french visa and travelling on Eurostar

[ivyleague]

Morning All,

I am very confused, please help. I've got french visa starting 3rd January. I intend to travel on Eurostar to Moutiers (French Alps). BUT, the train leaves UK on the 2nd January at 20:30 (when my visa is not yet valid) and arrives at 05:30 (when my visa IS valid). The question is will I be allowed to board on Eurostar train?

Thank you very much for any help!

[86ti]

Morning All,

I am very confused, please help. I've got french visa starting 3rd January. I intend to travel on Eurostar to Moutiers (French Alps). BUT, the train leaves UK on the 2nd January at 20:30 (when my visa is not yet valid) and arrives at 05:30 (when my visa IS valid). The question is will I be allowed to board on Eurostar train?

Thank you very much for any help!

Does the train have any stops in France before 00:00?

[ivyleague]

Morning All,

I am very confused, please help. I've got french visa starting 3rd January. I intend to travel on Eurostar to Moutiers (French Alps). BUT, the train leaves UK on the 2nd January at 20:30 (when my visa is not yet valid) and arrives at 05:30 (when my visa IS valid). The question is will I be allowed to board on Eurostar train?

Thank you very much for any help!

Does the train have any stops in France before 00:00?

No, it is direct train (but it will stop in Ashford, which is UK anyway).

[86ti]

Morning All,

I am very confused, please help. I've got french visa starting 3rd January. I intend to travel on Eurostar to Moutiers (French Alps). BUT, the train leaves UK on the 2nd January at 20:30 (when my visa is not yet valid) and arrives at 05:30 (when my visa IS valid). The question is will I be allowed to board on Eurostar train?

Thank you very much for any help!

Does the train have any stops in France before 00:00?

No, it is direct train (but it will stop in Ashford, which is UK anyway).

I hope someone more knowledgable can give you more information but I don't see why they wouldn't let you go as you can get off the train only the next day when your visa is already valid. But you never know if you'll encounter a bean counter who thinks that you will be on French territory already before midnight.

BTW, what did the visa application form ask for? Date of travel or arrival?

[mym]

If you are taking the Eurostar from London, you will pass through French immigration at London St Pancras before boarding the train - so you will have a problem as that is the point at which they will stamp your passport.

[Christophe]

If you are taking the Eurostar from London, you will pass through French immigration at London St Pancras before boarding the train - so you will have a problem as that is the point at which they will stamp your passport.

Not only that, arrival at the first station in France where passengers can disembark will be before midnight, even though arrival at the final destination won't be until the next day. But the main point I think is as mym says: for immigration purposes (although obviously it's something of a legal fiction) travellers are deemed to be entering France before departure from London.