Help! Children separated from father for 3 weeks

[Pinkchicken85]

Hello,
Expat here. Pretty stuck since it was decided that you can only enter the UK for essential reasons.
I live in France with my two French DS and French DH. I decided to spend Christmas in England this year as a lot of my British family haven’t met my DC. ANYWAY.. I booked flights 10 days before my DH’s as he couldn’t get time off work.
Now I’m in England with the kids and my husband has been blocked from entering the country. Anyone know of a loup whole or do I just have to suck it up? Our return flight is booked for after the new year.
Thanks for reading!

Why has he been blocked from entering the UK?

Why can’t he enter the U.K.? No one is banned from entering.

I thought families were allowed to travel to be with other family, part of the exceptions to the rules

The red list was abolished…

@Lubeyboobyalt

I thought families were allowed to travel to be with other family, part of the exceptions to the rules

That is from the UK to France, the only rules in place for France to UK are to test after arrival, provided you are normally allowed to enter the UK freely.

France has stopped its citizens travelling to the UK because of the lack of safety measures here. There is an exception for a British citizen (not resident) and their spouse and their children. Why does he not qualify for this exemption @Pinkchicken85?

Is the reason he's blocked nothing to do with covid? I thought anyone could come as long as they do the tests or whatever they need to

Thanks you for your responses but France and England are playing tit for tat again.
again.

uk.ambafrance.org/FAQ-Travel-between-France-and-the-UK

Ah ok, didn’t realise Macron was willy wangling again.

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair it’s to do with omicron

Love the idea of a “loup whole”. Anyway, I think you’re right: if he’s French and not normally resident in the U.K., he can’t come. But you can always change your flights and go back to France early. Or go on the train. Travelling nowadays is expensive, uncertain and inconvenient. It sucks.

[quote Pinkchicken85]Thanks you for your responses but France and England are playing tit for tat again.
again.

uk.ambafrance.org/FAQ-Travel-between-France-and-the-UK[/quote]
I am not quite sure how it is "tit for tat" when it seems the rule is imposed entirely by the French authorities, with no restrictions from the UK side.

5. I am a French national living in France and would like to visit my family in the UK during the Christmas holidays. Is this possible ?

You are not permitted to travel to the UK for a family, tourist or professional visit

The way around it is probably to travel via a third country, Netherlands, Ireland, etc. depending on how the restrictions imposed by the French have been implemented.

Well it seems pretty clear he’s not allowed to travel so unless you head home early it’s not looking good for you all

Haha! Whops! I’m losing my English.

I need to bring proof of residence with me to the airport, by the time that arrives from france I may as well honor my original flights.

@Figgygal thought as much,

thank you everyone for reading this.
On the positive side no site of foie gras this Christmas.

He is allowed to travel. Unless he has left it too late to gain an exemption?

If you have British nationality, you, your partner (spouse, PACS partner or cohabiter) and your children (read about supporting documents in question 1) are permitted to travel to the UK, without any guarantee you will be able to return to French territory, unless you have a compelling reason.

OP says he’s French. If he was British, of course he’d be allowed to come.

The only thing worth trying might be travel through a third country. Not seen it in practice tho. An expat group might be able to help (Two Fat Expats on Facebook has people with a wealth of knowledge).
While it might be less than ideal, your kids will be fine without Dad for 3 weeks. Plus they have a load of their extended family round them.