pilgrimadam
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- May/june 2014 Camino Frances
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If you are on the Valcarlos route, you will cross into Spain, back into France and then back into Spain again and never see a so much as a sign.Hello,
What are the formalities when crossing the border from France into Spain, passport control etc... We are US citizens.
But why is it then when I arrive in Spain I find myself saying "oui" and "merci" yet when I return through France "si" and "gracias" seem to pop out automatically?The only formality is you can choose to stop speaking French and now choose to start speaking Spanish.
Hello,
What are the formalities when crossing the border from France into Spain, passport control etc... We are US citizens.
Its quite important to make sure that you do have your arrivals and departures accurately recorded if you come from outside the EU and don't want to overstay on the Schengen tourist visa. I found airports were consistently good at this, but at places like the border controls on the Channel tunnel, there wasn't always a clear understanding that as an Australian, I needed to have my departure from the zone recorded.There no crossings within the Schengen zone. But if you leave/enter the zone you will/can end up at a control.
The obvious place is the UK. UK is in the EU but outside the Schengen.
I have friends whose experience is quite different. Last year. their daughter was fined for overstaying, and then not allowed to re-enter the Schengen zone until she had been out of it for the necessary time to comply with the 90 days in 180 rule.I've never had a problem being in France for more than 90 days. Neither have an American couple who live in my village here. I think you might have trouble if you make trouble, but otherwise no one cares.
I did finally get an EU passport so I can make trouble now
Jim, where are you from and how did you qualify for an EU passport?I've never had a problem being in France for more than 90 days. Neither have an American couple who live in my village here. I think you might have trouble if you make trouble, but otherwise no one cares.
I did finally get an EU passport so I can make trouble now
Jim, where are you from and how did you qualify for an EU passport?
Stefania
I have friends whose experience is quite different. Last year. their daughter was fined for overstaying, and then not allowed to re-enter the Schengen zone until she had been out of it for the necessary time to comply with the 90 days in 180 rule.
I wondered how long it would take you to suggest that. I understand that she took the train from Paris to Belgrade, and when her passport was checked on the way back, the official worked out she was several days over. There was a fine and she was not allowed to continue. It didn't seem to need her to do anything more objectionable than be travelling.Dougfitz, perhaps your friend's daughter was doing something objectionable enough to garner the attention of authorities.
I wondered how long it would take you to suggest that. I understand that she took the train from Paris to Belgrade...
Your point, as you call it, is the logical equivalent of saying a sin isn't a sin unless one is found committing it. It's equally objectionable given your earlier support for breaking the rules on only staying 90 days in 180 within the Schengen zone on a tourist visa.So, she was doing something objectionable. My point stands. If you're not causing any trouble within a country, such as France (in my experience), nobody will give you any problems no matter how long you stay. I imagine if you antagonize people enough they'll want to get rid of you.
Your point, as you call it, is the logical equivalent of saying a sin isn't a sin unless one is found committing it. It's equally objectionable given your earlier support for breaking the rules on only staying 90 days in 180 within the Schengen zone on a tourist visa.
I was on an academic sabbatical semester from January to June, 2013 (from USA) living in Granada. Prior to walking The Camino in April/May of this past spring, my wife and I went to Morocco, not wanting to overstay our 90 day tourist visa. We were properly stamped out/stamped in to Spain at Tarifa, in far southern Spain, upon our return from Morocco. However, when leaving Spain from Barajas airport in Madrid in June, the customs official never even checked our entry dates . I watched specifically to see if he would look at this in our passports.....and he did not. I assume it was because we looked pretty harmless, had US passports and made no trouble. Or was he simply an inept customs official?Hello,
What are the formalities when crossing the border from France into Spain, passport control etc... We are US citizens.
I was on an academic sabbatical semester from January to June, 2013 (from USA) living in Granada. Prior to walking The Camino in April/May of this past spring, my wife and I went to Morocco, not wanting to overstay our 90 day tourist visa. We were properly stamped out/stamped in to Spain at Tarifa, in far southern Spain, upon our return from Morocco. However, when leaving Spain from Barajas airport in Madrid in June, the customs official never even checked our entry dates . I watched specifically to see if he would look at this in our passports.....and he did not. I assume it was because we looked pretty harmless, had US passports and made no trouble. Or was he simply an inept customs official?
... You sound cranky though. Perhaps you need to do another Camino...
However, when leaving Spain from Barajas airport in Madrid in June, the customs official never even checked our entry dates . I watched specifically to see if he would look at this in our passports.....and he did not. I assume it was because we looked pretty harmless, had US passports and made no trouble. Or was he simply an inept customs official?
Given the level of NSA spying that is going on, I suspect the NSA/FBI/CIA,MI5/MI6, (insert your fav spy agency) will tap into your emails, text message, Skype and phone calls, open up our electronic plane and train tickets and other travel documents, and then politely notify the various border crossing authorities of your pending arrival.
I am not sure if they will have a deal to the notify the various albergues along the camino of your arrival and the number of beds you may want to reserve but I am sure somebody is working on this feature
In due time we won't need passports. Instead we will be carrying low powered silent micro chip devices that are GPS enabled, designed to track every movement we make - wait a minute that is called an iPhone!
Great point and I´m guessing you are probably correct. I know that the airline official - Iberia - did look at the front page - photo, expiration date of the passport, etc. I do not recall her looking through the passport however to check on our entry date....but then again, I wasn´t specifically watching for that. I was more concerned with our over-sized hand-carry luggage! (She did allow us to carry it with us).When you checked in with the airline did you have to provide your ID details? I'm fairly sure this gets passed on by the airlines.
This is one reason the airlines pay attention to your ID. If they let you on the plane and you don't have the right to get off the airline ends up responsible for sending you back.
Jim, thanks for the response. Can you or anyone tell me where to look up such visa info? I too have a grandmother from Europe - Poland. Sure would like to check this out further.I'm from the US, now living in France full time. I discovered that I could get Irish citizenship because my grandmother was born in Ireland. So now I have an Irish/EU passport (and my American passport) and can live and work anywhere in Europe.
Just a quick comment about making 'trouble' here... Working here without the proper visas falls under that 'trouble' category. That will get you sent home.
Jim, thanks for the response. Can you or anyone tell me where to look up such visa info? I too have a grandmother from Europe - Poland. Sure would like to check this out further.
Stefania
Well you think they were sheep!!!!There were some mountain sheep paying very close attention when Icrossed the French/ Spanish border on the Route Napoleon in May, might have been border patrol wolves in sheeps clothing ;-) but as said above, the border crossing on the Route Napoleon is unattended and marked by a cattle grid just after the Fountain Roland.
no formalities ... essentially no border (EU) ... just walk across like going from state to state in the USA.Hello,
What are the formalities when crossing the border from France into Spain, passport control etc... We are US citizens.
no formalities ... essentially no border (EU) ... just walk across like going from state to state in the USA.
Kool!Here is what the border crossing on the Camino Frances, from France into Spain looks like. Photo is taken from the Spanish side, looking back at France. No formalities, except maybe refilling your water bottle at the Fontaine de Roland.
View attachment 6676
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