EES introduction- Updates
Discussion
Thought we should keep an update of experiences with the introduction of the new EES System.
I've seen the comments on the Eurotunnel thread and following with interest as I'm booked in March.
I traveled Newhaven Dieppe today and as to be expected no difference on both sides.
I would expect this route to either first, as it's low traffic or last for the same reason.
Please add your experiences.
I've seen the comments on the Eurotunnel thread and following with interest as I'm booked in March.
I traveled Newhaven Dieppe today and as to be expected no difference on both sides.
I would expect this route to either first, as it's low traffic or last for the same reason.
Please add your experiences.
Travelled into Madrid airport last Friday, had to register at EES machines. No queueing, very straightforward. Then towards passport control where we had to use another automated passport reader and then on to an actual official who checked passport again and stamped it. All fairly painless. Returned yesterday via usual passport officer and exit stamp,no machines involved. Seems like they are practicing during quiet times.
Copying this over from my thread on P&O Hull-Rotterdam; trip was last Monday:-
At Rotterdam each of the 4 border-post lanes has a photo/fingerprint booth adjacent, operated by the officer. It probably took just a minute or so each longer for my wife and I to exit car, get bio’d and return, all whilst the officer was assisting/viewing and stamping our passports!
At Rotterdam each of the 4 border-post lanes has a photo/fingerprint booth adjacent, operated by the officer. It probably took just a minute or so each longer for my wife and I to exit car, get bio’d and return, all whilst the officer was assisting/viewing and stamping our passports!
fourfoldroot said:
Travelled into Madrid airport last Friday, had to register at EES machines. No queueing, very straightforward. Then towards passport control where we had to use another automated passport reader and then on to an actual official who checked passport again and stamped it. All fairly painless. Returned yesterday via usual passport officer and exit stamp,no machines involved. Seems like they are practicing during quiet times.
I arrived into Madrid a few days before you and did the two machines plus an officer. I didn't even realise it was anything to do with EES. I go through Madrid twice a month. The machines have been there for a long time but sometimes being used, sometimes not. The last time (first time?) I used the machines, neither of them worked and I had to go to an officer. I thought that was because both machines rejected my passport. So the proces from now on should be machine only? Madeira arrivals last week. Was expecting delays and all the machines are in place, but they are not turned on yet.
Aircraft was full (mostly Portuguese) and the queue at the EU gates was long. My daughter and I breezed through the non EU gates in less than a minute and it was 5 minutes from getting off the aircraft to waiting for the bus - fastest arrivals ever anywhere for me.
Same for departures this week. Longest delay was while the officer looked at all the stamps in my daughter's passport.
Aircraft was full (mostly Portuguese) and the queue at the EU gates was long. My daughter and I breezed through the non EU gates in less than a minute and it was 5 minutes from getting off the aircraft to waiting for the bus - fastest arrivals ever anywhere for me.
Same for departures this week. Longest delay was while the officer looked at all the stamps in my daughter's passport.
Flew in and out of Lanzarote airport over the middle of December.
Upon arrival you walk up to one of the machines, select your country via the flag (UK), place your passport to be scanned and wait while it takes a photo. Then you move to the arrivals scan gate, through them and then onto the immigration officers for your passport to be stamped. Whole process took less than 3 minutes. I suspect the process may have taken up to 10 minutes for those last off the plane.
On departure, it was the normal processes except you have to validate your exit on one of the machines when through security near to gate 6. Again, select country and then scan passport. This whole process took less than 10 seconds!
Upon arrival you walk up to one of the machines, select your country via the flag (UK), place your passport to be scanned and wait while it takes a photo. Then you move to the arrivals scan gate, through them and then onto the immigration officers for your passport to be stamped. Whole process took less than 3 minutes. I suspect the process may have taken up to 10 minutes for those last off the plane.
On departure, it was the normal processes except you have to validate your exit on one of the machines when through security near to gate 6. Again, select country and then scan passport. This whole process took less than 10 seconds!
I don't have direct experience of EES yet, but have a query which I'm not sure warranted its own thread if that's ok?
I'm travelling to Spain in mid January for a few days through Malaga airport, and France in February for a week through Grenoble airport.
I'm married to a French citizen (who now is also a UK citizen), and have just about completed the citizenship process to become a French citizen alongside my UK citizenship. I have actually now been issued a French birth certificate which I can access online, but have not received the invite for the final French citizenship ceremony, and even if that were tomorrow I wouldn't have a French passport issued in time for the two upcoming trips above.
I know that as the spouse of an EU citizen, technically I could always utilise the EU lines when we travel together however in reality this is hit and miss and at the whim of the border guard on the day.
Does anybody know if I could bypass EES by presenting my French birth certificate alongside my UK passport? Logically this ought to demonstrate that I'm an EU citizen and therefore not subject to EES, or will only an EU passport do in the circumstances?
In the alternative, I'm not far from Newhaven so was considering doing a day trip as a foot passenger to get EES registered prior - reading above, it seems that vehicular traffic isn't being processed yet but I'm wondering if they're rolling it out slowly and only doing foot passengers due to the very low numbers of them. Boat timings make this plan viable, and I've done Newhaven Dieppe as a foot passenger loads over the years so know what to expect. Just trying to work out if eight hours on a boat is worth it to potentially save time at the airports.
Not too worried about Malaga - in on a Thursday and out on a Monday so hoping not too bad, but Grenoble in half term week can be miserable enough at the best of times especially if two flights come in at roughly the same time. Or if EES registered in Malaga the month prior, am I likely to get hooked up in queues in Grenoble?
Apologies for all the questions - due to the rollout period, getting factual information for specific situations is proving a bit tricky and so if anyone has direct experience of the above, the specific airports mentioned, etc. I would be grateful for a steer.
Thank you.
I'm travelling to Spain in mid January for a few days through Malaga airport, and France in February for a week through Grenoble airport.
I'm married to a French citizen (who now is also a UK citizen), and have just about completed the citizenship process to become a French citizen alongside my UK citizenship. I have actually now been issued a French birth certificate which I can access online, but have not received the invite for the final French citizenship ceremony, and even if that were tomorrow I wouldn't have a French passport issued in time for the two upcoming trips above.
I know that as the spouse of an EU citizen, technically I could always utilise the EU lines when we travel together however in reality this is hit and miss and at the whim of the border guard on the day.
Does anybody know if I could bypass EES by presenting my French birth certificate alongside my UK passport? Logically this ought to demonstrate that I'm an EU citizen and therefore not subject to EES, or will only an EU passport do in the circumstances?
In the alternative, I'm not far from Newhaven so was considering doing a day trip as a foot passenger to get EES registered prior - reading above, it seems that vehicular traffic isn't being processed yet but I'm wondering if they're rolling it out slowly and only doing foot passengers due to the very low numbers of them. Boat timings make this plan viable, and I've done Newhaven Dieppe as a foot passenger loads over the years so know what to expect. Just trying to work out if eight hours on a boat is worth it to potentially save time at the airports.
Not too worried about Malaga - in on a Thursday and out on a Monday so hoping not too bad, but Grenoble in half term week can be miserable enough at the best of times especially if two flights come in at roughly the same time. Or if EES registered in Malaga the month prior, am I likely to get hooked up in queues in Grenoble?
Apologies for all the questions - due to the rollout period, getting factual information for specific situations is proving a bit tricky and so if anyone has direct experience of the above, the specific airports mentioned, etc. I would be grateful for a steer.
Thank you.
Lanzarote Entry (UK and EU pp holders)
UK - register on EES entry machines BEFORE passport entry gates (photo, finger prints)
Go to "outside EU" lanes (lots of machines)
Scan passport and pass through gate.
Then line up for physical PP check and stamp in.
EU - go to gate. Scan. Walk out.
NB - there is NO way for EU and UK PP holders to pass through together. (currently)
UK - register on EES entry machines BEFORE passport entry gates (photo, finger prints)
Go to "outside EU" lanes (lots of machines)
Scan passport and pass through gate.
Then line up for physical PP check and stamp in.
EU - go to gate. Scan. Walk out.
NB - there is NO way for EU and UK PP holders to pass through together. (currently)
To answer Melange's question, then French citizenship by marriage is backdated to when you apply for it. Conceptually, that is a little strange in that you are a citizen even if you don't realise it if the application is approved. I didn't attend the citizenship ceremony anyway (was on holiday), but it didn't seem to be a condition. Therefore there shouldn't be a reason to delay applying for a passport or (free) carte d'identite
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