Travelling to non EU Country

Hi

I am going to travel outside of the EU with my EEA Citizen wife. I have been granted with a pre-settled here in the UK and I have valid BRP. I would like to know:

1) What documents do we need to carry when we will be returning to the UK?
2) Do they ask any sort of questions on return?
3) As I don't have an EU passport but I will be travelling with my wife and she has an EU passport do I need to go EU immigration desk on return? Thanks

splinter wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 3:41 pm

1) What documents do we need to carry when we will be returning to the UK?

Your passport and your BRP.

2) Do they ask any sort of questions on return?

How long have you been away, who is your EU family member and if not with you, where are they. That's pretty much it.

3) As I don't have an EU passport but I will be travelling with my wife and she has an EU passport do I need to go EU immigration desk on return? Thanks

Depends on the airport.

Heathrow does instruct non-EU family members to join the EU family queue (where all the EU families with children who cannot use eGates go); but Birmingham does not work like this, and require all non-EU to join the international queue, regardless of their family ties. They are even very abusive in their language, and if you mistakenly join the EU queue you will be treated very harshly. Best is to ask an official before you join any queue.

1) What documents do we need to carry when we will be returning to the UK?

Your passport and valid BRC.

2) Do they ask any sort of questions on return?

From the experience of my friends they ask the nationality of your sponsor most of the time and who the person is to you. I was asked the same when was crossing the border with EEA FP. I was also asked if my husband is already in UK. Then the lady commented that long distance relationship must have costed us a small fortune.

3) As I don't have an EU passport but I will be travelling with my wife and she has an EU passport do I need to go EU immigration desk on return? Thanks

Seems like this depends per country and per airport. Sometimes per the team working. From what I heard\experienced, most of the times they are fine with you going to EU desks. But a friend of mine wasn't allowed to do that in one of the small airports.

On the other hand, German customs are even getting annoyed if you queue in non-EU line with EU BRPs\BRCs.

iwolga wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:26 pm

Seems like this depends per country and per airport. Sometimes per the team working. From what I heard\experienced, most of the times they are fine with you going to EU desks. But a friend of mine wasn't allowed to do that in one of the small airports.

On the other hand, German customs are even getting annoyed if you queue in non-EU line with EU BRPs\BRCs.

I believe the OP is asking about returning to the UK, not entering the EU.

but Birmingham does not work like this, and require all non-EU to join the international queue, regardless of their family ties. They are even very abusive in their language, and if you mistakenly join the EU queue you will be treated very harshly.

I'm traveling through Birmingham myself for the last year. Truth is, most of the times non-EU desks are much more empty than EU ones. I've never been waiting for more than 10 min, so I guess in the case of this particular airport it doesn't matter.

Heathrow (especially terminal 4) is a living hell for non-EU, yes. Was queuing there for 2 hours a couple of times

kamoe wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:28 pm

iwolga wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:26 pm

Seems like this depends per country and per airport. Sometimes per the team working. From what I heard\experienced, most of the times they are fine with you going to EU desks. But a friend of mine wasn't allowed to do that in one of the small airports.

On the other hand, German customs are even getting annoyed if you queue in non-EU line with EU BRPs\BRCs.

I believe the OP is asking about returning to the UK, not entering the EU.

I understand. What I meant to say is that rules are different and seem to be depending on a lot of things.

kamoe wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:19 pm

splinter wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 3:41 pm

1) What documents do we need to carry when we will be returning to the UK?

Your passport and your BRP.

2) Do they ask any sort of questions on return?

How long have you been away, who is your EU family member and if not with you, where are they. That's pretty much it.

3) As I don't have an EU passport but I will be travelling with my wife and she has an EU passport do I need to go EU immigration desk on return? Thanks

Depends on the airport.

Heathrow does instruct non-EU family members to join the EU family queue (where all the EU families with children who cannot use eGates go); but Birmingham does not work like this, and require all non-EU to join the international queue, regardless of their family ties. They are even very abusive in their language, and if you mistakenly join the EU queue you will be treated very harshly. Best is to ask an official before you join any queue.

Thank you very much for your help.

iwolga wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:26 pm

1) What documents do we need to carry when we will be returning to the UK?

Your passport and valid BRC.

2) Do they ask any sort of questions on return?

From the experience of my friends they ask the nationality of your sponsor most of the time and who the person is to you. I was asked the same when was crossing the border with EEA FP. I was also asked if my husband is already in UK. Then the lady commented that long distance relationship must have costed us a small fortune.

3) As I don't have an EU passport but I will be travelling with my wife and she has an EU passport do I need to go EU immigration desk on return? Thanks

Seems like this depends per country and per airport. Sometimes per the team working. From what I heard\experienced, most of the times they are fine with you going to EU desks. But a friend of mine wasn't allowed to do that in one of the small airports.

On the other hand, German customs are even getting annoyed if you queue in non-EU line with EU BRPs\BRCs.

Thank you very much for valuable comments. Do they also ask anything when you leave the country and approximately how many days you are allowed to stay out of the country when you have been granted with a pre-settled status? Thanks

Do they also ask anything when you leave the country and approximately how many days you are allowed to stay out of the country when you have been granted with a pre-settled status? Thanks

There's no immigration control when you exit UK, so you won't have a chat with anyone at the exit from UK. Well, I mean no immigration officers or desks, I assume they still control things

In Heathrow they sometimes check your passport, but most of the times they do it on a random basis. I was never stopped, but from what I saw people were just showing their passports and that was it.

I don't know the exact answer re days out that are allowed. Are you planning to be out for long? I somehow assumed that there's no limit as long as you are considered a UK resident. But perhaps someone more experienced can comment on the consequences.

I think you worry too much about things. You have your card and passport (lucky you! I seriously envy it) and you are a free man to travel Just enjoy it

I was about to say the same thing! Too worried!

There is nothing to worry, since you have proper documents. If they ask you anything, it is to make sure that every thing is okay.

Enjoy your trip!