crossing switzerland to france without schengen?

[simonroberts]

hi,

i am going to travel with my daughter who is 3 years old. She currrently does not have a british passport (i do) but has indefinate leave to remain in a separate travel document that is not stamped in her serbian passport, and held in a separate paper document.

i spoke to the french embassy and they said they do not accept a separate document that is not stamped in her passport to process a schengen visa for her. my options are to spend £500 and get the uk passport office to get the visa stamped in the passport, but i am reluctant to do this as the passport expires in feb 2008 so then require to do this again. all seems rather ludicrous as the document is valid and legal and having it stamped in a babys passport that expires every 2 years is silly as it means getting a new visa every time the passport expires.

i was wondering if it would be possible to fly to switzerland which she is legally able to do as Switzerland are not in schengen and then cross the border to france. i either hope the border police will see reason and let her through or perhaps arrange visa on the border?

quite a tricky one for anyone who cares to input but appreciated. the worst that will happen is we spend a week in switzerland but have need to go to france.

[Siggi]

Why don't you just apply for a British passport for your daughter?
You should have no hassles!

[Dawie]

Firstly, you have posted in the wrong forum.

Secondly, how have you found yourself in the situation where you are a British citizen and your daughter is not?

Thirdly, there is little to no border control between France and Switzerland despite the fact that Switzerland is not in the Schengen agreement. In practise this means that you will be hard pressed to find an immigration officer on the border and even if you did, it is next to impossible to obtain a schengen visa at the border except in the most exceptional of humanitarian cases.

However you will probably be able to cross the border unchallenged between Switzerland and France. I would not recommend this as if you are caught, say in a roadblock in France and police ask to see your daughter's papers, you and her could be in a lot of trouble.

[VictoriaS]

Your best bet is to get a Schengen from a different embassy. I understand that Belium is more helpful.

Victoria