Hello All,

I have a question which my mate asked me, his Thai wife used to live in the UK for about 3 years her visa has now finished 2 years ago, every time she traveled on her own back into Heathrow she would be stopped for about 2-3 hours while there asking her questions and running checks but always allowed in, there planning a trip into Europe then from Calais to Dover ferry crossing, she already has both visas and wanted to know what the immigration is like at Dover. If anybody knows please let me know. ( her husband is British )

We did the same trip about 18 months ago and I'm sure we did not show our passports at Dover, as my wife has a British passport it would not have mattered but how would they know.

We did the same trip about 18 months ago and I'm sure we did not show our passports at Dover, as my wife has a British passport it would not have mattered but how would they know.

The Passport control coming in to the UK is in Calais. Travelling in to Calais, the passport control is in Dover. No passports are checked in the country you have entered. You drive directly off the boat (Calais) or the train (Ashford) or and are away unless customs stop you.

Do you know if it's French passport control or British in Calais ? If it's French then she should not have a issue, at a guess there just check to make sure she has a uk visa.

Do you know if it's French passport control or British in Calais ? If it's French then she should not have a issue, at a guess there just check to make sure she has a uk visa.

I haven't been through for a while but I recall them being British I/O leaving France because it's essentially British Territory due to the Bi Lateral agreement.

It's done the way it is so as not to cause hold ups to traffic leaving the Port on the arrival side. There are big delays though on the French side at the moment with strict passport checks due to the 3 month extension France has implemented of the heightened security measures. The delays are in the region of 3 hours according to news reports.

Do you know if it's French passport control or British in Calais ? If it's French then she should not have a issue, at a guess there just check to make sure she has a uk visa.

In all honesty, if they was going to have a problem, they would have it anyway be they British or French I/O. They are checking entitlements for people coming to the UK and well versed as to what is required. The majority of times, if they saw British number plates you just held up your passport, they see it is British and they never checked. That may of changed though. Remember, you have already come through the ticketing area before you get to passport control anyway.

Another little tip. If they are travelling around Europe and have intentions of going to Southern Ireland, Thai passport holders need a Visa. A UK Visa isn't accepted in Southern Ireland. They are easily available on the day though at the Irish Embassy in London.

If she is traveling with her British husband they should be fine, especially if they carry documentation that shows a legal marriage. I assume they used this to apply for a free Schengen visa for EU/EEA spouse so carrying a copy of that should be all that is needed as there are no requirements to have funds, insurance, hotel bookings and so on.