Having been 100% certain that France's 90 day rule was about to be scrapped, we now hear that it will remain.
We had been making plans to spend more time in France; anything up to about five months, but we are now back to a max of 90 days.
What on earth is the advantage to France of keeping people out? When people wish to come to your country to spend money, why on earth would you say 'NO'? It simply doesn't make sense. I am perfectly aware that I can apply for a six months visa, but knowing the French bureaucratic system, and all the hassle involved; I'm afraid that for me it's a non-starter.
But there's worse. It is also proposed by France that we will in future need to register our fingerprints, and have a photograph taken before being allowed to board the ferry, as well as presenting all the usual passports, etc. It is estimated that this could lead to a FOURTEEN HOUR DELAY at the exit port. With a dog in the car I should imagine that we could add another TWO HOURS at least.
I wonder what the Ferry Co's will say about having each sailing delayed for so long? With the same regulations at each end, plus four hours at sea each way, they will end-up with just one sailing a day; or even every other day. This could mean the end of nearby Newhaven as a ferry port.
There are a few well chosen expletives that I would like to use here, but let me just say that I doubt if any of the French Deputies had mothers who were married.
I AM REALLY ANNOYED.
No doubt driven by the same kind of stupidity that our own government showed in removing VAT-free tourist shopping, thereby guaranteeing that the tourists took their business elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI read this morning that they're going to scrap it; having realised what effect it was having. Dim or what!
DeleteIt always seems to me that the French have a tendency to complicate everything.
ReplyDeleteAnd their bureaucrats are the most arrogant. They are always difficult to deal with.
DeleteSo disappointing to have your hopes raised and then dashed like that.
ReplyDeleteWe had already been celebrating, having believed that it was done and dusted. Now we find otherwise.
DeleteWhat a disappointment! I hope they rethink. We have heard that the 3 month stay is changing here if you own a house. Most foreign house owners have residence permits, which weren't too hard to get.
ReplyDeleteDon't know exactly what the new law will be. 90 days is just ridiculous .
It's all the waiting, queueing, and French bureaucracy that stops me getting a resident's permit. Believe me it's a nightmare, and my reduced mobility simply couldn't cope.
DeleteGrrr....
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteSo sorry. I read about this yesterday and immediately thought how mad you'd be. And all the others in your position too. Very foolish.
ReplyDeleteThey are shooting themselves in the foot, simply for some bizarre principle. It doesn't make sense.
DeleteThey must have forgotten about the "entente cordiale"!
ReplyDeleteWho invented that expression? It couldn't have been the French; surely!
DeleteCro, you know how difficult the French govt., can be when they want to cause dissention - it's the only thing that makes their jobs worthwhile! They have no loyalty for people like yourself who have lived most of your adult life in their country. It's rumoured that Spain is going to scrap the 90 day rule because no-one outside the EU is buying properties, and in the past Brits have been the main purchasers of second homes.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame that the application for your six-month visa is bogged down by bureacracy
The Spanish were extending visas for the same reason that certain French politicians wished to. I wonder what will happen it they do? The Schengen Agreement would be in tatters.
DeleteIf you lived in France for X number of years (more than five) why not apply for a carte de séjour? I've been here more than 30 years and it was a walk in the park!
ReplyDeleteI used to have a Carte de Séjour about 50 years ago, then they became unnecessary, now they want me to apply for one again. For fiscal reasons I shan't be doing it.
DeleteOh my, I can just imagine the frustration...
ReplyDeleteEspecially as we'd thought it was a done-deal.
DeleteYou are right to be annoyed. Macaronni is part of the WEF who are calling the shots. There will be many millions of people from all over Europe battling with similar kinds of restrictions. Our movements are being curbed to make way for the millions of migrants who are flooding in. Those who have the correct paperwork and play by the rules are easy targets. They can change the rules. Those who arrive on western shores without any paperwork at all are allowed to walk in. You might have to make a decision on what you do next.
ReplyDeleteWe are already considering the alternatives. I think we've almost decided!
DeleteI can understand your annoyance Cro - another Brexit fall out. Those for voted out had no idea what they were voting for. There was no plan just rhetoric. It was similar to voting to leave a city. Imagine the question "Do you want to leave Brighton?" - yes or no. You can only answer that question if you know where you are moving to. People did not know, fell for the 'get your country back' - and the UK is where it is.
ReplyDeleteWe should have negotiated to stay in 'The Single Market', and insisted on retaining 'The Freedom of Movement'. Someone got it all wrong.
DeleteThat is the trouble - once the UK had left the EU it was in no position to 'insist' on anything. People fell for the 'they need us more than we need them' rhetoric. and let's not forget:
Delete"Yes, the Government will be able to take back democratic control of immigration policy, with a balanced and humane points-based system to suit the needs of business and industry. Yes, there will be a substantial sum of money which we will no longer send to Brussels, but which could be used on priorities such as the NHS. Yes, we will be able to do free trade deals with the growth economies of the world in a way that is currently forbidden."
A truly awful vote and what depresses me most is it was the older generation that voted for it, and it is the younger generation that has to live with it.
I know you didn't vote for it Cro - you had more sense.
If we were to vote again, it would fail. Sadly that will never happen.
DeleteYou seem to be annoyed Cro.
ReplyDeleteHow about living in France full time?
I've been doing that for the past 50 years. Things have now taken a turn, and being in the UK for most of the year now suits us fine.
DeleteThe world seems to be in a cycle of isolationism, in the long run, it does more harm than good.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet the immigrants continue to arrive. They bring no money, and cost their new countries a fortune. Why not allow people like me to stay a bit longer. I spend my own money, I'm not a criminal, and I make no financial demands of France. It doesn't make sense.
DeleteCro, if you fancy living in the U.S. you can come right across the border through Mexico and you all can live here with me.
ReplyDeleteWould I have to swim the Rio Grande? Are there Crocodiles? I'm on my way!
DeleteIsn't the argument of those who threw out the proposed change that there is a shortage of housing in France?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea, but would tens of thousands of empty houses solve that? Every time I leave our house I wonder if they'll be 'refugee squatters' living there when I return.
DeleteThings seem very fluid. Give it a month or two and everything could reverse again.
ReplyDeleteIf Spain go for 180 days (to attract buyers and spenders), then France might follow suite. France was always Europe's biggest tourist destination, this is no longer the case.
DeleteNOOOOOOOO!! Damn them! What on earth could be the reasoning for the fingerprints and other ferry delays? It certainly seems as if they don't want people to come to their country. Well, fine with me. If I ever win lotto, France is OFF my list of places to go.
ReplyDeleteIt is pure nastiness for leaving the EU club. We paid a fortune each year for our membership, and that has now dried-up. They are furious.
DeleteHow annoying, you must have been looking forward to a longer time in France.
ReplyDeleteWe had thought it was signed and sealed; but no. We should have known!
DeleteNo swimming involved. I heard a story yesterday where there is a pleasant land crossing area. Now, I must do some research to find it for you.
ReplyDeleteNo crocodiles here or there. You really are most welcome to come here.
Maybe we'll buy a helicopter.
DeleteThere is an airport , very small, about a mile from here.
DeleteBut none of this was on that red bus.
ReplyDeleteNo, only the good bits. The bad bits were well hidden.
Delete