New EU entry exit system Oct 12th

[Budgie]

Just seen Simon Calder on the news demonstrating the upcoming system that is due to kick in Oct 12th that is at Euro Star In London and what is going to be at the ports, don't mind the finger print & face recognition bit, but the system actually asks you 1, if you have accommodation booked 2, do you have enough funds for your trip 3, if you have holiday insurance 4, if you have a return ticket and apparently if you answer yes you may be asked to prove it ! don't know what will happen if you answer no to any of the questions, it's the onward accommodation & return ticket that we are worried about we never book a return and never pre-book campsites etc. I know these questions have always there but no border guard has ever asked us them they turn a blind eye and just stamp your passport and let you through, just wondering if the questions now have to be answered will this open a can of worms!

 

[REC]

We will find out soon! The insurance one may open a can of worms, as you say. We always book a return date but we go by tunnel and can change it ( possibly for extra cost) if needed. As restricted to 90 days max anyway, we pretty much know return date and have only had to change it once. I feel they should accept the address of a motorhome Aire which doesn't need booking but it's a jobsworth risk on the day!

 

[YeoBlade]

Accommodation booked? Maybe send your self a reservation confirmation. After all your motorhome IS your accommodation

 

[alcam]

Basically sounds like entry to the USA (possibly different now!) .
Don't think they ever checked the hotel I said I was staying at .
You could probably give Gravelines aire address . It's not necessarily a lie

 

[Moonraker 2]

Yes, I was aware of all these requirements, including have you got enough money to support yourself, however as I have Pale skin, white hair, don't wear a polyester track suit or wear sliders, I have never been asked!!!

 

[barryd]

As far as I am aware insurance is not yet a legal requirement for France so I would just answer no if you don't have it. I certainly never do. As for accommodation, your in a feckin big motorhome. Just point at that.

 

[Boris7]

The New system is to stop the unwanted from entering the EU in general, it’s not aimed at the British per say but they will need to comply the same as an African entering in Greece, main difference being the African can be ejected if they get past the Greek border (which has more holes than a tea bag) and intercepted in Luxembourg. The issue will be the same as now though, will the Luxembourg police officer arrest and process that person, or just look the other way while Johnny Foreigner heads to France, and will the French Police do the same?

If your an unwanted travelling to France in a British Motorhome then you’ll find it harder to do, but shouldn’t be the case for British Motorhome owners going on holiday (well except Ral obviously) what may be inconvenient is the fact that they should be searching every vehicle after the change, and that could cause queuing at Ports etc.

The new guidelines “should” include searching vehicles with EU passport holders as well, and the EU insist these searches and checks have to take place outside of the EU (i.e. any unwanted are ejected before they reach EU soil)

All in all it’s going to be a Ball-ache if fully implemented, but I suspect it won’t be in the UKs case and will be between Africa and the EU.

 

[marchie]

Just seen Simon Calder on the news demonstrating the upcoming system that is due to kick in Oct 12th that is at Euro Star In London and what is going to be at the ports, don't mind the finger print & face recognition bit, but the system actually asks you 1, if you have accommodation booked 2, do you have enough funds for your trip 3, if you have holiday insurance 4, if you have a return ticket and apparently if you answer yes you may be asked to prove it ! don't know what will happen if you answer no to any of the questions, it's the onward accommodation & return ticket that we are worried about we never book a return and never pre-book campsites etc. I know these questions have always there but no border guard has ever asked us them they turn a blind eye and just stamp your passport and let you through, just wondering if the questions now have to be answered will this open a can of worms!

Those questions *could* have been asked by Border Guards for several months - the warning has been on the UK Government Website for months [18+?]. The fact that the EES is being phased in across EU Member States in a fashion that best suits each State's needs/capacity at seaports/airports suggests that the aim is not to clog up Arrivals, but spot checks may be made ... I haven't seen anything where, say, a M/Homer who has limited savings, but pays their way from monthly [pension] income will be treated - last 3 months Bank Statements? Time will tell!

Steve

 

[YeoBlade]

Generally these rules are in place so they can act if they feel the need. Crustyism.
Maybe ALL arrivals in Dover should checked in a similar manner or better still before departing France.

 

[myvanwy]

Twice this year we used ferry from Plymouth. No issues at Santander just waved through. However at Plym,(April ) went through check in ok and then pulled into the Border force (?) area. Young gent of what appeared to be African along with strong accent, asked, do you have any knifes on board? So I replied Yes. He had to look at a colleague stood next to him, to ask what to do next. In the silence I said to him, its a campervan. He then stuttered, may I have a look inside. Yep come on in mate. Did checks and the waved through. Crossing again in Aug, yep got pulled again. Slightly older what still looked like African border force operative asked, morning sir, do you have any sharp implements apart from your kitchen utensils ?( Looks like lesson learnt.) Also asked if we had any weapons. No. Then frisked me and SWMBO. Ok to go. Looking forward to next visit to get out of our own country.

 

[marchie]

The New system is to stop the unwanted from entering the EU in general, it’s not aimed at the British per say but they will need to comply the same as an African entering in Greece, main difference being the African can be ejected if they get past the Greek border (which has more holes than a tea bag) and intercepted in Luxembourg. The issue will be the same as now though, will the Luxembourg police officer arrest and process that person, or just look the other way while Johnny Foreigner heads to France, and will the French Police do the same?

If your an unwanted travelling to France in a British Motorhome then you’ll find it harder to do, but shouldn’t be the case for British Motorhome owners going on holiday (well except Ral obviously) what may be inconvenient is the fact that they should be searching every vehicle after the change, and that could cause queuing at Ports etc.

The new guidelines “should” include searching vehicles with EU passport holders as well, and the EU insist these searches and checks have to take place outside of the EU (i.e. any unwanted are ejected before they reach EU soil)

All in all it’s going to be a Ball-ache if fully implemented, but I suspect it won’t be in the UKs case and will be between Africa and the EU.

The EU protocol remains to 'seek asy;ume at the first [safe] country' of arrival, which is why Italy and Greece made the case for additional EU funding to cope with the deluge. Had UK remained in the EU, it would have retained the benefit of these provisions, and been able to return arrivals without paying France to take them back. UK is a common or garden Third State now, having declined the EU offer of 180 days stay, because the then Government was driving the end of Freedom of Movement [N. Korea style ...] and didn't wish to appear tolerant of refugee arrivals

Steve

 

[barryd]

The EU protocol remains to 'seek asy;ume at the first [safe] country' of arrival, which is why Italy and Greece made the case for additional EU funding to cope with the deluge. Had UK remained in the EU, it would have retained the benefit of these provisions, and been able to return arrivals without paying France to take them back. UK is a common or garden Third State now, having declined the EU offer of 180 days stay, because the then Government was driving the end of Freedom of Movement [N. Korea style ...] and didn't wish to appear tolerant of refugee arrivals

Steve

 

[marchie]

There's an article in today's Guardian that confirms the 'apply for asylum in the first safe country' is written into the Dublin Treaty

Steve

 

[Sharon the Cat]

As far as I am aware insurance is not yet a legal requirement for France so I would just answer no if you don't have it. I certainly never do. As for accommodation, your in a feckin big motorhome. Just point at that.

My GHIC says "UK GLOBAL HEALTH INSURANCE CARD" in capitals right across the top. As far as I'm concerned this means I can say yes.
When we came through the tunnel 3 weeks ago they must have been practising. French border control asked where we were going so I said France. He rolled his eyes and asked where in France. Bit 'kin stupid I thought as we're in a motorhome. For probably the first time ever we did have one definite destination as we were going to visit friends, so I gave in and told him.

 

[Budgie]

Check out this video from this search, eu entry st pancras station https://share.google/YVhHBwNNUXSIk8gEv

A bit more info, sounds a right pain

 

[barryd]

My GHIC says "UK GLOBAL HEALTH INSURANCE CARD" in capitals right across the top. As far as I'm concerned this means I can say yes.
When we came through the tunnel 3 weeks ago they must have been practising. French border control asked where we were going so I said France. He rolled his eyes and asked where in France. Bit 'kin stupid I thought as we're in a motorhome. For probably the first time ever we did have one definite destination as we were going to visit friends, so I gave in and told him.

Oh yeah. I have that one so I guess that would count anyway. I don't think the French have British motorhomers in their sights as potential problematic visitors anyway. Mind you there are a few dodgy rogues on here.

 

[mark61]

Think we've been here before, I can't remember the conclusion though.

https://www.france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/your-arrival-in-france

I guess there is a distinction between a legal requirement and a "must" or an official demand, or perhaps not?

Anyway, I hope I'm not behind you when you argue your case with border control.

 

[barryd]

Think we've been here before, I can't remember the conclusion though.

https://www.france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/your-arrival-in-france

I guess there is a distinction between a legal requirement and a "must" or an official demand, or perhaps not?

Anyway, I hope I'm not behind you when you argue your case with border control.

You get fast tracked anyway when you're famous and a Rock Star and motorhome royalty you know.

 

[Boris7]

The EU protocol remains to 'seek asy;ume at the first [safe] country' of arrival, which is why Italy and Greece made the case for additional EU funding to cope with the deluge. Had UK remained in the EU, it would have retained the benefit of these provisions, and been able to return arrivals without paying France to take them back. UK is a common or garden Third State now, having declined the EU offer of 180 days stay, because the then Government was driving the end of Freedom of Movement [N. Korea style ...] and didn't wish to appear tolerant of refugee arrivals

Steve

Correct, but without getting political the OP was talking about the practical issues at an EU border, as an international operator and CPC holder I get updates about such things.
In effect the new EU border force regulations require “for any vehicle carrying goods or not to be be searched, unless it is travelling under CMR and sealed by an authorised customs agent”

As for returning illegals to the point of entry into the EU that never worked, before or after ******, illegals simply refused to say where they entered the EU and therefore couldn’t be sent back to the point of entry, hence the new regulations.

As I said, I don’t see them enforcing this between the UK and Northern Europe.

 

[marchie]

Correct, but without getting political the OP was talking about the practical issues at an EU border, as an international operator and CPC holder I get updates about such things.
In effect the new EU border force regulations require “for any vehicle carrying goods or not to be be searched, unless it is travelling under CMR and sealed by an authorised customs agent”

As for returning illegals to the point of entry into the EU that never worked, before or after ******, illegals simply refused to say where they entered the EU and therefore couldn’t be sent back to the point of entry, hence the new regulations.

I think you're confusing EES and immigration. EES is designed to monitor people who have exceeded the permitted time allowance in the Schengen Zone, and does not stipulate vehicle searches. The Border Control Technical Manual reminds Border Officers that the vast majority of people crossing borders are going aout their daily business/leisure lawfully and are to be presumed innocent unless there are reasonale grounds to suspect that someone has broken the Regulations.

Illegal immigrants are a totally different consideration

Steve