I think the system had crashed earlier, causing the backlog, or there were flight delays or something. She was definitely unlucky.
It’s very variable. I usually fly in same time on a Sunday night each week - and one week it can be empty, another week rammed.
Kind regards
Ian
Last trip I decided to try my luck with the CH/EU line, as there was something about Swiss residents on the sign. And yes, I was able to go through the CH/EU line with my US passport. I had my C Permit at the ready, but as far as I recall, I didn’t have to show even that, the machine read my US passport and let me through.
No idea if this is always allowed for non-EU Swiss residents - and thus I have wasted hours in the non-EU line over the years - or if I just got lucky.
I’m guessing that’s where the delay is.
The child probably has to officially get the Swiss citizenship before it can get the passport.
I would however risk it and go through the Swiss/EU channel.
With an infant in tow the worst they’re likely to get is a ticking off and told not to do it again but chances are they’ll be fine.
They said they live in Canada, it does not take a week, even to get an appointment it’s longer. Wife is Swiss, the husband and child not. The original question was if the husband can go use the Swiss booth, not the baby. Personally I am not sure with the new fingerprint devices if they will allow this, but possible to ask, with a baby they are sympathetic.
PS: For your next trip if you travel from Switzerland to Italy there are no immigration checks. You have to make sure you use the same passport to enter-exit Schengen though so they record correctly the stay. Eg your wife, on departure she would have to show the canadian passport to the checkin (to prove she can enter canada), then the swiss one to immigration (as she is leaving Schengen) then the Canadian on arrival in canada. Or like many people do, show both all the time and they know what to do.
Yes, for the infant, the delay is the registration with the consulate. (We’re still counting age in days.) She’s Swiss by birth, so that’s just a process and time. Myself, I’ll be eligible for Simplified Naturalization (Abroad) Summer of 2027 and I’m trying not to accidentally screw things up in the mean time.
Yes, we’ve done the passport shuffle on the last two trips to CH. Prior to EES and ETIAS, it was fine for me to accompany her through the CH/EEA/EU lines (both in CH and elsewhere in Schengen). We haven’t been back since EES started.
More delays in the UK exit points dur to partial EES.
Now there’s a surprise. 