Make sure they stamp your passport

[Ratcatcher]

Arrived at the tunnel on New Year’s Day, through our passport control, then gas check, then French passport control.
Asked where are we going, Spain said I, how long? Seven weeks, are you aware of the 90 day rule? Yes said I, you are missing a stamp on both passports said she!
Crossed for 43 days from 1st May, stamped in and out.
Crossed for 21 days from 4 th September, stamped in but not out!
French lady then went away to ask for advise, held our breath for 5 minutes, then she came back and said ok enjoy your holiday. Phew!
Memories of getting to the port at bilbao and being told we could not board as the vet had miss dated billieboo’s passport!

 

[Carpmart]

Ah, I see, thanks. I didn't want to lead you on: I suspected wrongly that your comment was linked to the question whether non-EU spouse can always accompany an EU passport holder. And the answer there (as I understand) is 'no', basically the 90 day rule still applies.

The 90 day rule categorically does not apply. If travelling with an EU spouse your spouse has the right to roam under directive 2004-38 EU (google and have a read). You as his/her spouse can accompany and are afforded the same freedom of movement… trouble is the French border officials haven’t been trained!

 

[rb62]

EU officials do not stamp at UK immigration control posts.

I know it is confusing for some people at Dover/Calais because the UK and French posts are operated on different sides of the Channel, but one only has to look up at the post's name and also at the Officer's uniform.

I am well aware of that! the French stamp your passport UK side on the way out and French side on the way back.

 

[Gingernuts]

Well my tuppence worth…… married to a Portuguese lady who is uk resident the Portuguese passport official has always demanded my passport on entering AND leaving and stamped it despite my protestations!!!!!!

 

[Fdhadi]

Just stamp the bloody thing yourself anything to make it look official

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[Carpmart]

Well my tuppence worth…… married to a Portuguese lady who is uk resident the Portuguese passport official has always demanded my passport on entering AND leaving and stamped it despite my protestations!!!!!!

Yep keeps happening to me too…Have you stayed out of the UK in EU for longer than 90 days?

 

[nicholsong]

Couldn’t agree more! Sick of arguing the toss politely explaining to French border officials who just don’t have a clue. All they know is that they have been told to stamp all UK passports, so as far as they are concerned, there are no exceptions… well yes actually there are!

As a EU Resident and British Citizen I intend to exit and enter EU on my EU Resident's Card and enter and exit UK on my British passport.

Therefore there should be no stamping.

 

[Carpmart]

As a EU Resident and British Citizen I intend to exit and enter EU on my EU Resident's Card and enter and exit UK on my British passport.

Therefore there should be no stamping.

Good luck!

Let us know how you get on!

 

[Gingernuts]

Yep keeps happening to me too…Have you stayed out of the UK in EU for longer than 90 days?

Nope it’s all been 2 weeks or less! Flying in and out tho

 

[DMartin]

The 90 day rule categorically does not apply. If travelling with an EU spouse your spouse has the right to roam under directive 2004-38 EU (google and have a read). You as his/her spouse can accompany and are afforded the same freedom of movement… trouble is the French border officials haven’t been trained!

When you say "with an EU spouse" I think you mean with an EU spouse resident in the EU. In our case we're UK resident but one EU passport. So 90 days applies.

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[nicholsong]

Good luck!

Let us know how you get on!

I shall, but you might have to wait a couple of years before I go to UK.

By that time the officers may know the rules or the system has collapsed from overload.

Does anyone know whether there has be a BETA test on EES or on ETIAS? and has it been across all Schengen and EU countries?

 

[Ratcatcher]

Ratcatcher did they stamp your passport? otherwise when you come to return it will look as though you had been in EU since 4th sept!

Yes we got a stamp this time!

 

[nicholsong]

When you say "with an EU spouse" I think you mean with an EU spouse resident in the EU. In our case we're UK resident but one EU passport. So 90 days applies.

My understanding is that it is with a souse who has an EU passport regardless of where resident - could be USA or Australia.

 

[Nanniemate]

Not got on a ferry for a while do you not give all the information when booking . Every boat should have an upto date passenger list in case of the worst happening , I know this is always not as accurate as it should be

 

[Carpmart]

When you say "with an EU spouse" I think you mean with an EU spouse resident in the EU. In our case we're UK resident but one EU passport. So 90 days applies.

Fortunately that is not how it works. Where you live has nothing to do with it, just that one of you is an EU passport holder… Why would it be any different?

As I suggested, have a google of the directive, very easy to follow, seemingly impossible for French border force to understand!!!!!

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[Orion]

I don't know what law you're relying on (and I'm willing to be educated) but the UK citizen surely needs stamps in case she/he is out of the UK without spouse at some time?

No, it’s exactly that situation that will create issues for the U.K. citizen travelling alone, having previously travelled with the EU spouse.

Here’s the scenario: I, a U.K. citizen, travel with my wife, an EU state citizen, and we spend, say 120 days, touring within the Schengen zone. If my passport has been stamped on entry and exit, and I then shortly afterwards travel alone to an EU country, I stand a very good chance of being pulled up and having to justify what appears to be an overstay - but isn’t because I’ve fully complied with the requirements of the Directive.

Have a read of this document which explains it quite well.

 

[Billylou]

Just when you think you understand this.
I understand my travel options when travelling with my EU passport holding wife.

Would anyone know (no guesses allowed) if the 90+ days I travelled in the EU with my EU wife count should I decide to travel alone back to the EU a week after returning to the UK for example?

 

[Orion]

Here are a few links to the Citizens Advice Bureau Spain that are quite informative..

Spouses of EU Citizens

Border Control

Border Lanes

 

[Billylou]

Thanks Orion I think this answers my question.

“However, if your spouse is travelling with you to a Schengen country, or joins you in a Schengen country, the 90/180 days limitation does not apply. (CAB note* presuming they mean that if the non EU spouse is travelling with or to meet the EU partner) Accordingly, any stays in the Schengen area together with her will not be taken into account when you travel again on your own. Please be aware, however, that in this case you might need to have documentation to show on when you were travelling with her and when you were not).”

 

[Orion]

Thanks Orion I think this answers my question.

“However, if your spouse is travelling with you to a Schengen country, or joins you in a Schengen country, the 90/180 days limitation does not apply. (CAB note* presuming they mean that if the non EU spouse is travelling with or to meet the EU partner) Accordingly, any stays in the Schengen area together with her will not be taken into account when you travel again on your own. Please be aware, however, that in this case you might need to have documentation to show on when you were travelling with her and when you were not).”

If it doesn’t work out just let us know where you need the bail money posted!

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[Mrjenben]

Here’s the scenario: I, a U.K. citizen, travel with my wife, an EU state citizen, and we spend, say 120 days, touring within the Schengen zone. If my passport has been stamped on entry and exit, and I then shortly afterwards travel alone to an EU country, I stand a very good chance of being pulled up and having to justify what appears to be an overstay - but isn’t because I’ve fully complied with the requirements of the Directive.

Doesn’t the link you posted later specifically state that your passport should be stamped unless you have a residency card?

“The travel document of family members of EU, EEA and CH citizens who are third- country nationals must also be stamped, unless they present a residence card issued in accordance with Directive 2004/38/ EC as submitted in line with Article 39 of the Schengen Border Code or otherwise clearly indicating a family member of an EU citizen or a family member of an EEA or CH citizen.”

 

[gus-lopez]

I don't know what law you're relying on (and I'm willing to be educated) but the UK citizen surely needs stamps in case she/he is out of the UK without spouse at some time?

No , as others have posted it cannot be stamped as if the holder then travels seperately it will look as though they have overstayed . the WA
( withdrawal act)covers it.

Couldn’t agree more! Sick of arguing the toss politely explaining to French border officials who just don’t have a clue. All they know is that they have been told to stamp all UK passports, so as far as they are concerned, there are no exceptions… well yes actually there are!

No one has ever stamped mine & if they had you'd certainly know about it due to me being arrested

As a EU Resident and British Citizen I intend to exit and enter EU on my EU Resident's Card and enter and exit UK on my British passport.

Therefore there should be no stamping.

I did last summer. No one was interested least of all the French

Good luck!

Let us know how you get on!

As above I'm an EU resident with TIE card. when leaving the UK the French official asked for " all passports including the dog"
I gave him dogs passport at the bottom ,wife's next with TIE card on top ,my passport on top of that with my TIE card on top & handed him the whole stack.He took one look at the residency card & handed the whole lot back & his hand never even entered the little window. So unless the passport was scanned at Dunkerque when I booked in with dfds, which means I'm still in the UK, no one ever looked at anything after that.No French or British . & as said when leaving nothing looked at or scanned by anyone.

When you say "with an EU spouse" I think you mean with an EU spouse resident in the EU. In our case we're UK resident but one EU passport. So 90 days applies.

No , as stated where anyone lives is of no interest when travelling with an EU passport holder

Would anyone know (no guesses allowed) if the 90+ days I travelled in the EU with my EU wife count should I decide to travel alone back to the EU a week after returning to the UK for example?

they do not count.the passport should not be stamped & if scanned should show that the previous trip was accompanying an EU citizen

Doesn’t the link you posted later specifically state that your passport should be stamped unless you have a residency card?

“The travel document of family members of EU, EEA and CH citizens who are third- country nationals must also be stamped, unless they present a residence card issued in accordance with Directive 2004/38/ EC as submitted in line with Article 39 of the Schengen Border Code or otherwise clearly indicating a family member of an EU citizen or a family member of an EEA or CH citizen.”

Which link? I cannot find the above?
The above I seem to recall when dredging the depths of my memory. The problem was that the UK does not have any type of residency card & therefore if, as at the outset, they stamped passports of UK citizens travelling with an EU spouse who can travel indefinitely, if they were not also scanned then the problem of overstaying came up when the UK passport holder travelled alone as it looked as if they had been in schengen longer than the 90 days. So they went with the WA & no stamping.

 

[Martyn911]

Couldn’t agree more! Sick of arguing the toss politely explaining to French border officials who just don’t have a clue. All they know is that they have been told to stamp all UK passports, so as far as they are concerned, there are no exceptions… well yes actually there are!

Been in and out of Europe from the Uk, with my Irish wife and my French residency card and have never had my nice blue passport stamped

 

[nicholsong]

No , as others have posted it cannot be stamped as if the holder then travels seperately it will look as though they have overstayed . the WA
( withdrawal act)covers it.

No one has ever stamped mine & if they had you'd certainly know about it due to me being arrested

I did last summer. No one was interested least of all the French

As above I'm an EU resident with TIE card. when leaving the UK the French official asked for " all passports including the dog"
I gave him dogs passport at the bottom ,wife's next with TIE card on top ,my passport on top of that with my TIE card on top & handed him the whole stack.He took one look at the residency card & handed the whole lot back & his hand never even entered the little window. So unless the passport was scanned at Dunkerque when I booked in with dfds, which means I'm still in the UK, no one ever looked at anything after that.No French or British . & as said when leaving nothing looked at or scanned by anyone.

No , as stated where anyone lives is of no interest when travelling with an EU passport holder

they do not count.the passport should not be stamped & if scanned should show that the previous trip was accompanying an EU citizen


Which link? I cannot find the above?
The above I seem to recall when dredging the depths of my memory. The problem was that the UK does not have any type of residency card & therefore if, as at the outset, they stamped passports of UK citizens travelling with an EU spouse who can travel indefinitely, if they were not also scanned then the problem of overstaying came up when the UK passport holder travelled alone as it looked as if they had been in schengen longer than the 90 days. So they went with the WA & no stamping.

Richard

Shall we offer a training course for French Immigration Officers?

Shall we say €300 per officer per day? Minimum attendance 30 persons?

Geoff

 

[Nanniemate]

Richard

Shall we offer a training course for French Immigration Officers?

Shall we say €300 per officer per day? Minimum attendance 30 persons?

Geoff

Throw in tea coffee and a sandwich you can add another €100 per head

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[hja]

As far as I'm aware, the launch date has been put back to November 2023 (https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/etias/). I think it's down to someone forgetting to tell the ports etc. they'll need a bunch of new kit for scanning etc.

I think this refers to the ETIAS system not the entry exit system. Certainly Eurotunnel & Port of Dover were very concerned about where they were going to do the entry/exit checks because of a lack of space. Also they were saying that the system is more appropriate for airlines. But presumably it will apply to e.g. EU border with Turkey and a few others.

 

[Bailey58]

Throw in coffee and a baguette and you can add another €100 per head

Corrected for our foreign friends.

 

[Nanniemate]

Corrected for our foreign friends.

couldn't spell long roll

 

[steve69]

Fortunately that is not how it works. Where you live has nothing to do with it, just that one of you is an EU passport holder… Why would it be any different?

As I suggested, have a google of the directive, very easy to follow, seemingly impossible for French border force to understand!!!!!

I have been told by a British Friend with a Swiss spouse that what you are saying is wrong...or maybe it's because his spouse is Swiss. He cannot travel overland wily-nilly but perhaps he can fly directly to Switzerland from the UK and not be affected by these stupid rules.

 

[Carpmart]

I have been told by a British Friend with a Swiss spouse that what you are saying is wrong...or maybe it's because his spouse is Swiss. He cannot travel overland wily-nilly but perhaps he can fly directly to Switzerland from the UK and not be affected by these stupid rules.

I’ve read the Directive so I can assure you, your friend is wrong and I am correct!

Right to roam for EU people is afford to their accompanying spouse… been that way for nearly two decades now!

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[steve69]

I’ve read the Directive so I can assure you, your friend is wrong and I am correct!

Right to roam for EU people is afford to their accompanying spouse… been that way for nearly two decades now!

Well, that's not what he has been told....and he spends a lot of time in Europe. It all changed after Brexit.