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Original poster

Holiday, Passport, Brexit. What would you do?

54 replies

VanillaCoconutDove · 09/04/2019 10:03

Right, I’m a world leader in procrastination and leaving everything to the last minute.

Going to Spain on Saturday the 13th April, my passport expires in July. If we do leave the eu on Friday the 12th, it’s suggested we’d need a minimum of 6 months remaining on any passport, and I could imagine passport control offices across eu countries being told to enforce this particularly for the first week to make an example.

I can apply for an urgent passport but today is the cut off for that logistically (at an expense of £177 which I could really do without pre holidays!) and there won’t be a consensus on the brexit decision until Wednesdays summit.

Basically, what would you do? I really don’t think brexit will go ahead on Friday, but Sod’s law and all of that.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 09/04/2019 11:22

I've asked for clarification on another thread. Apparently this new law or whatever the hell it is does not rule out no deal. Even though that's exactly what the guardian are reporting. I am so utterly confuaedm

doIreallyneedto · 09/04/2019 11:32

@StealthPolarBear - Apparently this new law or whatever the hell it is does not rule out no deal.

That's right. In order to rule out no deal, the UK actually have to agree a deal with the EU. To date, all the parliament have done is vote against deal options.

The only action the UK can take without EU agreement is revoking A50.

Original poster
VanillaCoconutDove · 09/04/2019 11:39

Snap Stealth, I just want to bury my head in some tapas.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 09/04/2019 11:40

So isn't that what this non law law has done? Agree a deal or we revoke? No deal would be illegal. How is that not the case?

BusterTheBulldog · 09/04/2019 11:40

I think you’ll be fine op.

dementedpixie · 09/04/2019 11:42

This is why I renewed 3 of ours several months early as we weren't sure if the whole Brexit thing. Lost a few months on the passports but at least we know they will be ok. Dh also got his IDP as well just in case

dementedpixie · 09/04/2019 11:46

P.s. at the moment Spain doesn't require 6 months to be left on passports, just need to cover the length of the stay (for the couple of posters who said 6 months were required)

LittleChristmasMouse · 09/04/2019 11:48

I don't get the OP. Had we left on 29th March which was the plan you would have needed to renew your passport and would have been pushing it with only 2 weeks until your holiday? Why? I don't understand why you would take that chance.

Why not just get it done?

You say you don't want to be a Daily Mail sad face yet you are doing everything you can to be just that.

doIreallyneedto · 09/04/2019 11:49

@StealthPolarBear - So isn't that what this non law law has done? Agree a deal or we revoke? No deal would be illegal. How is that not the case?

No deal may be illegal in the UK but that doesn't matter to international law. If the UK don't make a deal (that includes a deal to extend) or revoke, then UK law will not be in sync with international law. They will, however, be out of the EU.

I don't know whether TM can revoke without agreement of parliament. Equally, I don't know if parliament can force her to revoke. I have a feeling they can't. The danger is that by doing nothing and agreeing nothing, the UK will exit without a deal.

Oliversmumsarmy · 09/04/2019 11:51

We found there was more checking to drive into Gibraltar than going to and from Spain from Dover

Original poster
VanillaCoconutDove · 09/04/2019 11:52

Main reason for delay now id say is financial. When you earn £8 an hour, £120/200 pre holiday isn’t a fun expenditure. That’s why I’ve come here to ask what real people would do in this scenario.

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 09/04/2019 11:54

I don’t understand how No Deal can be taken off the table when any deals are soundly rejected.

No deal is the default position

Utterly stupid if this did happen.

Now the EU can say we have to do whatever just so we get a deal which could be worse than crashing out without a deal.

PurpleFlower1983 · 09/04/2019 11:55

You’ll be fine OP. We won’t be leaving on Friday.

StealthPolarBear · 09/04/2019 12:02

Oliver my hope was that meant that if a deal could not be agreed by a set time we would revoke (which is in our power). Because no deal is illegal.

LittleChristmasMouse · 09/04/2019 12:05

Main reason for delay now id say is financial. When you earn £8 an hour, £120/200 pre holiday isn’t a fun expenditure.
But it's only that much because you've left it until now. Surely if you had planned for Brexit on 29th March you would have renewed before then, at the normal cost?

doIreallyneedto · 09/04/2019 12:07

@tealthPolarBear - my hope was that meant that if a deal could not be agreed by a set time we would revoke (which is in our power). Because no deal is illegal.

Based on performance to date in parliament, I think you are being a bit optimistic and over-estimating their integrity and competence. They can't agree on what day it is, never mind how to progress.

The question is, will TM revoke? I am concerned that she won't, regardless of law, as she believes it would destroy the tory party. If parliament cannot force her to revoke, then no deal is the default.

dementedpixie · 09/04/2019 12:08

Why didn't you do it last month when it would have cost you £75 online?

Original poster
VanillaCoconutDove · 09/04/2019 12:09

Or I wouldn’t have needed to renew my passport at all, and allowed it to expire until I next plan a trip abroad.

OP posts:
79problems · 09/04/2019 12:09

There is absolutely no way we’ll be leaving the EU any time soon. MPs don’t want it to happen and are doing everything they can to block it. So, what would I be doing in this scenario? Nothing... I’d just enjoy my holiday! Smile

FrancesFryer · 09/04/2019 12:18

I believe it forces May to ask for an extension rather than leave without a deal.
It's still up to the EU as to whether they grant that extension.
It just passes the buck to the EU, who won't want to be responsible for a no deal Brexit

doIreallyneedto · 09/04/2019 12:20

@79problems - There is absolutely no way we’ll be leaving the EU any time soon. MPs don’t want it to happen and are doing everything they can to block it.

Everything except decide what they actually do want....

LittleChristmasMouse · 09/04/2019 12:20

Or I wouldn’t have needed to renew my passport at all, and allowed it to expire until I next plan a trip abroad.

Then that's the gamble you've decided to take. You either pay £200 now to renew it (if you can) or take the chance that it works out ok. It might do or you might not be able to travel.

If you carry on like this you will come a cropper eventually.

doIreallyneedto · 09/04/2019 12:26

@FrancesFryer - I believe it forces May to ask for an extension rather than leave without a deal.

Yes, that's correct. I was including an agreed extension as a deal option. Slightly confusing on my part, I should have said agreement.

Yes, if she gets an extension, then no deal will not happen next week. However, the only way to ultimately avoid no deal is either agree an actual withdrawal deal or revoke. Neither is looking likely in the short term.

I do think the EU will grant an extension. How long is the question. Leo Varadkar has been very vocal on how Ireland will view any country that uses their veto to block an extension and what the future repercussions could be.

Original poster
VanillaCoconutDove · 09/04/2019 12:30

Of course littleChristmas which is why I’ve come round to today sorting it out. I had a look at when the cut off would be, and this is more or less it, so I put the whole thing away in a box in my mind and ignored it. That’s the truth. It’s not big and it’s not clever, I do wish to one day become a grown up about these things, and it’s forever on my to do list to just stop it, easier said than done.

I appreciate its very frustrating for non procrastinators to deal with, this is how I approach all aspects of my life. Sometimes it pays off; sometimes it doesn’t.

I just thought I’d get a straw poll of what would people do in this scenario, but I appreciate sensible organised people wouldn’t allow themselves to be in this situation. I have genuine admiration for those people, like someone who can wear all white and not be completely stained in a nano second of leaving the door!

OP posts: