Take care when travelling - visa woes

PHOTOGRAPHER and Branch member Vudi Xhymshiti Tweets of being refused entry to France. In brief, he got through British exit checks and French arrival checks just fine at St Pancras. But on arriving in France his bags were searched and he was told to go back to London to get a visa.

Since Brexit, EU member states have been entirely within their rights to demand that anyone entering their country for work purposes obtain a visa that allows this and in some cases a "residence" card. Getting through one check is no guarantee of getting through the next. Vudi did apply for a visa and it was refused.

It would be wrong to go into the details we have obtained from him. Suffice it to say:

you really, really should comply with the formalities before you set out;
follow the instructions on visa application forms literally to the letter; and
if you manage to get advice from a human at an embassy or consulate, remember that they're not the person actually screening applications and ignore what they say if it conflicts with rule 2 above.

Vudi has been keenly critical of the government of France. Perhaps its servants wanted to exclude him for that reason. But it's impossible to be sure unless you follow the rules, and often not even then. Any breach - even a spelling error - gives border officials an entirely valid excuse to turn you away.

See out advice on post-Brexit travel at the link below - and do please do please tell us if it needs to be updated.

Travel advisory April 2021