I do wonder- is this what the Brexiters wanted?

I saw a report this morning Soda which said the attestation would be one per family of visitors - which would be better ! This requirement was always in place for non Europeans.

Ellianne

I'm not going to argue whether it was easier to move abroad in the 1980s or again in 2002 when I did, or now with Brexit repercussions.
Things evolve over the years and whichever decade one moves country, challenges will exist. We had to get re married under French law, we had to re write our wills, we had to cope with almost 1/3 drop in income due to a poor exchange rate. On a practical level we had to install new septic tanks when regs changed and we had no end of problems dealing with DEFRA when transporting animals on the original Pets1 scheme before pet passports.
What I am saying is, if you choose to move abroad - do your homework, factor in difficulties and costs, seek advice and just go with it. Even in Brexit times nothing is insurmountable.

Yes, yes and yes! ?
What a sensible post Elliane nothing is unsurmountable as you say, and things change all the time.
Some people however, cannot seem to deal with change.

Lisagran

^Just depends. The problem here is that the colour of the grass changed somehow, unexpectedly^

Are you not in the UK, Kali2 ?

Poised to attack, Lisagran? Does it matter where she lives?

If you read the post again I think you'll find that 'the colour of the grass' is a metaphor, not a literal description.?

What I am saying is, if you choose to move abroad - do your homework, factor in difficulties and costs, seek advice and just go with it. Even in Brexit times nothing is insurmountable.

What you are doing here, Ellianne, is missing the entire point, which is that Brexit has introduced complexities to moving to an EU country which didn't exist before. No amount of Pollyannaism changes that fact.

Hell, I'm still annoyed that we can no longer book a ferry or flight, pick up our passports and go. No amount of telling me that we 'only' have to do this, that or the other, extra is any consolation. In fact, it is the source of extra annoyance at the mentality of the people who put us into this stupid position.

Still with absolutely no tangible benefits to show for it.

I am hoping things will settle down a bit before too long. We are currently being informed about the hoops our families may have to jump through to visit us in France. We may need to get an "Attestation d'acceuil costing €30 pp from the local Mairie ensuring we have enough insurance cover and that they are aware of non EU people in the community. The EHIC or GHIC card may not be sufficient on its own, visitors need to have enough personal insurance to cover repatriation. And so it goes on. Sad it has come to this I feel.

Just depends. The problem here is that the colour of the grass changed somehow, unexpectedly

Are you not in the UK, Kali2 ?

I do wonder if Border Force are being particularly vigilant due to Covid-19, as we still have strict entry requirements into the UK.

As I understand it our 'strict' entry requirements comprise making your way to a quarantine hotel (by public transport maybe) and staying there for 14 days. Not complete confiscation of all your belongings (even your phone) and overnight imprisonment before being 'repatriated'.

It seems that the young lady's 'crime' was incorrect papers. This, of course, warrants immediate and draconian punishment...

I'm not going to argue whether it was easier to move abroad in the 1980s or again in 2002 when I did, or now with Brexit repercussions.
Things evolve over the years and whichever decade one moves country, challenges will exist. We had to get re married under French law, we had to re write our wills, we had to cope with almost 1/3 drop in income due to a poor exchange rate. On a practical level we had to install new septic tanks when regs changed and we had no end of problems dealing with DEFRA when transporting animals on the original Pets1 scheme before pet passports.
What I am saying is, if you choose to move abroad - do your homework, factor in difficulties and costs, seek advice and just go with it. Even in Brexit times nothing is insurmountable.

vegansrock

Well if it’s so easy to move to the EU why are Italian young girls being imprisoned and sent back the next day from the U.K.? Surely there will be some reciprocity down the line.

Are you referring to the Guardian Article 13/05?

I do wonder if Border Force are being particularly vigilant due to Covid-19, as we still have strict entry requirements into the UK.

Well if it’s so easy to move to the EU why are Italian young girls being imprisoned and sent back the next day from the U.K.? Surely there will be some reciprocity down the line.

I have been following a wine importer and his experience of Brexit since January, along with a number of other traders dealing with Europe.

The initial chaos has not apparently got any easier and in his opinion covid and lockdown has simply masked the difficulties.

Importation from Europe continues to be fraught with difficulties and in his view can only get worse once the border control infrastructure is up and running in 2022.

Other traders who have been contributing to this exchange of experience entirely agree.

Lambert expects stocks to be really difficult and because of shortages prices will rise.

This isn’t unique to the wine trade. Trader after trader are reporting of the difficulties - in some cases severe - the extra burden of cost and the enormous amount of red tape that they are now presented with and likely to get worse during 2022.

As Lambert reported

This is the biggest shit show we could have ever inflicted on ourselves.

How long has your family lived in France? Probably long enough before 01.01.21 - and probably exchanged licences long ago when it was possible.

Yes and yes.
And, as I said, they are eminently sensible and pragmatic.

You were lucky Flowershop - in France until you have been resident for five years you have a lot of hoops to jump through - proof of a rental agreement type thing if you do not own your house - full comprehensive health insurance - not the EHIC or it’s replacement - proof of earnings/income - tax number etc and more - as that did not apply to us I am not sure of all the paperwork.
For us it was simple - proof of when you became fully resident - ie first tax return, copy of passport and proof you are still at the same address such as an energy bill less than 3 months old. At the appointment for fingerprints and photographs they also asked a couple of questions to which they already had the answers. All very friendly and polite and the cards came in the post to be signed for - so everyone’s postie knows if they have a card or not!

And don't you dare call me a liar!

This is getting quite Trumpian.

Flowershop

@growstuff

It really is not true that it's still easy to move to the EU

That statement is a lie. I'm in a European country, I have been here since March 2020. We became residents in December 2020, took us 30 minutes to get our official status. All we needed was a permanent address a bank account and a passport. I voted to leave and I have no problem with being a resident in another country. It's not as though having to make extra and different arrangements was a surprise!!

Who said anything about it being a surprise? You're reading something I certainly never wrote.

However, I would prefer to believe my sister rather than random, unknown people on the internet who seem to make up "facts" to suit their own agenda.

Flowershop

@growstuff

It really is not true that it's still easy to move to the EU

That statement is a lie. I'm in a European country, I have been here since March 2020. We became residents in December 2020, took us 30 minutes to get our official status. All we needed was a permanent address a bank account and a passport. I voted to leave and I have no problem with being a resident in another country. It's not as though having to make extra and different arrangements was a surprise!!

You became resident before 31.12.2020. We've been resident in France since 2009 and finally applied for and got the carte de sejour earlier this year. However, there is more paperwork for people who want to move here now. I looked at the French govt website earlier today and gave up because it looked rather complicated.

MawBe ??

@growstuff

It really is not true that it's still easy to move to the EU

That statement is a lie. I'm in a European country, I have been here since March 2020. We became residents in December 2020, took us 30 minutes to get our official status. All we needed was a permanent address a bank account and a passport. I voted to leave and I have no problem with being a resident in another country. It's not as though having to make extra and different arrangements was a surprise!!

Callistemon

I just keep remembering that old motto - "the grass is not always greener".

Yes, we have family living in France but they are eminently sensible and pragmatic, well used to working through problems and not prone to panicking.

Just depends. The problem here is that the colour of the grass changed somehow, unexpectedly.

How long has your family lived in France? Probably long enough before 01.01.21 - and probably exchanged licences long ago when it was possible.

Ah Torremolinos - yes there are probably taxis available there.

Six whole pages!
Are we back at Free Movement and India yet?

Urmstongran

I can only speak of what I know Kali2. A friend in Spain lives up in the campo. Today is her 60th birthday. She wanted to enjoy a couple of scoops with a group in a bar on the Costa. Torremolinos. A taxi cost her €15. As she said - well worth it to be able to see everyone this afternoon!

I totally agree

I can only speak of what I know Kali2. A friend in Spain lives up in the campo. Today is her 60th birthday. She wanted to enjoy a couple of scoops with a group in a bar on the Costa. Torremolinos. A taxi cost her €15. As she said - well worth it to be able to see everyone this afternoon!

I just keep remembering that old motto - "the grass is not always greener".

Yes, we have family living in France but they are eminently sensible and pragmatic, well used to working through problems and not prone to panicking.

Blimey- in rural France, Spain or Italy?