Post
by rogerlongships » Tue May 07, 2013 2:17 pm
Sorry for a delayed response.
I had submitted a petition to the European Commitee on petitions several years ago, after we failed to get an EEA Permit within a short period of time, 10 days, and was refused travel with passports, marriage certificate and residence cards for Sweden to the UK, AFTER being told by Ryan Air that having a letter from the UK Embassy in Sweden stating we will not be refused at the border with the documents just mentioned. That started a ball rolling that is still in progress. That petition was upheld and put forward, with others to the ECJ in its issue with UKBA.
When we travelled by ship, the operators wanted an email fom UKBA to ensure they would accept us on landing, as they feared being fined. It took 4 weeks of constant emails and phone calls between the operator and UKBA. At one point the operator refused us leave off Sweden, which in itself is a breach that was quickly confirmed by a Swedish Immigration Officer who just as quickly retracted his "opinion", even though i have his original email confirming an EU breach of law.
I did communicate with 2 open minded people in UKBA, who saw no issues with our travel plans, but it was the boss who had issues and did not want to give clearence. We finally got written confirmation that we could pass onto the Operator 4 days before our ship was due to leave.
On arrival, we was left waiting onboard for 7 hours, much to the disgust of the Captain, as he needed us off the ship as he was on a fast turn-around service.
My wife was surrounded by 4 officials acting in an agressive manner and asking far too many irrelevant questions, which i very quickly put a stop to.
The "boss" finally stamped my wifes passport, but we only realised half way to London that he had stamped her entry date as a month earlier, and was permitted to stay a month only......we had just arrived and technically my wife was already an overstayer.
This led to yet another petition, upheld as legitamate, and is again going forward to the ECJ against UKBA. There was apologies from UKBA after i complained about my wifes treatment and wrong dates being placed in her passport. The "boss" made a huge point about the need for an EEA Family permit next time, even though he conceeded its just a formality.
I would say there are some good people working at UKBA, but also they are having to do more duties not involved in immigration, and are severely snowed under in paper.
Also from a F.O.I search, there is no information held of any carrier being fined for landing people in our circumstances without a visa, but with valid passports and marriage certificate and residence cards. Much of the problem is convincing the operator you have a right to travel in the first place, as in our experience there is a big lack of knowledge in EU travel law.
Cheers
