Passport advice

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Sniper

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I am planning to take my boat across to Ostend and then into Holland next June and my likely crew will include an American national. Although he has lived and worked in the UK for many years he still carries a US passport. Am I likely to face any additional complications on arrival due to this, or is it a non-issue ? Obviously it is possible that he may be more welcome than I will be after brexit!
 
Sniper said:
I am planning to take my boat across to Ostend and then into Holland next June and my likely crew will include an American national. Although he has lived and worked in the UK for many years he still carries a US passport. Am I likely to face any additional complications on arrival due to this, or is it a non-issue ? Obviously it is possible that he may be more welcome than I will be after brexit!
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In theory, all the information you need, including what to do if you have non UK crew on board, here https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/boating-abroad/Pages/paperwork.aspx

In practice, many of us go to and from those places with no formalities at all and no one comes to check but.....

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I have an Australian passport and no British passport. Northern Europe has never been a problem for me. No one has ever asked for my passport, at most they only ask for my boat registration. Technically I am supposed to declare that I am a non European but the first time I did it at Boulogne many years ago it caused so much fuss getting someone in to stamp my passport they suggested I don't declare my nationality unless asked. Spain and Portugal are different they ask at every port for your passport and like to stamp you in and out of the Schengen group of countries.

I have been stopped in the Channel by Border Protection on a return from the Southern Ocean and they did ask me for my passport and to sight my 'Right to Abode', when they heard my accent.

Of course this will all change after Brexit and there will be no difference then in visiting Europe between Colonials and British regarding Europe.
 
Your american crew needs to get a Schengen entry stamp on his passport within 24? hrs of arrival. This time may not be strictly adhered to. But the need for the stamp is strictly adhered to.

I know of two people who were caught when they flew out of the Schengen country. Detained fined and deported. No return possible even though they had boats left behind.
 
TQA said:
Your american crew needs to get a Schengen entry stamp on his passport within 24? hrs of arrival. This time may not be strictly adhered to. But the need for the stamp is strictly adhered to.

I know of two people who were caught when they flew out of the Schengen country. Detained fined and deported. No return possible even though they had boats left behind.
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+1. At present, my wife has a non-EU passport (British National (Overseas)), and a few years ago had a bit of trouble leaving Germany - apparently she hadn't been "checked out" on a previous visit (the passport looks just like a British one, except for a few minor differences on the photo page), and it appeared that she'd been illegally in Germany for about 2 years according to their systems! Fortunately she was able to convince them that she had left the country on her previous visit, but it took a scarily long time, especially as I'd gone through control before her and couldn't get back to see what was going on!

While everything LOOKS very casual, it isn't behind the scenes.
 
Thanks for the updates. Looks like we need to investigate a little further. I’d hate to have to support his wife and children because he wasn’t allowed back into the UK!
 
There are actually two countries involved here for the US passport holder. Entering the Schengen area and then re entering the UK.
To enter the Schengen area you need an official of the country you are entering the Schengen area to stamp your passport, often a national police person. Spain and Portugal are very good at doing this but Northern European members of the Schengen countries are reluctant to get involved in my experience. The suggestion of talking to the Netherlands Embassy is an excellent one.
Then to return to the UK technically the US citizen will need to have their passport stamped by proving their resident status. This process in my experience is almost impossible. My suggestion would be to re enter the UK at Dover and approach the Border Protection people there.
I have found it impossible to re enter the UK legally. To be partially legal in returning from non European countries, the US this year for instance following the Jester Challenge, I went via the Azores so that my passport was stamped as entering Europe at least. Many years ago on returning from the US I approached and rang every official possible on arrival at Falmouth to have my entry to the UK recognised. the best response I got was from Yachtline who suggested they would send papers to Falmouth marina that I could send in and return.

I have been to the Netherlands a number of times and no one has ever questioned my citizenship as an Australian. As I have a British flagged boat it is always assumed, I believe, that I am British. And having been told by a French official many years ago that they would prefer to ignore the issue that is what I have done.
 
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