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Eurostar / French border control

Eurostar — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:18:07 GMT

I am on the SOR, no other restrictions, havent travelled abroad in quite sometime and having read on here i am a little worried about using the passport control @ St pancras
I know something will be flagged up and i am travelling with someone but i can easily get in another queue so anything wont be seen, i believe they have automatic gates but i assume they wont work for me?
My real concern is getting turned away !and not being able to go as feels a bit different to having flown and still effectively in this country
has anyone had issues like this, i can cope with the discreet questions ,its just being able to get through
any recent experiences please?

RE: Eurostar / French border control

iowian — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:18:07 GMT

[quote]

[b]tedstriker - 29 Jun 20 10:22 AM[/b]

I am no longer on the SOR so don't have any issues but used Eurostar extensively when I was.

I never had any questions at St Pancras on the way out. The French border control didn't seem very interested.

On the way back I did have an issue at Brussels where I was lead away with my wife into a holding room where I was asked some questions and the border guard took our passports to be photocopied. It was deeply unpleasant and would obviously be very hard to explain away but he did not reveal any details about why we were stopped. This occurred not long after the new SIS system came into play with exit checks so it could have just been them getting used to the new system.

[/quote]

It must be such a relief to travel without notification. I'm building up my severely dented confidence. Have you ventured beyond Europe?

RE: Eurostar / French border control

tedstriker — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 09:59:45 GMT

[quote]

[b]iowian - 5 Dec 22 6:56 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]tedstriker - 29 Jun 20 10:22 AM[/b]

[/quote]

Hi tedstriker
I've just added a post and subsequently came across you submission. Can you update on any other post SO travel complications? Hopefully none to add!!

[/quote]

None at all :)

RE: Eurostar / French border control

jcdmcr — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 17:55:40 GMT

I worked on a home office IT Contract. I remember UKBA being given details for passport holders name, address, passport number, date of birth.

I've heard of the green notice system, but how this will work post BREXIT is beyond me. i know some of the information flows through concord and maple house in Wythenshawe.

Anyways my passport fails to work at automatic gates and i'm asked basic questions like "are your partner and kids with with you?", "are you travelling alone?" Basically catch out questions (I have no partner and no kids, and I was travelling alone) where they assume the person they're asking is stupid enough to believe that information isn't shared with other agencies......

Information is shared, the core systems are POISE (home office desktop system) and INDIGO (Immigration System / UKBA). Other databases and websites sit on top and information can be shared up to OFFICIAL / RESTRICTED systems on GSI and CONFIDENTIAL on XGSI

RE: Eurostar / French border control

BenS — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 14:03:30 GMT

In my personal opinion, I don't think it looks bad if you are stopped at the automatic gates, because they stop a lot of people due to either malfunctions or the person not using them properly. When I landed at Heathrow a few months ago, the e-gates were rejecting literally 50% of people and forcing them to see a human. So it doesn't mean anything to your surrounding passengers if you are stopped and taken to one side, as loads of people have to do the same.

On the other hand, if you are in a queue to see a human passport officer and are stopped for 5 minutes being asked lots of questions, that looks dodgy. Whereas with the e-gates it can easily be explained away through technological problems, or no one suspects anything because so many people get stopped.

RE: Eurostar / French border control

tedstriker — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 10:22:10 GMT

RE: Eurostar / French border control

JGUK68 — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 09:50:07 GMT

[quote]

[b]Eurostar - 29 Jun 20 8:24 AM[/b]

[/quote]

Hi Eurostar. I have been travelling to Europe quite a lot in the last few years and I have used the Eurostar at least 3 times in the last year or so. I must say that it has been the only passport control that gave me NO hassle at all on all three occasions (unlike airports). So, unless things have changed lately (my last trip was about 6 months ago, you should have no problems. (p.s. I have never used the automatic gates only the manned ones).

Enjoy your trip and let us know about your experience!