Goldorak

Just to make clear for everyone in case some believe there is a loophole in the system and that it is possible to fly let’s say US-Portugal and then Portugal-France : France has reinstated total passport control on arrival for Schengen flights. So even if one managed to enter Schengen, he/she’s not in France yet.
To give you an example : tonight, I arrived in CDG 2F2 on a domestic flight The usual exit to baggage claim was closed and everyone was directed to the exit you use arriving in 2F1. I was sure about the reason for this : passport control was in place and due to the still relatively low traffic, they open only one exit. In our case showing BP of a domestic flight, the ADP agent let us go directly to bag claim without having to go in line for the control. This passport control on arrival from Schengen is in place since the beginning of travel restrictions and I am sure it will remain until all restrictions are lifted.

EuropeanPete

Just like France is a complicated example, technically Bonaire in the Netherlands isn’t open to other EU nationals either.

So, rather pedantic to raise different parts of France (indeed French Polynesia is opening to Americans in July) but i guess valid

EuropeanPete

To be fair, this was partly in place before Covid. France had already legally suspended Schengen and they were sending selected flights (generally “Southern”/ “Eastern” countries) through to non-Schengen passport control. Not a surprise they’ve since intensified it.

Ditto

That definitely makes things complicated, if someone is already in a Schengen member state, would he then be denied entry if he only holds a non-EU passport?
As per Timatic there should be no issue there.

Yreal

Already pointed out a few times

LondonElite

There are plenty of inter-country Schengen border checks, at airports and on the roads. If you choose to fly/drive into a country where you are not permitted to enter (based on your passport/residency), you will either be turned away, deported, fined, or blocked from future entry (or a combination of those).

GetSetJetSet

No, I haven't gotten my papers in order for 2020, and didn't for 2019. I could easily get it processed IF the embassy was open and processing but they are not. I am going to see if it's possible to do it on an expedited basis before departure but knowing France I am not hopeful.

Goldorak

Yes, correct. But before, you would not be turned away because you are a non-Schengen citizen. Now, it is possible.
And before it was just "sometimes", while now I believe there is 100% control for each flights.

LondonElite

The whole point of FT is a bunch of neophytes giving their opinion. Did you not know this?

jchock1

So using Timatic, if I enter a US-UK flight with US passport, Timatic says ok.

If I enter UK-Spain/Netherlands/Germany with US passport, Timatic says OK.

If I do the above using the UK as a transit country, Timatic says no.

So, assuming airlines use Timatic to determine boarding eligibility, it seems as if I booked a ticket US-UK, and a separate ticket UK-Spain/Netherlands/Germany, as long as I passed through passport control in the UK, I could then depart the UK on a flight to Spain/Netherlands/Germany.

I believe the intent is to allow US citizens who are residing in the UK to be able to travel to the EU (why else would Timatic say OK?).

And the most recent EU guidance refers to place of residence vs.nationality as to who they're letting in (if you're an American residing in Thailand, it's my understanding you can travel to the EU)(how you would prove that and to whom I have no idea)(https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/p...ird-countries/)

I understand the UK has a self-isolation policy (https://www.gov.uk/government/public...avel-to-the-uk), but if I just spent a night at an airport hotel, that seems to be within the rules ("If you are travelling to the UK for less than 14 days, you will be expected to self-isolate for the length of your stay.")

I'm definitely a neophyte in regards to how airlines determine whether or not to let you on a flight, so welcome any help. I understand there could be issues once arriving in an EU country with an American passport after having only spent a night in the UK, And I understand the intent of the EU rules is to not let in US citizens residing in the US, but just trying to figure out if the rule book (timatic) allows it, would an airline? Or do they have other information they rely on that supersedes Timatic?

Billy Mumphrey

This won't work so don't attempt it. You'll get to the UK and they will ask whether the UK is your final destination. If yes, they will take all your details and subject you to the mandatory quarantine (with a 1000 quid penalty if you're not where you say you're going to be when they check on you). If you say you are traveling onward to an EU country on a separate ticket, they will deny you entry and send you home because you won't have the right to enter the EU. That's why Timatic says "no" when using the UK as a transit country. To travel UK-Spain/Netherlands/Germany with only a US passport you need to also have a European residence permit, and that's probably what Timatic is assuming. Tricking Timatic is not the same as tricking an immigration agent though.

I am attempting travel to the EU from the US next week on a UK passport, and even I'm slightly nervous about it due to the grey area created by these restrictions. But what you're suggesting isn't in the grey area, it's clearly not permitted.

Xandrios

The flaw in all of this that passport or residency should not matter in any of this. The only thing that matters is which countries you have visited in the last 14 days. Unfortunately that's hard to check on.

Some countries have implemented a system like this, albeit with minimal verification. When entering Greece one has to fill a digital form 48h out which includes the question which countries you have visited. Based on your answers you will, or will not, get a COVID test upon arrival. So theoretically pax with a US passport not having been in the US for 14 days, should be able to enter Greece - possibly even without any testing taking place.

irishguy28

I think that this is a case of not seeing the wood for the trees!

The issue is not one of whether or not you can convince an airline to allow you to board, or whether you can force Timatic to give you a green light if only you come up with a clever routing. You must know that, without an EU passport or residence permit, or nationality of one of the 15 green-listed countries, you MUST be turned away by immigration officers whenever and wherever you present yourself for admittance to the Schengen states. Any of the other exceptions that would allow you entry require a high standard of proof that you won't be able to provide (you have never alluded to any "essential" reason for travel, for instance).

To keep shadow-boxing around the issue of airlines, routing strategies and Timatic reports is to completely miss the only point that actually matters here. And that point is clear and irrefutable.

As a US passport holder, one who is normally resident in the US, and one who is currently in the US, you are not allowed to enter the Schengen states at the moment. It is immaterial how you get from the US to the EU - you will be refused at some point along the way, regardless of what any individual airline says and regardless of what your interactions with Timatic may have indicated. There are no loopholes to be exploited, and no way of manipulating Timatic to provide an acceptable answer, because when you attempt to enter the Schengen zone (assuming you managed to convince an airline into letting you get that far) you will be refused.

Please accept that, unless your travel is essential, which will require you to provide documentary evidence and which then may not be sufficient to actually convince the immigration officer - this is all new so there are no set/fixed guidelines as to what would be an acceptable standard of proof - you simply cannot enter any Schengen state now, or for the foreseeable future.

I would advise you to postpone your plans for this trip to the fall or even to next year.

mlin32

At the OP : please, it's not hard. Unless you're a EU citizen or permanent resident, stay out of the EU for the time being. Don't game the system, come up with convoluted transit schemes via different countries, or look for legal loopholes. Just postpone the trip until late autumn or next year !

LondonElite

The EU is closed toi US citizens who don't reside here, currently. No amount of convoluted entry mechanics will change that. You probably also don't have any travel or medical insurance when you are here. And if you are deported from the EU, your chances of getting in again are a bit tricky!