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Excellent Stuff Mate!!! Hope they learn their lessonsPlum70 wrote:I have received a response from the UKBA to my complaint. Relevant excerpts in response to my complaint on landing cards read:
"...Eurostar are encouraged to ensure non-EEA passengers have a completed landing card before they are presented to a Border Force officer in order to eliminate delays at the controls. Unfortunately the EEA residence document is contained in the passport and it will not become apparent to Border Force that one is held prior to commencement of the examination".
Relevant excerpts in response to my complaint on (entry) stamps read:
"I would like to assure you that the UK does adhere to EC Directive 2004/38/EC and confirm that, as you are in possession of an EEA residence card, your passport should not have been stamped..."
The letter went on to say that "... As a result of your emails the guidance issued to our officers concerning the treatment of passengers holding residence cards is to be rewritten to ensure more clarity, and an interim instruction will be issued shortly."
This letter will accompany me on my travels just in case some border officers missed the refresher course!
Thanks 86ti for pointing me to the e-complaints service.
What exactly are they trying to say with that? It's not that you couldn't communicate that fact to them at any stage of the checking process...Plum70 wrote:"...Eurostar are encouraged to ensure non-EEA passengers have a completed landing card before they are presented to a Border Force officer in order to eliminate delays at the controls. Unfortunately the EEA residence document is contained in the passport and it will not become apparent to Border Force that one is held prior to commencement of the examination".
I think many more people should do the same.Plum70 wrote:Thanks 86ti for pointing me to the e-complaints service.
By now they should all be aware of the applications of the EEA Directive. Sure thier miss managment/ handling of EEA RC holders on boarder points, is a moral issue rather than a techinical one.Am sure they are all updated whenever possible.Plum70 wrote:Yes - but only a partial victory. I will monitor the quality of guidance updates on the UKBA website and operations at the borders over the next 12 months before sealing the file on this one.
I also intend to respond to the UKBA highlighting the fact that even when border officers have had the opportunity to inspect a passport holding a RC they still insist on a landing card being filled. The issue is that most are not aware of the applications of the EU Directive and by default apply UK immigration law to all non-EEA passengers, except they hold a ROA.
My thoughts exactly... the UKBA's response is tacit; they appear to acknowledge that non-EEA passengers in possession of a RC are NOT required to complete landing cards but are not declaring it outright. I wonder why?86ti wrote:What exactly are they trying to say with that? It's not that you couldn't communicate that fact to them at any stage of the checking process...Plum70 wrote:"...Eurostar are encouraged to ensure non-EEA passengers have a completed landing card before they are presented to a Border Force officer in order to eliminate delays at the controls. Unfortunately the EEA residence document is contained in the passport and it will not become apparent to Border Force that one is held prior to commencement of the examination".
In a way I see your point. Some border officers may have clouded judgement or bias towards (some) non-EEA passengers, and may therefore act unprofessionally in certain situations. However, I would like to give the UKBA ample opportunity to admit these errors and rectify them by providing clear guidance - in black and white and in accordance with EU law - that front line border officers can neither misconstrue nor misrepresent.DFDS. wrote:By now they should all be aware of the applications of the EEA Directive. Sure thier miss managment/ handling of EEA RC holders on boarder points, is a moral issue rather than a techinical one.Am sure they are all updated whenever possible.
This is what I pointed out in my complaint - clear border control guidance. Inspect non-EEA passenger's passport - UK Residence Card - establish that s/he still qualifies under this category - if 'Yes' = no entry stamp or landing card.London-er wrote:I think they should clearly state it on their website and stop beating about the bush. It was there before and they took it off. It has been under update for ages...they should tell it to the Birds![]()
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... onsmanual/
I mean how difficult is it for UKBA staff to identify Residence Cards and figure out that the Holders do not require Landing Cards and (or) Arrival Stamps. How Difficult ???
I hope you were aware that Switzerland requires a Schengenvisa for holders of Residence Card issued by non-Schengen EEA-countries (such as the UK).Plum70 wrote:My husband and I are travelling over Christmas to Switzerland. Will post when back!
Fully aware - I have a 3-year mult. entry schengen visa.fysicus wrote:I hope you were aware that Switzerland requires a Schengenvisa for holders of Residence Card issued by non-Schengen EEA-countries (such as the UK).Plum70 wrote:My husband and I are travelling over Christmas to Switzerland. Will post when back!
Yeap! Used to travel on my WHM visa back in '07 before they took the leap.Strangely enough they allowed visa-free access to such persons before they joined Schengen!
Hi Plum70,Plum70 wrote:Said I would post back upon returning from hols:
Arrived with my husband at Heathrow terminal 1 this eve and went on the UK/EU passport queue. The IO saw my non-EU passport and asked for a landing card and I said I had a RC. He took both our passports, inspected my RC and went off to a back office. He reemerged and mumbled something about all being fine and sorry for keeping us.
I asked which queue to join if travelling alone and he said to join the UK/EU queue but to hold my passport open where the RC sticker is so that the IO, on seeing my non-EU passport, won't immediately turn me back. He also was aware that having a RC meant that I should be treated same as a EU/UK/EFTA national which indicates progress!
My only criticism about his advice is passengers are normally requested to present their passports closed so IOs can identify their nationality and inspect relevant visas/permits.
Any comments based on experience on either side of the immigration desk? When travelling alone do I hop on the EU queue + hold my passport open? Present it closed? Or just hop on the non-EU queue and save myself avoidable dialogue?
Should have said you bought in on eBay. I mean really, what a stupid question.AKDK wrote:Ben wrote:AKDK wrote:how did you get thisyeah...i just said because im married to polish national who is exercising treaty rights here
my friend who had her british passport for like...5-6 years was asked once - how did you get this?
Ha ha ha LOL. Will do next timeBen wrote:Should have said you bought in on eBay. I mean really, what a stupid question.AKDK wrote:Ben wrote:AKDK wrote:how did you get thisyeah...i just said because im married to polish national who is exercising treaty rights here
my friend who had her british passport for like...5-6 years was asked once - how did you get this?
hi 86ti, you replied me in another topic, what shall i write in the email to complain? the problem was i didnt know when i arrived at the airport i can go though the ea gate and passport not stamped. so i went to the non ea gate got landing card and been checked and passport stamped. i dont think i can really complain about this , no? also can i get a letter to show in the future that we shouldnt get passport stamped as not all the IO knows. thanks86ti wrote:We submitted a complaint to them about two weeks ago because of a stamp in my wife's passport. She got a telephone call from the head of the Border Forces at Manchester airport today apologizing for the incident. He asked for any further information regarding the IO because the stamp doesn't have any number that would identify that person (the stamp on the EEA FP for instance, also from Manchester airport, does have one). My wife should have asked for the name and the identifying number of that IO on that day but she didn't. We will get a letter from them which we can show to IOs in the future.
I do not know if they will put much effort in rectifying this issue but at least the complaint was dealt with and did cause a reaction.
If you have a Residence Card, they should not stamp the passport. Does not matter who you are traveling with (or not), or which queue you use.kabuki wrote:Questions:
When I arrive at Amsterdam-Schipol airport alone, do I use the EEA or non-EEA queue?
When leaving Brussels Eurostar terminal I will go through immigration, they should not stamp my passport for re-ntry to the UK, right? Even when travelling alone?