EU Citizens

[Devlesko]

Why aren't they being allowed in?
If it's covid related why let them fly in the first place. Why sell them tickets.
Some people were attending interviews and had return tickets.

Did you miss Brexit?

So why sell them the tickets, why have they got interviews etc.

You're going to need to clarify what you're talking about. EU citizens aren't allowed in because only British citizens (and a select few other places based on their Covid levels) are allowed in. It works both ways - many places aren't allowing British people in either. Many EU countries aren't allowing people from other EU countries. They're allowing you to buy tickets because it's YOUR job to know whether YOU'RE allowed in or not. YOU should be checking the guidance and the rules.
No idea what you mean by "interviews"?!

The Guardian article I read said quite a few people that were detained were flying in without visas for job interviews - That's still allowed under Brexit rules. I'm not sure if it's allowed inder Covid rules though.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/13/eu-citizens-arriving-in-uk-being-locked-up-and-expelled

Is this what you are referring to? If yes, nothing to do with Covid. It’s because of Brexit. Shameful.

Yes, that's the story. It's shameful isn't it?
Like I said I could understand if covid related, but it's not.
The ones without visa's and attending job interviews would obviously apply for visa's and relevant documentation when they get home after the interview, if successful.

I think it might be just some unfortunate misunderstanding. I don't know an employer who holds face to face interviews at the moment, to be honest.

EU citizens aren't allowed in because only British citizens (and a select few other places based on their Covid levels) are allowed in.
This is not true. Everyone is allowed in, some people have to quarantine in hotels, some are given choice to stay with family / friends / place of their choice. But everyone is allowed in. Many of my friends had family over during the lockdown, EU or Non EU.

People turned away failed to gain the appropriate visa, my inlaws are here at the moment, they gained the needed visas to legally enter the country.

@SimonJT EU citizens don't need a visa to enter at the moment for short trips.

The most likely explanation is that the border officer was not satisfied that their declared reason for visit was genuine. To attend a face to face interview in the UK now, one have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival before actually meeting the potential employer. There are very few areas where employers will patiently wait for a candidate for >2 weeks just to show up. And those 2 weeks are probably not free for the candidate either - I don't know many people who would be willing to pay for flights and two weeks of hotel stay just to have an interview.

But having read the Guardian article, the women interviewed were basically here on spec. They didn't have a proper interview lined up. Eugenia says She planned to look for a job offer, go home to apply for a visa and then return to live with her Spanish boyfriend

Maria said she thought she was free to explore the job market at least until October

They all seem to have thought they could fly into Britain, look for jobs and then come back later with a Visa once they'd got one. That's optimistic to say the least in light of Brexit and a world wide pandemic. I have no real sympathy for anyone flying into a foreign country hoping to find a job at the moment. Who does that?

This is such a non-issue. I know that if I travel to a foreign country there is a chance I will be questioned, that I might be detained and eventually sent packing. Foreign travel is a privilege, not a right - the rules are a minimum, it's not a case of "do x, y and z and you'll be fine." The host country decides who is allowed in and who isn't.

@Devlesko

So why sell them the tickets, why have they got interviews etc.

It’s never been the airline or ferry company’s job to check that your visa is in order.

I think it’s just that people can’t get their heads around the new arrangements with COVID restrictions on top. Especially the twenty somethings.

So maybe planning so hard for quarantine, they’ve forgotten they now need a visa?

Equally, the Border Agency’s probably playing hardball a bit because of the raging pandemic.

So maybe planning so hard for quarantine, they’ve forgotten they now need a visa?
They don't. Not for short visits.

@forinborin

So maybe planning so hard for quarantine, they’ve forgotten they now need a visa? They don't. Not for short visits.

So what’s the visa exception worded as?

Short visits for any purpose? Holidays?

So why sell them the tickets

I need a visa to get into China. There’s nothing stopping me from buying a ticket to China if I so wish. China won’t allow me in without a visa, and the crew should also check my paperwork before boarding the plane, but obviously there’s none of that in the EU.

Tickets aren’t sold to eligible passengers only, everyone can buy one. People then need to check the requirements of their country of destination.

@RickiTarr
Easy to check, really. Short visits for any purpose including holidays. Employment and long term study prohibited.
National cards can be used until October, after this only passport can be used to cross the border.
www.gov.uk/guidance/visiting-the-uk-as-an-eu-eea-or-swiss-citizen

[quote forinborin]@SimonJT EU citizens don't need a visa to enter at the moment for short trips.

The most likely explanation is that the border officer was not satisfied that their declared reason for visit was genuine. To attend a face to face interview in the UK now, one have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival before actually meeting the potential employer. There are very few areas where employers will patiently wait for a candidate for >2 weeks just to show up. And those 2 weeks are probably not free for the candidate either - I don't know many people who would be willing to pay for flights and two weeks of hotel stay just to have an interview.[/quote]
I'm pretty sure you're right about this. The journalist must have just forgotten this tiny little detail.

It’s never been the airline or ferry company’s job to check that your visa is in order.

They are supposed to check if you have right to entry. They obviously don't check if you have correct visa. DH always has to go and show his papers. I remember reading somewhere they can get fined if they bring someone without a right to entry.

But, this is more of the case of having right to entry, but not for this particular so the airline can't have known.

*particular reason - working/looking for work

Gosh so much ignorance.

[quote forinborin]@RickiTarr
Easy to check, really. Short visits for any purpose including holidays. Employment and long term study prohibited.
National cards can be used until October, after this only passport can be used to cross the border.
www.gov.uk/guidance/visiting-the-uk-as-an-eu-eea-or-swiss-citizen[/quote]
Well why would I check when you’re there and you know something I didn’t and are telling me about it?

Seems they were just silly and slipped up by saying the wrong thing to the border officer.

If they’d said “holiday” or practically anything that wasn’t work related m, they’d have been waved through. The trouble is immigration control officers never give you a second shot at the question.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

It’s never been the airline or ferry company’s job to check that your visa is in order.

They are supposed to check if you have right to entry. They obviously don't check if you have correct visa. DH always has to go and show his papers. I remember reading somewhere they can get fined if they bring someone without a right to entry.

But, this is more of the case of having right to entry, but not for this particular so the airline can't have known.

Not at the point of selling you the ticket, which is what I was answering. When you board, maybe, or maybe not, depending on the route and the politics of it all.

Not at the point of selling you the ticket, which is what I was answering.
Sorry yeah. If I remember correctly (it has been a while!) they have disclaimers on when you are buying the ticket.

It’s never been the airline or ferry company’s job to check that your visa is in order.

It is, actually. The airline is also charged for the cost of the return flight when someone is not given allowed to enter.