More PAF faff at Calais

[lustyd]

The EU equivalent goes live soon. Theirs is more complex than ours since we are a single country with a single(ish) set of rules. Each member state has different visas in addition to Schengen rules as well as their border being vastly larger so it stands to reason they took longer to implement.

 

[st599]

Then later next year, the biometric scanners go live. Will be interesting to see if France is still able to stretch EU law and allow entry at non-POE marinas.

Can't wait, I've filled a new extra pages UK passport in under 3 years.

 

[lustyd]

All they’d need to do is place a scanner in those locations so it’ll make it easier if anything.
They aren’t stretching the law at all, it’s their border and they are policing it. One of the many lies the UK were told.

 

[st599]

All they’d need to do is place a scanner in those locations so it’ll make it easier if anything.
They aren’t stretching the law at all, it’s their border and they are policing it. One of the many lies the UK were told.

They could, but at present, the approved scanners are about 8 foot tall and cost a few million each.

It may come that smaller, cheaper scanners are available more widely - but I can't see that working by next summer.

 

[LittleSister]

Then later next year, the biometric scanners go live. . .

Starts in 10 1/2 weeks, then rolling out over 6 months, according to today's newspapers.

'From 12 October onwards, member states will start introducing the EES gradually over a period of six months. Border authorities will progressively register the data of third country nationals crossing the borders. At the end of this period, the EES will be fully deployed at all border crossing points,” the EU said in a statement.

The plan to capture biometrics is part of the EU’s wider “smart border” programme which will allow the EU to speed up the entry of pre-approved frequent non-EU travellers while at the same time fighting against irregular migration.

Fingerprinting machines are already visible at the Eurostar terminal in London with kiosks being built for car, bus and truck passengers in Dover.

Passengers will be required to have their fingerprints or facial image verified but not both after passing through a border for the first time.

Once up and running fully it will be British tourists and other non-EU visitors will no longer have their passports stamped.

It will also enable the EU to see, at a glance, whether the passenger is overstaying.

“This is an advanced technological system that will digitally record the entries and exits of non-EU nationals travelling to 29 European countries, including Schengen Associated ones, for short stays. It will capture biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial image, and other travel information, gradually replacing the current system of passport stamping,” the European Commission said.'
[underlined emphasis added]

EU to start rolling out biometrics entry system for non-EU visitors from October – as it happened

 

[st599]

Starts in 10 1/2 weeks, then rolling out over 6 months, according to today's newspapers.

'From 12 October onwards, member states will start introducing the EES gradually over a period of six months. Border authorities will progressively register the data of third country nationals crossing the borders. At the end of this period, the EES will be fully deployed at all border crossing points,” the EU said in a statement.

The plan to capture biometrics is part of the EU’s wider “smart border” programme which will allow the EU to speed up the entry of pre-approved frequent non-EU travellers while at the same time fighting against irregular migration.

Fingerprinting machines are already visible at the Eurostar terminal in London with kiosks being built for car, bus and truck passengers in Dover.

Passengers will be required to have their fingerprints or facial image verified but not both after passing through a border for the first time.

Once up and running fully it will be British tourists and other non-EU visitors will no longer have their passports stamped.

It will also enable the EU to see, at a glance, whether the passenger is overstaying.

“This is an advanced technological system that will digitally record the entries and exits of non-EU nationals travelling to 29 European countries, including Schengen Associated ones, for short stays. It will capture biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial image, and other travel information, gradually replacing the current system of passport stamping,” the European Commission said.'
[underlined emphasis added]

EU to start rolling out biometrics entry system for non-EU visitors from October – as it happened

Ah, so it's the visa waiver system that goes live next year.

 

[Caladh]

Indeed, but there's no need to physically go and get a stamp. As long as they have the ETA and have informed BF of arrival, the can stay for 6 months.

…and that st599 is precisely why the 90 in 180 is so crap. Thanks Boris.

 

[riverteign]

I had a similar issue to the OP with the Douanes at Roscoff this week. Previously they have allowed an appointment on one day for check out with a departure in the early hours of the next day. They have received new instructions that they have to see you and stamp your passport on the day that you depart. With a first appointment at 0830 that means that you effectively lose 9 hours of departure flexibility.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I had a similar issue to the OP with the Douanes at Roscoff this week. Previously they have allowed an appointment on one day for check out with a departure in the early hours of the next day. They have received new instructions that they have to see you and stamp your passport on the day that you depart. With a first appointment at 0830 that means that you effectively lose 9 hours of departure flexibility.

Why should they clear you out of the country but then allow you to remain in the country for an undisclosed period

 

[riverteign]

Why should they clear you out of the country but then allow you to remain in the country for an undisclosed period

No reason at all other than it has been their and other ports practice over the last few years.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I had a similar issue to the OP with the Douanes at Roscoff this week. Previously they have allowed an appointment on one day for check out with a departure in the early hours of the next day. They have received new instructions that they have to see you and stamp your passport on the day that you depart. With a first appointment at 0830 that means that you effectively lose 9 hours of departure flexibility.

Why should they clear you out of the country but then allow you to remain in the country for an undisclosed period

No reason at all other than it has been their and other ports practice over the last few years.

People often do things they think are OK until their boss finds out.

 

[doug748]

No reason at all other than it has been their and other ports practice over the last few years.

Indeed. They are free to design whatever clunky rules they want to control the non existent problem of UK yachtsmen entering and leaving France. Just as we are free to point out the shortcomings of it compared to the UK system.

.

 

[Lightwave395]

I had a similar issue to the OP with the Douanes at Roscoff this week. Previously they have allowed an appointment on one day for check out with a departure in the early hours of the next day. They have received new instructions that they have to see you and stamp your passport on the day that you depart. With a first appointment at 0830 that means that you effectively lose 9 hours of departure flexibility.

Not sure all the PAF office have been told of the change, I wonder if that has become widespread, some friends have been cruising onboard my boat for a couple of weeks (in exchange from bringing her back to UK), they stamped out of Brest last Friday and didn't leave until Sunday afternoon. Roscoff is unusual as you check out of the ferry port which is open 7 days, the Brest office is, or was, Mon-Fri

 

[riverteign]

The other issue that makes Roscoff difficult is that it is the Douanes rather than the PAF who administer the checks and, with the reduction in ferry traffic, they aren't open very often. One of our crew members had arrived by ferry so we needed to use a port of entry. Otherwise, using the secondary ports gives you much more flexibility.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

When travelling to a foreign country, you are required to abide by their rules and regulations, and remember France is a foreign country. These regulations and laws are made for the benefit of that country not the people visiting it. This applies all over the world where entry to a country is controlled via passport, try circumventing the entry / leaving procedure in the US and see what happens. Again I ask the question as to why a country should arrange its border controls to suit the convenience of a casual visitor.

 

[riverteign]

As I said above, I don't disagree with you at all. I simply shared the information as the implementation of the rules has evolved and varied over time. When it comes to passage planning it helps to know what you can and can't do. I was told that I could do one thing when we entered but that we couldn't do that two weeks later when we went to leave. That led to an overnight rather than a day sail for us and I thought it would be useful information so other could plan accordingly.

 

[lustyd]

When it comes to passage planning it helps to know what you can and can't do

This part drives me insane. Given that border control is based on well defined laws and rules, why is it seemingly so hard to write those down somewhere on the Internet so that visitors are able to understand them and at least try to follow them. I've yet to see a country lay out clearly how and where to enter and check in. The advice for France is mostly based on a bunch of rumours and hearsay copied to forums and the CA so no wonder we struggle when visiting. The PAF forms were/are a total joke, fill one in and email it to the correct address, but the list of addresses is nowhere to be found!

 

[LittleSister]

Again I ask the question as to why a country should arrange its border controls to suit the convenience of a casual visitor.

Because for coastal towns and businesses, the casual visitor is an important contributor to the local economy?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Because for coastal towns and businesses, the casual visitor is an important contributor to the local economy?

I suggest and think you exaggerate the importance of visiting English yachts.

 

[LittleSister]

I suggest and think you exaggerate the importance of visiting English yachts.

You are mistaken. I didn't suggest it was the major one, but it's still important to many coastal places (some of which, like ours, are struggling) and businesses.