I arrived into Zurich airport yesterday morning to a passport queue of biblical proportions. Thanks to Brexit its not possible to use the fast, efficient e-Gates which were completely free.
You'd be preaching to the choir if you told me that this what we voted for, well I didn't vote for it, but consequences, collective responsibility and all that malarkey
The simple question is whether Switzerland might at some point add the UK to the list of EU, EEA countries that can use e-Gates? I guess the simple answer is no because there is no way to separate those with resident permits (i.e. no stamping of passport) and those who are just visiting.
A young friend shared this today- sorry about swearing, but I get why he is so angry!
One of the many reasons why I took British nationality was after having to queue with 'aliens' at the airport, for ages, whilst OH and screaming baby whizzed through. I could hear baby screaming from the other side of checking area, desperate for a feed!
Shouldn't this be in the first world problems thread?
Although it is a good point, I don't see why residence permit holders shouldn't be able to use the Schengen queue at passport control. A long time a go when I had a green card, I was able to use the same queue as US citizens when entering the US.
We can't? I have never tried using the electronic gates, but every time I come through the queue labeled EUpassports/ID. I give them my resident card first and then my US passport. No one has ever told me differently.
When Covid was raging it was great. Show a Swiss residency permit and you got fast tracked through passport control (no need to show a vaccination/test certificate).
We've simply applied for Swiss citizenship to get round the whole problem. Just got cantonal approval - now it's with SEM.
It’s about time for governments to further automate the system. Most of our passports now have digital versions of our photos, fingerprints and signatures. Any questions that an immigration officer may have can be answered on-line in advance. Even stamping could be automated.
90%, or more, of travellers could spend 15 seconds or less in a booth and enter the country.
Your decision has had a negative impact on your fellow citizens and typically of every BREXITEER deflection rather than owning the decision is the norm.
Resident permits are not identity cards and all third citizens get treated the same for the purpose of identity. It’s what you voted for.