EEA family member travelling via Eurotunnel w/o visa

[andrzej.mendel]

Hello everyone!

I'm a Polish citizen studying in the UK. My wife is an Ukrainian citizen and has joined me here lately on EEA Family Permit. Before that, she had been granted temporary residence in Poland, but due to delays her residence card was only issued after she has left for the UK. Therefore, she needs a visa to re-enter Schengen area.

We would like to travel to Paris for Easter and it might be too late to apply for a visa. We would therefore like to try entering France via Eurotunnel on the basis of Article 5.4 of Directive 2004/38/EC and obtain visa on Schengen border. We have all documents in order (marriage certificate translations, 2004/38/EC printout in English and French etc.) and are prepared to argue our case with border officials. We are, however, not sure when passport control does precisely take place - if it takes place after boarding a train or bus, could train/bus operator refuse to let us on board due to my wife lacking a visa at that point?

Has anyone gone this route? What other problems can we encounter? Thanks in advance for any tips!

[secret.simon]

The immigration counter for the French Immigration Police is at St Pancras railway station. You will not be allowed to board the train if they refuse to issue the family permit.

Likewise, the immigration counter for the UKV&I are at the Brussels, Lille and Paris railway stations.

[andrzej.mendel]

What about buses from London to Paris? Any experience with them?

[secret.simon]

Buses from London to Paris stop at Dover, where the French Police aux Frontières conduct their checks.

Likewise, buses from the Continent to London stop at Calais or other continental ports with ferries to the UK, where the UKV&I do their inspection.

If your case takes a long time at the immigration desk, the whole bus is held back and I can't imagine the two of you being very popular back on board the bus.

[wegiwegi]

What about buses from London to Paris? Any experience with them?

No idea from London to Paris, but Paris to London, was the way we came back, bacause my non eea wife, wasnt allowed to board the plane, so we took the coach.

The border control was done at Calais, after crossing the channel by ferry, so we spend a few minutes showing the marriage certificate, our passports, a few questions asked by the officer, and he stamped my wife's passport with the following
Admited to the United Kingdom under the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 for - Six Months

[wish_uk]

Buses from London to Paris stop at Dover, where the French Police aux Frontières conduct their checks.

Likewise, buses from the Continent to London stop at Calais or other continental ports with ferries to the UK, where the UKV&I do their inspection.

If your case takes a long time at the immigration desk, the whole bus is held back and I can't imagine the two of you being very popular back on board the bus.

In case Paris to London by Eurolines

does the bus driver have any issues in the absence of ARTICLE 10 CARD. or what documents are enough to board a bus.

[wish_uk]

What about buses from London to Paris? Any experience with them?

No idea from London to Paris, but Paris to London, was the way we came back, bacause my non eea wife, wasnt allowed to board the plane, so we took the coach.

The border control was done at Calais, after crossing the channel by ferry, so we spend a few minutes showing the marriage certificate, our passports, a few questions asked by the officer, and he stamped my wife's passport with the following
Admited to the United Kingdom under the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 for - Six Months

Hi,
what kind of residence card you non EEA WIFE holding at that time.
and what questions were asked at border.
and any problem while boarding the bus.
cz me and my wife also have planned to travel by bus in march