Non EU wife to travel to UK.
Sep 29th 2015, 7:45 am
#31
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
When we first came into the EU to live, after 8 years in Dubai, we came first into Amsterdam, with an onward flight to Portugal.The border guard asked about purpose of visit to my wife and we said that we were on our way to live in Portugal. He said that to issue her a Schengen visa, she needed onward ticket or return. I explained that she did not because she was an EU family member. He took us out back (including our two small kids) so he could look things up. He checked Schengen rules and said there was nothing saying she didn't need return or onward flight, I explained he was reading wrong rules, and he needed to check freedom of movement. He went off, made a call, and came back with her passport stamped for 90 days, and said we needed to register for residency within 90 days in Portugal, which we confirmed we knew already.So it is true that many border guards around the EU don't know the rules, not just the UK.However, the guy was extremely polite and professional at all times. He never came across as arrogant or condescending even though I was telling him the rules, he took us out back and went off to read the rules, and when didn't find what he needed and I indicated he was reading the wrong book, he called someone and got the right answer. We were there about 5-10 minutes. A big contrast to over an hour at Luton, where the border staff were rude, arrogant, laughed at me sarcastically when I politely explained why my wife should be treated under EU rules, not UK rules.Being polite and respectful to people doesn't take 5 GCSEs.
Sep 29th 2015, 7:49 am
#32
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
On a previous visit we had from UK to Dubai, my wife was refused entry. The border officer took her and me off separately, and later came back and told me that she was refusing my wife because she was 'not happy' with what I was telling her. Specifically, I claimed to own a company in Dubai 50/50 with my brother, and she 'knew a little about Dubai' and that you must have a foreign partner, therefore she concluded I was lying.Now obviously I was telling the truth, it was a free zone company where 100% foreign ownership is permitted. Why did she think my business arrangements in Dubai were even relevant? I had a residence stamp in my passport for Dubai, with the freezone on it, it said 'Director' as my job title. Why would I lie about my ownership of a company to her, when it had no relevance?She also told me that I might think my relationship was genuine but that these girls from Brazil try all sorts of things to get in the country, before adding that girls from other countries also do.This is not just a question of training or funding. The British border agency is staffed by people who are rude, obnoxious, convinced of their own infallibility. Sure you can blame the organization for employing them, or the goverment for not managing it right. But it does not change the fact that the people working there are ignorant ars3holes.
Sep 29th 2015, 7:57 am
#33
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
Have you read their rules? I have. The EU rules are part of UK laws, and they take precedence. The UK cannot pass laws or enact rules that violate obligations under EU law. All these cases, such family members of British people living in another EU being able to use their residence card in place of a visa are detailed in the rules. Do you wonder why in Ukkram's case, they apparently know that his wife being South African needs a visa.... but not that as a spouse of a British citizen living in another EU country, she doesn't because she has a state issued residence card?
Sep 29th 2015, 8:14 am
#34
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
Have you read their rules? I have. The EU rules are part of UK laws, and they take precedence. The UK cannot pass laws or enact rules that violate obligations under EU law. All these cases, such family members of British people living in another EU being able to use their residence card in place of a visa are detailed in the rules. Do you wonder why in Ukkram's case, they apparently know that his wife being South African needs a visa.... but not that as a spouse of a British citizen living in another EU country, she doesn't because she has a state issued residence card?
They are not there to hold the gate to the UK open to anyone who wants to come in.
The front line staff will be among those in the lowest grade and pay scales, they are not immigration lawyers.
Putting it simply the UK population would rather you suffered a little inconvenience than let anyone who claims the right of entry into the UK.
Both your and Ukrams spouse did obtain entry when you proved the right to come to the UK so the system does work.
Last edited by EMR; Sep 29th 2015 at 8:22 am.
Sep 29th 2015, 12:00 pm
#35
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
The main argument is that the new regulation was passed on 6 April and tabled c 17 April. Surely Home Office had enough time (5months) to inform Border Control of this or their management could by now have instructed their staff on this.
Were we really the first people to enter Bristol with this situation?
Were we really the first people to enter Bristol with this situation?
Sep 29th 2015, 12:17 pm
#36
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
The main argument is that the new regulation was passed on 6 April and tabled c 17 April. Surely Home Office had enough time (5months) to inform Border Control of this or their management could by now have instructed their staff on this.
Were we really the first people to enter Bristol with this situation?
Were we really the first people to enter Bristol with this situation?
Bristol is primarly a hoilday airport and not a major point of entry of non UK or Non EU citizens. the same applies to Luton.
Sep 29th 2015, 9:10 pm
#37
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
Maybe so but the fault is not that of those who have to deal with tens thousands a day at the various entry points into the UK but if there is a problems with the management and training. Bristol is primarly a hoilday airport and not a major point of entry of non UK or Non EU citizens. the same applies to Luton.
Sep 29th 2015, 9:50 pm
#38
Joined: Feb 2012
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
I don't think you're going to get anyone to agree with you EMR. Simply put if you're an UK immigration officer and you know less about the UK Immigration Rules than the person in front of you trying to enter the UK then something has gone badly wrong.
Sep 30th 2015, 6:45 am
#39
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
You shoulld address your complaints to the home office and not take it out on soneone probably earning far less than you and doing a pretty boring job.
Last edited by EMR; Sep 30th 2015 at 6:48 am.
Sep 30th 2015, 5:19 pm
#40
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
Maybe so but the fault is not that of those who have to deal with tens thousands a day at the various entry points into the UK but if there is a problems with the management and training.
Bristol is primarly a hoilday airport and not a major point of entry of non UK or Non EU citizens. the same applies to Luton.
Bristol is primarly a hoilday airport and not a major point of entry of non UK or Non EU citizens. the same applies to Luton.
They should be more knowledgeable on EU residency cards than Heathrow that mostly deals with long distance international flights. I am sure most people flying in from the EU would use Ryanair or Easyjet that use Bristol and Luton.
Sep 30th 2015, 9:34 pm
#41
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
This post was not thought through at all. Bristol has flights from national and the EU.
They should be more knowledgeable on EU residency cards than Heathrow that mostly deals with long distance international flights. I am sure most people flying in from the EU would use Ryanair or Easyjet that use Bristol and Luton.
They should be more knowledgeable on EU residency cards than Heathrow that mostly deals with long distance international flights. I am sure most people flying in from the EU would use Ryanair or Easyjet that use Bristol and Luton.
Oct 1st 2015, 5:39 am
#42
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
EMR Don't employees have a responsibility to learn how to do their jobs properly? Do you really believe that ignorance and incompetence is acceptable?
Oct 1st 2015, 7:03 am
#43
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
It is the home office that complaints should be directed at.
If the frontbline staff are not given the correct training and information they are not to be blamed.
They are not immigration lawyers.
Oct 1st 2015, 10:47 am
#44
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
No they're not,but they don't need to make a decision,but they do need to know the rules.If you work in the corner shop you need to know the rules.Because a job i s supposedly boring or low paid is NO excuse.
Oct 1st 2015, 1:00 pm
#45
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Re: Non EU wife to travel to UK.
If the Home office does not think it is important that they know all the changes to EU regs then the staff at passport control are not to blame.