theoldgit

I understand, from British friends living in Canada, that the Canadian Government also sought a similar agreement but were given short shrift by the last Conservative Government.

Yes, l’m fully aware of that, thank you.

But the Visa would show which Member State Issued to Visa, which is the important part. Of course this only applies for the first visit using the visa, subsequent entries can enter via any Member State as long of the length of stay and previous stays meet the length of stay requirements.

When your girlfriend applied for her visa she was no doubt aware that the rules are that she must apply via the consulate with juristiction for the Member State of her main destination, or if she was visiting an equal amount of time in two or more Member States then she should apply via the Consulate with juristiction for the Member State where she's spending the longest time, with evidence to support her application, so in her case she rightly applied via the Austrian Consulate. You have now changed your plans and want to enter via Paris, plans can and do change and in all liklihood she would have no problems either boarding her flight or entering via a different country to the one she supplied evidence to support her appliction for, but she could do. Some years ago my wife was refused a Schengen Visa because the French Visa Section had worked out that whilst we were entering via GDG we were spending a few hours longer in Italy than in France, so they regarded Italy as our main destination and refused her visa. I don't know if we were just unlucky, she might be ok but she could have a problem.

@Keith5588 only one person can travel per contactless card. ”You can pay for someone else's travel with your contactless card or device if they're travelling with you. You need to pay for your own travel with a different card or device”

You can use the State Pension as income to meet the income requirements, the benefit issue is the clause that says that beneficaries of some benefits are exempt from the minimum income requirements, the State Pension is not one of those benefits.

And to add to this, the UKVI go further by advising that copies of flight tickets shouldn’t be included with the supporting evidence.

I don't disagree with your point, however my quote is a direct lift from the guidance that details what benefits spouses can be in receipt of not to need to comply with the financial requirements, which was the point I was making.

I’d certainly agree that Green Motion is to be avoided, I’ve always found Enterprise to be pretty good, l don’t know Drivalia, l think they’re fairly new. I used to use online excess insurers, they’re are a lot cheaper than pay at the desk, but I’m not sure if they cover non UK residents any longer.

Sadly not, whilst the state pension is regarded as a benefit and those receiving some benefits are excluded from the income requirements, l understand it’s only certain benefits and the state pension is not one of them. I would love to be proved wrong. If your partner is getting disability or carer’s benefits You do not need to meet a minimum income requirement if your partner gets one of the following benefits: Disability Living Allowance Severe Disablement Allowance Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Attendance Allowance Carer’s Allowance Personal Independence Payment Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme Police Injury Pension Child Disability Payment Adult Disability Payment

The required income level is roughly linked to the average earnings, the latest Median gross average earnings as published by the ONS is in the region of £39K. The basic state pension levels is another issue, as is illegal migration, and nothing to do with this topic.

My first ever car was a 1952 Triumph Renown, similar to this one, three gears and very comfortable, l loved it but it literally ate fuel, l reluctantly sold it and went back to a Vespa.

Just to add that HMRC reduce the Personal Allowance by the amount of the State Pension to ensure that any further income, private pensions for instance, are fully taxed. It’s surprising just how many people are being dragged into the 40% tax band by the fiscal drag caused by the freezing of the PA bands.

As far as l’m aware UK Pensions are taxed at source in the UK. I’m not aware of a 25% tax free rule, but you still get the Personal Allowance of £12,570, which means you are taxed at anything over that at 20 or 40%. If you receive a State Pension, that is not taxed at source but your Personal Allowance by that amount and the reduced allowance is applied to any private pension you might have. My lump sum was paid without any deduction of tax. My State and Private Pensions are paid into my Santander Account in the IoM and l transfer what l need via Wise.

The linked newspaper story from the Daily Mail confirms that the lad had no travel insurance.