... and I recommend checking the validity of passports, some countries have changed how close to expiry is acceptable.
I hope the trip works out.
Jonathan
By way of reassurance to cycle tourists everywhere...
My daughter and I have renewed passports recently. 2 different offices involved. 11 day and 21 day turnaround from form filling to delivery.
Tiny sample size and anecdote rich, but that's the BBC for you......
I think that "processing" only means what they do in-house and that "return" isn't included.
Jonathan
Thanks.
I fully realise that I am working on a sample size of 2, but my own experience is that end to end processing was less than half of the times quoted.
I wonder why such a marked difference occurs in what is a fairly straightforward clerical exercise?
The thing is, giving misleading information is a pita in whichever direction it misses in. It cost me a couple of months of validity by painting an inaccurate number. Hmmm...
I got caught out too. It was July 2020 at the peak of the problems from lockdowns, work from home, delays etc. Dire warnings of long passport delays.
I got mine back in 8 days. Others were still waiting months. Mine was a simple renewal, but processed in Glasgow, the most distant office to where I live.
Not only did I lose a few months renewing early but I then couldn't use for over a year. First stamp 1 year 3 months later. Probably won't need the extra pages I paid for.
No rhyme or reason and the trouble is knowing if yours will be a quickie or not.
Slightly off topic but driving licences are worse at the moment than passports. I’d definitely order a new passport sooner rather than later for this summer though.
My driving licence had to be sent to the DVLA due to an error decades ago with my first name. It was one letter out and is a common mistake with my name so I never got it changed. But that meant for my renewal I couldn’t do it online as my name didn’t match my passport. Sent it off on 1 October. Got it back yesterday. If we’d travelled as planned for Xmas I would have wanted it last Sunday for car hire.
Is it time that this thread was removed as a sticky?
This thread, supposedly about EU Visas has encompassed EHIC, passports, driving licences and endless pages of discussion. I doubt it offers much useful info to anyone who wants to go to Europe even if they read all 27 pages. In fact there is now better info on EU entry in other threads currently ongoing.
I think we pretty much know what we need to get into the EU. This will change once ETIAS is introduced, but that will be a standard procedure for all of us. If deemed necessary a sticky on ETIAS could be created once it goes live, but I doubt it will be needed.
Nah the usual suspects broke another thread about Europe. Ask but no rush as the mods seem overloaded still.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
simonhill wrote: ↑25 Apr 2022, 2:05pm Any thoughts before I ask mods to de-sticky this.
Yes, do it. It's just a rambling collection of thoughts, opinions, and facts (most of which are correct? dunno).
The author had good intentions, but probably had better things to do than follow through, so is in no way worth STICKY status:
Navrig wrote: ↑19 Nov 2020, 1:50am
This thread is intended to be used as a source of good information and experience in relation to VISAs in the EU after the Brexit deals are concluded at the end of 2020.
Where possible I'll try to capture useful links on this top post so feel free to add your thoughts links and experience.
simonhill wrote: ↑25 Apr 2022, 2:05pmIs it time that this thread was removed as a sticky?
This thread, supposedly about EU Visas has encompassed EHIC, passports, driving licences and endless pages of discussion. I doubt it offers much useful info to anyone who wants to go to Europe even if they read all 27 pages. In fact there is now better info on EU entry in other threads currently ongoing.
I think we pretty much know what we need to get into the EU. This will change once ETIAS is introduced, but that will be a standard procedure for all of us. If deemed necessary a sticky on ETIAS could be created once it goes live, but I doubt it will be needed.
Any thoughts before I ask mods to de-sticky this.
I think that ETIAS and EES info will be needed, one starts in September, one next year. So there'll be one more temporary transition, then the full implementation next year (followed by the UK version of EES)
A novice learning... “the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
simonhill wrote: ↑27 Nov 2021, 3:09pm
Not only did I lose a few months renewing early but I then couldn't use for over a year. First stamp 1 year 3 months later. Probably won't need the extra pages I paid for.
Something at the back of my mind tells me that you may have to be wary in the last few months of your passports validity. Something about early renewals, and the last few months not counting as the 6 month validity you need for entering Europe.
Dingdong wrote: ↑27 Apr 2022, 7:39am
Does anyone have experience of long term visa applications (6 months or more) and the health insurance costs associated?
I don't have experience myself, but there's a useful account here of someone getting a long-stay visa (based in France). The author is american, but the process (other than location of embassies, of course...) would now be the same for a UK person: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/ski ... art-i-dd4/
Steve X wrote: ↑27 Apr 2022, 7:59am
Something at the back of my mind tells me that you may have to be wary in the last few months of your passports validity. Something about early renewals, and the last few months not counting as the 6 month validity you need for entering Europe.
Be wary. The above isn't exactly it, but it's better to look up the current requirements on government websites than trust forums.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Dingdong wrote: ↑27 Apr 2022, 7:39am
Does anyone have experience of long term visa applications (6 months or more) and the health insurance costs associated?
There is no long term Schengen visa.
You can get individual country extension visas, but they only give you extra time in one country and not many countries issue them for tourist purposes. You also need to check as some confer residency and hence tax liabilities.
A novice learning... “the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”