Visa National - No Exit Stamp From France on Return to the UK

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I work in the UK on a Tier 2 visa, and am an Indian citizen. I received a two-year French Schengen visa, which has a remark "COURT SEJ. CIRC." (short stay circulation) which I believe refers to the 90/180 rule.

On my first trip to France on this visa, I received a French entry stamp at St. Pancras on my way to Paris, but I did not receive an exit stamp when I travelled back to the UK on the Euroshuttle (via Coquelles). I did, however, receive a UK entry stamp at Coquelles.

The French border guard at Coquelles didn't even scan my passport. He just took a casual look at it and returned it to me. When I asked for a stamp, he said "Later" pointing further down to the customs area (Douane), and when I asked those officers, they said I'll receive exit stamp after "British immigration". I wasn't surprised to find no French officials after the UK border force check point.

Since my passport wasn't scanned or stamped, I believe that according to French records, I still haven't left France and after 90 days of my entry, would be in violation of the 90/180 rule. I tried contacting the French consulate in London by email but I haven't heard back from them.

What do I need to do to ensure that their records are updated and I don't face any undeserved consequences?



Best Answer

The only record they keep is the stamps in your passport. You can use the UK entry stamp to prove that you left. There's nothing to worry about.




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Are EU passports stamped when entering UK?

And, unlike before Brexit, their passports will be stamped when they enter and leave Schengen countries.

Do I need an exit stamp?

The UK do not have any passport control upon exiting the country as the EU/Schengen has so nobody gets an exit stamp.

Does France stamp your passport?

The main purpose of stamping the passports of non-EU visitors is to check that they have not overstayed in the Schengen area. As a result, the standard practice is stamping on entry and exit of the area (but not at internal Schengen borders, such as between France and Spain).

Do you get a stamp when you leave a country?

The US does not stamp any passport on exit of the country. All officials know this so it will not be a problem. Most likely your exit has been recorded; you can check that online these days.



France Denied/refused/deport to give entry on valid Schengen visa




More answers regarding visa National - No Exit Stamp From France on Return to the UK

Answer 2

No need to worry about this mishap. The Schengen Borders Code provides a mechanism with how to deal with this and what is acceptable evidence of having exited:

The travel documents of non-EU nationals are systematically stamped upon entry and exit. If a travel document does not bear an entry stamp, it may be presumed that the holder does not fulfil, or no longer fulfils, the conditions of duration of a short stay. However, the non-EU-country national may provide any credible evidence of having respected the conditions relating to the duration of a short stay, such as transport tickets or proof of his/her presence outside the territory of the EU countries.

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