Good evening my friends.....a passport problem
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: gone surfin'
Age: 57
Posts: 2,335
Good evening my friends.....a passport problem
Good evening my friends,
A direct question, where I would appreciate a direct reply.(I've not posted on jet blast for a while, but would love to get into the debate when I get this answered.)
About 6 weeks ago my mum and her friend, Jean, travelled to Spain for a 10 day holiday. Jean's passport got "stamped," on the way out. On the first day of there holiday, my mum got ill, very ill. To cut a long story short, mum was hospitalised for 4 weeks, and her friend Jean, stayed by her side for all this time.
Mum and Jean were eventually repatriated to the UK via an Air Ambulance.
During the kerfuffle, Jean's passport didn't get stamped on the way out.
She hopes to travel to Tenerife in early September, but is now worried about her passage. (The passport stuff.)
Mum is out of the equation, as unfortunately she has now passed,
Advice appreciated, Gingernut :-)
A direct question, where I would appreciate a direct reply.(I've not posted on jet blast for a while, but would love to get into the debate when I get this answered.)
About 6 weeks ago my mum and her friend, Jean, travelled to Spain for a 10 day holiday. Jean's passport got "stamped," on the way out. On the first day of there holiday, my mum got ill, very ill. To cut a long story short, mum was hospitalised for 4 weeks, and her friend Jean, stayed by her side for all this time.
Mum and Jean were eventually repatriated to the UK via an Air Ambulance.
During the kerfuffle, Jean's passport didn't get stamped on the way out.
She hopes to travel to Tenerife in early September, but is now worried about her passage. (The passport stuff.)
Mum is out of the equation, as unfortunately she has now passed,
Advice appreciated, Gingernut :-)
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Europe
Posts: 73
I'm sorry to hear of your loss.
As far as rules strictly should go, she should be stamped. Does she have an evidence at all of exit? This will likely be required (normally boarding pass, but in this case letter from insurance or the Medevac operator showing she was on the flight) so that backdated exit stamp can be placed. Unfortunately in law it is her requirement to ensure she is stamped in/out correctly, however hopefully immigration officer will understand the circumstances the flight took place.
May to September will put her over 90 days in 180, so it will be more essential in this case than if the absence is only few days. I am aware that some Schengen countries now are not stamping passports from UK on entry (I hold EU passport but entered on same flight as a UK friend few weeks ago, on this occasion to Poland, and they were not stamped), however if a stamp is taken on entry, it must be given on exit.
In addition, the Spanish embassy may be able to help.
As far as rules strictly should go, she should be stamped. Does she have an evidence at all of exit? This will likely be required (normally boarding pass, but in this case letter from insurance or the Medevac operator showing she was on the flight) so that backdated exit stamp can be placed. Unfortunately in law it is her requirement to ensure she is stamped in/out correctly, however hopefully immigration officer will understand the circumstances the flight took place.
May to September will put her over 90 days in 180, so it will be more essential in this case than if the absence is only few days. I am aware that some Schengen countries now are not stamping passports from UK on entry (I hold EU passport but entered on same flight as a UK friend few weeks ago, on this occasion to Poland, and they were not stamped), however if a stamp is taken on entry, it must be given on exit.
In addition, the Spanish embassy may be able to help.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 442
Gingernut
My condolences to you. Short answer I don’t think she will have any problem. In my experience whether one’s passport is stamped is pretty random. It seems to be entirely on the “policía” on the desk when go through. Hope that helps.
edited to add: have sent you a PM
My condolences to you. Short answer I don’t think she will have any problem. In my experience whether one’s passport is stamped is pretty random. It seems to be entirely on the “policía” on the desk when go through. Hope that helps.
edited to add: have sent you a PM
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 453
Similarly, condolences.
I've had this more than once before, and it has never caused any problem; I form the impression that nobody tallies the entries and exits either in the passport or on any meaningful record.
However, this anecdotal evidence doesn't guarantee a problem-free result in Jean's case.
As an aside, many 'dual-citizenship' Chinese people, who had British nationality and passports (but broke Chinese rules by retaining their 10 year Chinese passport instead of surrendering it, breaking Chinese rules requiring them to surrender Chinese nationality) used a trick when travelling to and from China. To avoid having to obtain any visas either way, they simply travelled to China on their Chinese passport (UK had no problem with them leaving, and China had no problem with them returning to China), and they returned to the UK on their UK passport, similarly without any difficulty.
Obviously China would 'see' them returning many time, but never leaving, and similarly the UK 'saw' them coming back to the UK many times, but never leaving. It never seemed to cause any problems. However, I think some things have changed in recent times to stop that trick being used, so possibly best not to rely on this evidence!
I've had this more than once before, and it has never caused any problem; I form the impression that nobody tallies the entries and exits either in the passport or on any meaningful record.
However, this anecdotal evidence doesn't guarantee a problem-free result in Jean's case.
As an aside, many 'dual-citizenship' Chinese people, who had British nationality and passports (but broke Chinese rules by retaining their 10 year Chinese passport instead of surrendering it, breaking Chinese rules requiring them to surrender Chinese nationality) used a trick when travelling to and from China. To avoid having to obtain any visas either way, they simply travelled to China on their Chinese passport (UK had no problem with them leaving, and China had no problem with them returning to China), and they returned to the UK on their UK passport, similarly without any difficulty.
Obviously China would 'see' them returning many time, but never leaving, and similarly the UK 'saw' them coming back to the UK many times, but never leaving. It never seemed to cause any problems. However, I think some things have changed in recent times to stop that trick being used, so possibly best not to rely on this evidence!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 710
My daughter-in-law has dual NZ/GB nationality. She left UK on her UK passport and tried to enter NZ on her NZ passport. I did not work. NZ immigration wanted to see the same passport that she used to leave UK. It seems things are joined up these days.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Join Date: Feb 1997
Location: Duit On Mon Dei
Posts: 4,495
Hi gingernut,
Firstly, condolences on your Mum's passing.
Regarding your Mum's friend Jean. As you know, she should have been stamped outbound. Obviously, a tad tricky.
I encounter this bunflight all the time re passports and private jets (working).
Can she get access to the General Declaration from the Ambulance Flight? That should have her details on it and that she left Spain.
Hospital admission proof? Anything that proves that Jean's been in the UK.
Can she have a chat with the Spanish Embassy in London? Explain the situation? Get a letter from them explainning the situation?
It's worth a shot.
Good luck
Firstly, condolences on your Mum's passing.
Regarding your Mum's friend Jean. As you know, she should have been stamped outbound. Obviously, a tad tricky.
I encounter this bunflight all the time re passports and private jets (working).
Can she get access to the General Declaration from the Ambulance Flight? That should have her details on it and that she left Spain.
Hospital admission proof? Anything that proves that Jean's been in the UK.
Can she have a chat with the Spanish Embassy in London? Explain the situation? Get a letter from them explainning the situation?
It's worth a shot.
Good luck
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 453
Originally Posted by Ninthace
My daughter-in-law has dual NZ/GB nationality. She left UK on her UK passport and tried to enter NZ on her NZ passport. I did not work. NZ immigration wanted to see the same passport that she used to leave UK. It seems things are joined up these days.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 14,078
Originally Posted by redsnail
Can she get access to the General Declaration from the Ambulance Flight? That should have her details on it and that she left Spain.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: away from home
Age: 61
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by Ninthace
My daughter-in-law has dual NZ/GB nationality. She left UK on her UK passport and tried to enter NZ on her NZ passport. I did not work. NZ immigration wanted to see the same passport that she used to leave UK. It seems things are joined up these days.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: on the ground
Posts: 384
Originally Posted by Ninthace
My daughter-in-law has dual NZ/GB nationality. She left UK on her UK passport and tried to enter NZ on her NZ passport. I did not work. NZ immigration wanted to see the same passport that she used to leave UK. It seems things are joined up these days.
I managed to leave the USA undetected in 1997, crossing into Canada by road at Osoyoos BC / Oroville WA at 1am on a weeknight. Canadian immigration processed me into Canada, but US immigration had gone home to bed. My passport was then stolen shortly after I returned to Australia, removing my proof that I'd entered and exited Canada and returned to Australia.
The next time I returned to the USA, I was concerned this might be a problem, so I wrote a letter with detailed supporting documents showing I had been living in Australia since 1997 and posted it to them ahead of travel. Their website made it clear I would get no reply, but they let me in just fine. It has since occurred to me that a copy of my Australian International Movement Records would have established my presence in Australia.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,295
A while ago I was called to see a relative urgently and unexpectedly in Australia. I booked a flight for the next day and then found my NZ passport had expired a few days prior.. My UK passport was still in date (but did not have a returning resident's visa) so I turned up with that, and Qantas issued me an Oz visa at the desk. I spent a fortnight sorting things out before returning, where I knew some questions would be asked. I did have my expired NZ passport with me. Sure enough, I was taken aside and explained what had occurred. Immigration were very understanding and I was able to get home. Their major concern seemed to be how to persuade their software to accommodate the situation...
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: In front of a computer
Posts: 2,144
The European Union is going to implement a new Visa system - supposedly next year.
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/po...tion-system_en
UK travellers will need to pre-register for their first visit but it should be automatic after that.
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/po...tion-system_en
UK travellers will need to pre-register for their first visit but it should be automatic after that.
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: 5Y
Posts: 578
I suspect the OP is over thinking this. I have 2 UK passports and as a result any one of them is wildly inconsistent in terms of matching entry-exit stamps for any number of countries. This has never caused a problem.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Join Date: Feb 1997
Location: Duit On Mon Dei
Posts: 4,495
Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
Does the ambulance flight operator not have any responsibility for ensuring (particularly in view of the passengers' condition) that their passports are correctly stamped on exit ?
As for the departure? Ambulance flights are filed under a different category so it's possible the Police were not alerted. I suspect it was all done on Gen Dec.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 51.50N 1W (ish)
Posts: 1,074
After I left the RAF, I ended up in the oil industry, making things downhole work. in '79 I was offshore Vietnam (then embargoed by the USA ) for a month at a time, so needing a Vietnam residents permit. Entrance and exit from the country was by the once a week Air France flight, via Bangkok. Our passports were carefully examined and stamped on entry and exit. I had to renew my US visa and expecting questions, but nobody at Grosvenor Square seemed to mind the colourful Viet stamps.
On one occasion I was on the last flight off after some tech problems. and the shuttle helicopter had to drop me on Tan Son Nhut right by the aircraft steps and straight onto the flight, two engines were already running and we departed swiftly with no exit stamp. I was expecting questions on my next entry, but nothing said. I must have looked innocent.
On one occasion I was on the last flight off after some tech problems. and the shuttle helicopter had to drop me on Tan Son Nhut right by the aircraft steps and straight onto the flight, two engines were already running and we departed swiftly with no exit stamp. I was expecting questions on my next entry, but nothing said. I must have looked innocent.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly in my own imagination
Posts: 147
I'm not sure I understand the need for stamps in a passport. I use the US one to leave the US, the UK one to arrive in the UK and the US one for both leaving and arriving on the return leg - Once I used the UK one to leave LHR and some bloke with a uniform later searched me out at the gate to ask if I had a Visa for the US or I wouldn't be able to go. I showed him the US passport and he said that was alright, hence using the US at both ends of the return journey
Well I say both ends, but tbh, they don't even ask for a passport on arrival any more. Weird I know, but I go through the Global Entry line and they do some kind of facial recognition
Even more confusing (and I've yet to experience this) I heard American Airlines are running a scheme at some airports where you don't even show your ID at security. I'm assuming they still xray your luggage, but tbh I'm not certain. Also not certain why it was reported as AA and not TSA doing this
Well I say both ends, but tbh, they don't even ask for a passport on arrival any more. Weird I know, but I go through the Global Entry line and they do some kind of facial recognition
Even more confusing (and I've yet to experience this) I heard American Airlines are running a scheme at some airports where you don't even show your ID at security. I'm assuming they still xray your luggage, but tbh I'm not certain. Also not certain why it was reported as AA and not TSA doing this
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: moraira,spain-Norfolk, UK
Age: 80
Posts: 387
I am dual GB/NZ nationality and use UK for leaving UK and NZ for NZ. No problems
so far. Spent about 90 days in Spain last year and had to ask border to stamp.
my passport on leaving, he was not going to do this automatically.
Border control did not know that I have a Spanish residence card (TIE),
but I thought stamp on entry requires stamp on exit.
Highly not recommended: arrive in Singapore on NZ passport and leave, by ship, on
UK (UK was required by ship). Caused a feeding frenzy, lots of copies of passport pages.
so far. Spent about 90 days in Spain last year and had to ask border to stamp.
my passport on leaving, he was not going to do this automatically.
Border control did not know that I have a Spanish residence card (TIE),
but I thought stamp on entry requires stamp on exit.
Highly not recommended: arrive in Singapore on NZ passport and leave, by ship, on
UK (UK was required by ship). Caused a feeding frenzy, lots of copies of passport pages.
Flashes from the Archives of Oblivion
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: 03 ACE
Age: 71
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