[tc]

I guess many climbers won't be aware of the imminent restrictions to visa-free travel within the EU, so I thought I'd flag it up and ask for your help. From 2021 travelling to the EU will be difficult for those who travel extensively within Europe. Unless agreed otherwise, after the end of the year we will be limited to trips of a maximum of 90 days' duration. This is obviously of little concern to anyone who just fancies a couple of weeks away but it will spell the end of extended road trips or extended stays with family or friends who happen to live in the EU.
Current U.K. legislation allows for citizens of some countries to visit the U.K. for up to 6 months without a visa. The Government immigration paper published earlier this year outlined how that provision would be extended to countries in the E.U. & EEA. If the E.U. and U.K. are to have a reciprocal agreement then we need the U.K. government to actively press for this provision in the new relationship with the EU.
The next round of talks are in June. Now is the time to contact your MP if you want to keep your right to travel in the EU for more than 90 days.

All details can be found on the website :
www.180daysvisafree.org

The campaign was initially launched to address the concerns of second home owners in France, and this remains its primary focus, but the restrictions apply equally to UK climbers and I would be grateful of your support. Thanks.

PS: I appreciate that writing to your MP is all very "establishment" (personally I would prefer to burn their fucking play house down) but sometimes it's expedient to follow due procedure.

[SA Chris]

Link doesn't work, but if you send right one, i'll share profusely

[tc]

I'll let them know the link is duff. Meanwhile:

https://www.facebook.com/180daysvisafree/

[tc]

Link doesn't work, but if you send right one, i'll share profusely

This should work:

www.180daysvisafree.org

I got my dots and hyphens mixed up.

[SA Chris]

Perfect, cheers

[tc]

Update:

To date, more than 25% of MPs have received letters about this issue. 100% would be better!

Ministers, including the Prime Minister, now know about the campaign. Please write to your MP using the resources available at www.180daysvisa-free.org

Thanks

[Paul B]

I've done this.

[gme]

I wonder what my spanish home owning, union flag waving, brexit loving, neighbors think of this. They generally go out to spain for 6-8 months of the year.

Cant wait to send the link and get ready for a good old argument.

As an aside i suspect it will be easy to get around. Surfers had to deal with this in Indonesia but you just flew to Singapore for a long weekend and you could then come back and start another 90 days.

[tc]

That trick won't work. It's 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

[SA Chris]

So for a winter season you could conceivably have 2 months in 1 180 day period, then 2 months on the next, with a weekend   at home inbetween?

[tc]

Short answer: no.
Long answer: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/visa-calculator/

[tc]

"The 180-day period keeps rolling. Therefore, anytime you wish to enter the Schengen, you have to count backwards the last 180 days, and see if you have been present in the Schengen for more than 90 days throughout that period."

[tc]

Update:
"179 MP’s now contacted including the PM, Ministerial replies received , further correspondence on its way from Gove, Raab & Johnson . The E.U. draft future relationship agreement includes visa free travel, the U.K. draft makes no reference to travel mobility, HMG Immigration Bill will give E.U. citizens 6 months visa free visits to the UK we now need the U.K. government & MP’s to be pro active & support 180 days visa free travel."

[tc]

I've done this.

Who is your MP Paul?

[tc]

This is the current application procedure for UK citizens wishing to apply for a long-stay visa for France, which will apply by default for trips over 90 days from January 2021 in the absence of any other negotiated agreement:

https://france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/visa-application-guidelines

Here's a brief summary so you don't have to wade through all the info:

The visa application form must be accompanied by various supporting documents. They recommend that you apply at least 20 working days before the date you wish to travel. Visa processing times vary.  Once visa applications have been transferred to the consular authority, the processing time is from 2 working days up to 15 working days. This will vary according to different factors. You need to make sure you allow enough time before your departure date to schedule an appointment to have your application reviewed. Applicants over the age of 12 are required to attend in person, This will involve a trip to  London, Manchester or Edinburgh.

Those applying for a visa must pay €80 for short-stay visas and €99 for long-stay visas. Visa fees are not reimbursed even if your application is refused or you withdraw your application. You also require valid travel insurance covering any possible costs for medical repatriation, and emergency and/or hospital treatment. This is mandatory. Your EHIC card probably won't work.

Here's an even briefer summary:
What a fucking ball ache.

[Paul B]

Who is your MP Paul?

Nigel Evans. 

My mother in law has also done the same (same constituency). I also used the "let us know" form.

I've passed it onto my folks (Paul Howell).

[Paul B]

Response (bulked out with Covid19 text) here:
https://twitter.com/BrokenBennett/status/1268570139059945472?s=20

...and the covering letter:

Dear Paul,

Further to our correspondence please attached the response I recently received from the Government, regarding the future of visa arrangements with EU countries.

Whilst I understand that this email may be something of a disappointment, I hope that it at least serves to clarify the situation.

If you have further questions about this, or any other matter, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Best,

Nigel

Nigel Evans - MP for the Ribble Valley
Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons

[SA Chris]

Just sums up how tragic Brexit is.

[tc]

Thanks Paul. You will doubtless be unsurprised to hear that they are dodging the issue.
Since the letter you received contains words to the effect of "future mobility arrangements with the EU are still subject to ongoing negotiations”, you might reasonably expect that "future mobility arrangements" refers the travel arrangements you wrote to your MP about. This is not the case.
Some keen minds have looked high and low through official documents and conclude that "future mobility arrangements" refers to social security matters.
In other words, your MP and the Government Minister are:
a) fucking stupid,
b) lying cunts, or
c) both.
I'm guessing that this does not come as a complete surprise.

[Paul B]

I'm going to go with c) as my final answer and no, I don't need to phone a friend!