Lack of security entering Schengen
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,345
Lack of security entering Schengen
The last time I visited a Schengen country was in 2009, when I arrived in Geneva in Switzerland for a vacation (one of the most beautiful countries, by the way). I hold a non-EU passport, and the immigration officer asked me a few questions before stamping my passport and waving me through.
I recently visited Italy and landed at their Rome FCO airport. Even as I walked up to the immigration officer, he was engaged in a conversation with the immigration officer next to him, and did not even bother to look up at me, or to even check my identity. He opened the passport up, stamped it randomly, and pushed it back, all this without his eyes ever focusing on me. As far as I'm concerned, with so many countries signing the Schengen Agreement now, wouldn't this be quite a serious breach of security, as one could sneak into dozens of countries through a lax airport such as FCO?
Anyone have any similar stories or thoughts?
I recently visited Italy and landed at their Rome FCO airport. Even as I walked up to the immigration officer, he was engaged in a conversation with the immigration officer next to him, and did not even bother to look up at me, or to even check my identity. He opened the passport up, stamped it randomly, and pushed it back, all this without his eyes ever focusing on me. As far as I'm concerned, with so many countries signing the Schengen Agreement now, wouldn't this be quite a serious breach of security, as one could sneak into dozens of countries through a lax airport such as FCO?
Anyone have any similar stories or thoughts?
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Indeed, I've "invaded" France and won several times with nary a blink. In one case the immigration booth wasn't manned and we just walked in. In FRA this past April I was stamped in and out without speaking one word and without the passport being swiped.
That said, I don't see it as much of a security risk as is implied in the OP. With the number of checks that now must happen even before boarding it is rather unlikely that there will be much of an issue.
That said, I don't see it as much of a security risk as is implied in the OP. With the number of checks that now must happen even before boarding it is rather unlikely that there will be much of an issue.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,345
Indeed, I've "invaded" France and won several times with nary a blink. In one case the immigration booth wasn't manned and we just walked in. In FRA this past April I was stamped in and out without speaking one word and without the passport being swiped.
That said, I don't see it as much of a security risk as is implied in the OP. With the number of checks that now must happen even before boarding it is rather unlikely that there will be much of an issue.
That said, I don't see it as much of a security risk as is implied in the OP. With the number of checks that now must happen even before boarding it is rather unlikely that there will be much of an issue.
#5
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blq,vce,pisa, firenzia may or may not be manned(peopled). also, no customs inspection. i once saw customs people appear from woodwork and grab someone with a lot of large suitcases at blq. otherwise i have never seen an agent.
#6
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Please forgive my ignorance, as I am not a frequent traveler to the Schengen zone. But it was my understanding that once you enter the Schengen zone through whatever port, you are free to roam (of course, you are still subject to random checks) through Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, etc. It would just seem like the lack of scrutiny at FCO could lead to not only illegal immigration or worse, terrorism, in Italy, but also in the other members of Schengen.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
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I recently visited Italy and landed at their Rome FCO airport. Even as I walked up to the immigration officer, he was engaged in a conversation with the immigration officer next to him, and did not even bother to look up at me, or to even check my identity. He opened the passport up, stamped it randomly, and pushed it back, all this without his eyes ever focusing on me. As far as I'm concerned, with so many countries signing the Schengen Agreement now, wouldn't this be quite a serious breach of security, as one could sneak into dozens of countries through a lax airport such as FCO?
#8
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Please follow the discussion as the thread moves to the Travel Safety/Security forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
I've only been to France once, via Eurostar, and the French immigration officer at St. Pancras in London was talking on his phone and just stamping passports as people went through without even looking. I guess he figured that if you're good enough to enter the UK (since they usually do quiz you about your travels when arriving) then you're good enough to enter France.
My experience at Berlin-Tegel arriving from LHR was also very similar. A quick "guten tag" and a "danke" (which, along with scheiss, is the extent of my German ) and 10 seconds later I was through passport control.
My experience at Berlin-Tegel arriving from LHR was also very similar. A quick "guten tag" and a "danke" (which, along with scheiss, is the extent of my German ) and 10 seconds later I was through passport control.
#10
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Please forgive my ignorance, as I am not a frequent traveler to the Schengen zone. But it was my understanding that once you enter the Schengen zone through whatever port, you are free to roam (of course, you are still subject to random checks) through Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, etc. It would just seem like the lack of scrutiny at FCO could lead to not only illegal immigration or worse, terrorism, in Italy, but also in the other members of Schengen.
And contrary to popular misconceptions, an undocumented alien in the Schengen Zone doesn't ordinarily have an easy time of settling everywhere else in the Schengen Zone.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jul 12, 2011 at 7:26 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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#12
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 471
I found it to be the opposite. In FCO the IO didn't even look at me or my passport. I was waived right through. No one searched my luggage or hassled me at customs. CDG was more ridged, they actually looked through my passport and asked me what I was doing there. Still, no where near as bad as the UK or US, but at least they looked at my ID.
#13
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#14
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Virtually all of my Schengen entries have been conversation-free. A quick scan, a quick stamp, and I'm off. Even when I had police inspecting passports at the plane door of a Schengen arrival in Vienna, there was no real scrutiny at passport control.
That's my one exception, because Tegel was one of the rare spots where I was asked a handful of questions. Actually, on the whole, entering Schengen at German airports (TXL, MUC) has been more involved than any other entry point. (some questions upon exit too)
Again, one's MMV. I had some family members enter through CDG and not only did they only get a cursory glance at their passports and no questions, their passports were not even stamped, leaving them with no (immediate) proof of their legal entry should they be stopped (and they nearly were, at a random side-of-the-road checkpoint in the French countryside).
Again, one's MMV. I had some family members enter through CDG and not only did they only get a cursory glance at their passports and no questions, their passports were not even stamped, leaving them with no (immediate) proof of their legal entry should they be stopped (and they nearly were, at a random side-of-the-road checkpoint in the French countryside).
#15
Join Date: May 2005
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Nothing new here. With close to 30 trips to Europe from the mid-90s to 2004, I had a grand total of 5 entry stamps during that period. Except for the UK - I was primarily entering via FRA or AMS - I rarely got more than a nod or a little hand gesture to proceed when I held up my US passport. It got to the point that I didn't even slow down my walking when coming up to the immigration booth; I would just hold up my passport, make eye contact with the immigration officer and head on through.