wannabeinsunshine

Hi everyone, i'm a newbie to forums but desperate for some information asap. Any help would be appreciated.

We want to relocate a business we have to Saint Martin. We are a married couple, UK citizens...therefor EU citizens. We have an adopted son who is not an EU citizen and envisage him having to have a visa to enter at least to begin with.

Can anyone confirm Saint Martin is a member of the EU ? and if they know if there is any difference to their rules for entry than any other EU member country.

I phoned the citizens signpost service for the European Commission today and they said the whole island was part of the Netherlands and to contact them ???

I have spent all day trolling the net for information. It appears that Saint Martin ISan EU member but is not party to the schengen treaty....does anyone know how this changes any of our rights as EU citizens.

Has anyone got any first hand experience in what and where to go.

I thought at first : OK, me and my husband are good to go....get son an entry visa from his home country or in something i read was that if we can prove dependency and proof of kinship ( adoption order ) the visa can be given on entry, apply to start business, get a residence permit and just renew his visa till his UK and EU status came through.

any help much appreciated

Mitzyboy

This is a duplicate of your other post isnt it

Just to make it clear is it the French or the Dutch side you are talking about?

wannabeinsunshine

yes this is a duplicate....not been on a forum before and wasnt sure if and old thread would get answered on.

It is the French Saint Martin we are wanting to go. Thanks.

JAJ

If you are British citizens then why has your adopted son not been registered as a British citizen?

Mitzyboy

The old thread would go straight to the top of the forum if you added another post on it

Well as it's FRENCH Sain Martin, then thats not Dutch antilles

wannabeinsunshine

we have needed his pass port for traveling to apply for citizenship, you have to send it off and it would take upto 6 months for it to come through.

wannabeinsunshine

thanks for the info....soooooo is "French" St Martin an EU member state ? I got an email from some one at Expat Law stating St Maarten ( "Dutch side" ) was not in EU but didnt mention St Martin. I have even been to an immigration advice center today....and they were not sure !

pgtips

Well I have a cousin from the Dutch side of St Martin, who has been, living, working and studying in the UK for the past 4 years. This is all part of some EU agreement. Logic would say UK citizens could then go and settle in the Dutch side without any problems, but sometime logic does not always count in small Caribbean islands, and believe me St Martin is small.

wannabeinsunshine

Thank you, yes i know what you mean, someone else said to me rules seem to be made up as they go along and it all depends on who you get on the day. I know there are some agreements with the EU even if they havnt signed up completely....doesnt the Caribbean have their own EU type membership " caricom"?

pgtips

If you are still not sure you meet the necessary entry requirements, call the Immigration Department on St. Maarten. They can be reached through the central Police Department operator at (599) 542-2222

Best get it straight from the horses mouth.

pgtips

The EU islands are not in Caricom.

wannabeinsunshine

Thank you, you have been the very best of help.

anuny

Few basics: half the island is still not in the Eurozone. Dutch Ant Guilder is used. The Dutch side with become a country under the Kingdom of Netherlands sometimes this year. It was postponed.

The french side is a Colony. There are more dollar-denominated transactions than Euro. I would suggest that the OP go and spend a couple of months there before deciding to ship out/in.

JAJ

You don't have to send off passport (certified copy will do, alternative use the Nationality Checking Service in the UK) and stand-alone child registrations take closer to 2 months than 6.

And sooner or later you are going to have to do this, unless you plan to let the opportunity lapse at age 18.