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Tugw

Tugw

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Hello Folks.
As some may already know i am planning to bring me boat from Germany toward the end of May.SWMBO will need to get her passport stamped by the immigration boys.My intended first stop in Blighty was Shotley but im not sure if there will be any customs/immigration available there so i was thinking of going first to Harwich.Does anybody have any thoughts on this? I dont have a UK useable mobile phone(having lived in Egypt for the past 10 years) and i keep getting told to call the Yacht-line while still at sea( /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif).I understand that Parkeston quay is where the immigration hang out but dont know if this is a viable idea.

Any help.comments or slagging greatfully recieved

Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
As far as I am aware Parkeston Quay is commercial only. If you HAVE to go to Harwich perhaps could stop at Halfpenny Pier and call customs then cross to Shotley? I have not stopped there but guess there must be a phone nearby you could use. But do not see in the regs that you have to go to Harwich so why not phne from Shotley?

Extract from HMR&C website
4. Arriving in the United Kingdom
4.1 Do I need to fly the yellow ‘Q’ flag?
If you are arriving directly from another EU Member State you do not need to fly the ‘Q’ flag.

If you are arriving from outside the EU, you must fly the ‘Q’ flag where it can readily be seen as soon as you enter UK waters (the 12 mile limit). Do not take down the flag until you have finished reporting to Customs as described in paragraph 4.2. Failure to comply will make you liable to a penalty.

4.2 Do I need to notify Customs of my arrival?
Whether you need to notify your arrival to customs depends upon where your last port of call was. If you are arriving directly from an EU Member State, you need only contact Customs if you have goods to declare. However, there may still be immigration requirements that need to be met and you should refer to paragraph 4.9 for details.

When arriving direct from a country outside the EU (the Channel Islands are regarded as outside the EU for this purpose), you must telephone the National Yachtline on 0845 723 1110. You will need to inform them if any of the following apply:

VAT has not been paid on the vessel;
you have any goods in excess of the travellers’ allowance detailed in Notice 1 A Customs guide for travellers entering the UK;
you have on board goods which are to be treated as duty free stores;
you have any prohibited or restricted goods;
there is any notifiable illness on board;
there are any people on board who need immigration clearance; or
any repairs or modifications, other than running repairs, which have been carried out since the vessel last left the EU.
You will need to comply with any further instructions that the Customs officer gives you.

You may also be asked to complete parts (i), (iii) and the declaration box on Form C1331. If you already have a Form C1331 part (ii) on board from when you left the UK, you should complete part (iii) amending details of persons on board if necessary and sign and date the form again. You can get Form C1331 from most local yacht clubs and marinas, Customs offices listed in Section 7, or from the HM Customs and Excise Website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

You should place the completed form in the marina’s custom post box or post it to the local Customs office.

Except for contacting Customs as above, you must not land goods or persons or transfer them to another vessel until a Customs officer says that you may do so
 
Hi
Is this a boat that has always been in the EU and therefore had EU VAT paid by the first owner or imported and had EU VAT paid on it and not been out of the EU since?
If so, I believe you are OK as long as you have the appropriate VAT documents.
If you feel that there is UK VAT to pay, you will need to contact customs but I would be surprised if she has been in Germany.
I have been through this process in some detail as we bought a boat in Italy that was originally from outside the EU but a previous owner had paid the VAT when she was imported (in Holland) and provided documents so no problem.
PM me with your details if a chat might help.
Cheers
D
 
Thanks for the info but its nothing to do with the boat.Its the wife she is an Egyptian National with a UK settelment Visa.So she has to have it stamped on arrival. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I rang Customs and Excise to see if I could get an answer for you. They refered me to the following publication.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPorta...cument#P85_8648

If you go to section 4.2 it tells you what to do in your circumstances. Section 4.9 is the section that makes you notify arrival of your wife.

I asked the Customs Officer what you should actually do when you arrive at Shotley. He said you should go ashore and phone the number quoted in 4.2, namely 0845 723 1110, and tell them your wife is onboard and she is an Egyptian National etc. They will then sort out the formalities. If they tell you to go over to Harwich you can get there on the passenger ferry.

Wife is not meant to land until they are notified but I would interpret that as her being allowed to use the shore facilities, but not leave the Marina compound.

Hope this helps.

PS this information confirms what Flipper has said above, but includes the reference to 4.9 which applies tin your case.
 
Thank you very much for the time and effort i owe you one,At least now i have an idea,i had downloaded the document some time ago but its not very clear on whether or not she is allowed to land but youve cleared that up for me.Again thank you--i will not forget this.Hopefully we will meet up somewhere one day i can repay you. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Look forward to a pint one day. Have a good trip!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think more than one is in order--thanks
 
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