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Travel to France/Switzerland, without visa

Immigration to European countries, don't post UK or Ireland related topics!

Moderators: Casa, John, ChetanOjha, archigabe, CR001, push, JAJ, ca.funke, Amber, zimba, vinny, Obie, EUsmileWEallsmile, batleykhan, meself2, geriatrix, Administrator

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gprit
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Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 8:41 am

Travel to France/Switzerland, without visa

Post by gprit » Sat Dec 10, 2016 2:26 pm

My Thai wife wants to travel to France for some months with me.
I am British/UK Passport. She has a Leave to Remain Visa valid until August 2017 inside her Thai passport.
For us to travel to London (with a young son) to obtain a Schengen VIsa is not really practical and would be expensive.
If we applied for a UK Residency card (can she with her current Visa?), can anyone confirm that the Residency card is issued with the correct wording "Family Member of an EEA national" to avoid having a Visa to travel to France.
Would this also be valid to entter Switzerland for a holiday).
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Casa
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Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:32 pm
United Kingdom

Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa

Post by Casa » Sat Dec 10, 2016 2:49 pm

Your wife doesn't qualify for an EEA Resident Permit as for the purpose of immigration you are only considered to be a British national when you are living in the UK.

Your only option is to apply for a Schengen visa. Where are you living in the UK?
(Casa, not CR001)
Please don't send me PMs asking for immigration advice on posts that are on the open forum. If I haven't responded there, it's because I don't have the answer. I'm a moderator, not a legal professional.
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gprit
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Posts: 40
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 8:41 am

Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa

Post by gprit » Sat Dec 10, 2016 3:12 pm

Thanks - I wondered about that. We live in South wales, so would have to take bus/train to London and would involve overnight stay.
I would add that we ARE living in the UK.....
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Casa
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United Kingdom

Re: Travel to Switzerland, without visa

Post by Casa » Sat Dec 10, 2016 3:40 pm

The fact that you are living in the UK excludes your wife from applying for an EEA RC.

She will continue to need a Schengen visa until she has been granted British citizenship.
(Casa, not CR001)
Please don't send me PMs asking for immigration advice on posts that are on the open forum. If I haven't responded there, it's because I don't have the answer. I'm a moderator, not a legal professional.
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ALKB
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Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:32 pm
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Germany

Re: Travel to Switzerland, without visa

Post by ALKB » Sun Dec 11, 2016 12:25 pm

gprit wrote:My Thai wife wants to travel to France for some months with me.
How many months?
I am not a regulated immigration advisor. I am offering an opinion and not advice.
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Casa
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Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:32 pm
United Kingdom

Re: Travel to Switzerland, without visa

Post by Casa » Sun Dec 11, 2016 1:45 pm

ALKB wrote:
gprit wrote:My Thai wife wants to travel to France for some months with me.
How many months?
A good question. I missed that! :roll:

@gprit What do you intend to do in France?
(Casa, not CR001)
Please don't send me PMs asking for immigration advice on posts that are on the open forum. If I haven't responded there, it's because I don't have the answer. I'm a moderator, not a legal professional.
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gprit
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Posts: 40
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 8:41 am

Re: Travel to France/Switzerland, without visa

Post by gprit » Wed Dec 14, 2016 11:54 am

Sorry about the delay in coming back on this.
We plan to go to France next in March/April. We intend to live there permanently once our house in the UK is sold (we alreay have a house in France). I am retired. Yes I know we should apply for a Carte de Sejour within two months, although in fact my wife was issued with a CDS in 2014 valid for one year instead of the legal 5 years. Upon renewal the Prefecture asked for proof we were still married (impossible to provide....) and the thing dragged on.
Eventually we again went to the Prefecture - they dropped their request, -smiled and asked 'everything ok now?'....they said yes...then they closed the file, opened a new one and demanded 340euro for visa iregularities.
'I have lodged an appeal process, but this takes time - so I am trying to avoid any more red tape when we cross back in to France.
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