Brit who’s ’emotionally’ in the EU allowed to use different passport queue
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Millions of Brits will jet off on holiday in Europe this summer. An annoying aspect of post-Brexit life is that we now have to wait for a passport stamp when we arrive at our destination in the non-EU line.
Well, one woman claims that her pal was allowed to join the wrong queue because of "emotional" attachment to the political union. Plus, the EU line is often far faster as most people can use the e-passport gates and don’t need to get a stamp.
Journalist and author Sophie Heawood posted about the situation on Twitter where it quickly went viral with over 13,800 likes. She quipped that her English friend was allowed to use the EU line in Spain.
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Sophie commented: "An English friend of mine was in the queue at Barcelona airport yesterday. They asked if she was an EU passport holder, and she replied that she was ‘emotionally’. They let her through."
The author of The Hungover Games, added: "I do find it confusing, still having an EU passport that I can both use and not use."
Many Brits still have their red passports which will only be replaced with blue ones when they expire.
For some, who sent off for a new passport just before March 2020, they’ll be stuck with an EU burgundy passport for a decade after the UK left the union.
Sophie’s pal isn’t the only person to try and sneak into the EU queue at the airport though. A man named Stefan Stern added: "Yes my old burgundy passport still says European Union at the top and at Vienna airport I went through from the EU queue.
"'Ehemalig!' I said in my best German accent with a regretful smile (‘Former!’). Of course the nice lady let me through."
Meanwhile, Kelly Webb-Davies said: "I rushed to get nationalised so that my UK passport would still say EU on it. I thought it only made a difference in my heart, but maybe it actually will be useful!"
Others noted that those travelling with EU citizens may be allowed to use the queue by virtue of their company. Rebecca Farkas said: "We went to Finland and my husband (an EU citizen) and I joined different queues. The nice man at passport control said I could join the EU queue when accompanying my husband next time. A small win!"
Adithya Ramachandran replied: "It's standard. I'm Canadian and my wife is an EU citizen; we always use the EU line. There are a few staff who may not be aware of this and must be reminded that this is perfectly legal."
While another woman wrote: "I have two passports. I use my Italian passport in the EU. My husband has a US passport only. He’s been permitted to join me."
- Holidays
- Brexit
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