Traveling alone

[nicelady190]

Traveling for the first time since I got my residence card, am married to an EU national and am an African lady. Will be traveling alone and coming back alone, any advice on what to expect when coming back in to the UK?

[Jambo]

any advice on what to expect when coming back in to the UK?

Rain and miserable weather.

You can use the EU line for passport control. No need to fill in a landing card and your passport should not get stamped.

[Plum70]

In addition to the weather forecast so accurately predicted by Jambo, take along your marriage certificate as proof of your r/ship ONLY IF asked.

Do not give the IO any pleasure by answering illegitimate questions.

[EUspouse82]

any advice on what to expect when coming back in to the UK?

Rain and miserable weather.

You can use the EU line for passport control. No need to fill in a landing card and your passport should not get stamped.

Very nice reply

I am just a bit curious, can a non EU family member with a valid EU family permit or a 5 year EU residence permit actually use the EU line for passport control even when they are not travelling with their spouse?

[Jambo]

With a Residence Card - Yes. I thought my post was quite clear on that

[EUspouse82]

With a Residence Card - Yes. I thought my post was quite clear on that

Sorry I didnt mean to sound obnoxious at all. I asked because I had a 5 year EU residence permit in Ireland and I was never been allowed to travel on the EU line when travelling alone. They insisted I must be with my spouse to be entitiled to such a priviledge.

[nicelady190]

any advice on what to expect when coming back in to the UK?

Rain and miserable weather.

You can use the EU line for passport control. No need to fill in a landing card and your passport should not get stamped.

Hey guys thanks for the advice, came back from Dubai today and I didn't encounter any problem from the IO at all. But when I landed I wanted to take the EU line as advice but the lady stopped me saying I have to take other passport line and fill in a landing card, I didn't want to argue with her so I filled in the landing card, but when I got to the IO he looked at my passport and said you did not have to fill a landing card and I told him the other IO insisted I fill it, and he said did you tell her that you are a family member of an EEA I said yes, he reply you don't have to fill a landing card next time and I won't stamp your passport. He just ask where my husband was and if everything is the way I left it before traveling I said yes. He gave me back my passport and said welcome home. Thanks for your advice Jambo.

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

any advice on what to expect when coming back in to the UK?

Rain and miserable weather.

You can use the EU line for passport control. No need to fill in a landing card and your passport should not get stamped.

Hey guys thanks for the advice, came back from Dubai today and I didn't encounter any problem from the IO at all. But when I landed I wanted to take the EU line as advice but the lady stopped me saying I have to take other passport line and fill in a landing card, I didn't want to argue with her so I filled in the landing card, but when I got to the IO he looked at my passport and said you did not have to fill a landing card and I told him the other IO insisted I fill it, and he said did you tell her that you are a family member of an EEA I said yes, he reply you don't have to fill a landing card next time and I won't stamp your passport. He just ask where my husband was and if everything is the way I left it before traveling I said yes. He gave me back my passport and said welcome home. Thanks for your advice Jambo.

I suspect you encountered a person hired by the airport to assist passengers join the right queue. For the record, you do not fill in a landing card (if you did it would go straight in the bin). Glad to see that the IO knew their stuff. Welcome home!

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Hey guys thanks for the advice, came back from Dubai today and I didn't encounter any problem from the IO at all. But when I landed I wanted to take the EU line as advice but the lady stopped me saying I have to take other passport line and fill in a landing card, I didn't want to argue with her so I filled in the landing card, but when I got to the IO he looked at my passport and said you did not have to fill a landing card and I told him the other IO insisted I fill it, and he said did you tell her that you are a family member of an EEA I said yes, he reply you don't have to fill a landing card next time and I won't stamp your passport. He just ask where my husband was and if everything is the way I left it before traveling I said yes. He gave me back my passport and said welcome home. Thanks for your advice Jambo.

This is exactly as it should happen, except that the "greeter" should not have sent you to that line.

Best thing is that you can choose whichever line is shorter. If there are all EU people and nobody in the "foreigners" line, then take the foreigners line. I have done this before with my wife, and it make standing in line feel like a small victory.

And no matter which line you are in: There is no need for a landing card and should be no stamp in your passport.