Entering Spain with Article 10 Residence Card

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

We presented ourselves at the border. We explained that held article 10 card. The guard wanted to see our marriage certificate. We stated that the card itself was sufficient. With the blink of an eye the passport was stamped! Apart from that no problem.

On exit, we specifically stated that the passport was not to be stamped. The guard agreed completely.

Result: one stamp in, no stamp out.

[bluecole2]

A remedy might be to give them our passport together with a bold typed message that says- ACCORDING TO DIRECTIVE 2004/38/EC article bla!!! YOU MAY NOT STAMP MY PASSPORT EITHER AT THE POINT OF ENTRY OR EXIT!!!

And if they choose to do so without consulting their manager or supervisor then they perhaps may be liable to pay compensation. Not that I support the conpensation culture that much but what else can the consequence for ignorance be?

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

On the one hand, I wanted to test knowledge, on the other get through! On the way in there was a little bit of confusion, where's the marriage certificate, etc. On the way out much bolder and less inclined toward being stamped.

[bluecole2]

As far as I'm concerned most of the border guards lack knowledge when it comes to eea regulations, especially for eea family member.

Perhaps showing them this little piece of info(s) will help with re-educating them. Providing border guards with a small leaflet that states eea rc/pr 'do(s) and 'don't(s)' could easily resolve majority of the discontent eea national and family members experience.

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

That's an excellent suggestion.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

As far as I'm concerned most of the border guards lack knowledge when it comes to eea regulations, especially for eea family member.

Funny, I think in general that the border guards understand the EEA regulations far better than the same country's visa-issuing embassy staff.

[bluecole2]

I agree with you Directive 2004/38/EC, although that's in comparison to embassy staffs whom are necessarily not an IO.

If you and I know this regulations, perhaps because of our interest and neither of us is an IO, why shouldn't all IO know this? I mean it's elementary.

Can you imagine a teacher always getting it wrong? In my view they aren't taking there profession serious enough if they can't always deal with simple stuff as this.

[Jambo]

I'm not sure these IO would know it better....

Now ministers hire filing clerks to guard borders.

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

Thanks Jambo, an interesting article; loved this bit

‘Very few illegals enter Britain on forged passports,’ she said. ‘Most enter lawfully with valid passports and visas'