai paperwork sounds like a headache itself). But I have to try!

I'll keep you apprised if you like?