passports, do they check em on the train btwn countries in w. europe? AND not paying for train...

[lalalazoe]

do they check your passport when youre going from one EU country to another? (amiens, france to london, UK for example) by train? on the train do they check it i mean? and... if im not paying for the train and i only have my american passport and im taking the long underground train to london, will they hassle me more than just giving me a ticket?


hmmmmmmmmm

 

[Cardboard]

I wrote this to you in reply to your PM, but maybe its good to keep the discussion on the forums, in case other people wonder the same later.
The EU does not have so much to do with intra-national travel laws, however there is another union, under the Schengen agreement, That more or less says that there will be no border controls for trade or tourists. This is nice for people living in the area, but for those of us from outside, its actually really lame. As a US citizen, you are allowed 90 of every 180 days in the Schengen Area, which consists of 26 countries (most of western Europe). EU does not equal Schengen however, and vice-versa. There are some countries that are Schengen and not EU (Switzerland for example, as well as some of the micro states like Andorra). There are as well countries which are EU and not Schengen. The UK for example. Sucks for you.
The UK, in exchange for having the best travel allowance in the world for it's citizens, has some of the strongest immigration controls. In Calais is this giant no borders camp as well, so you can be near sure that you WILL be controlled trying to take the train into the country (you are not the first immigrant to try).
As well, if you are not even paying for your way in, it is quite likely that you have no exit plan, and they will indeed hassle you more than just fining you for not having a ticket. I have not taken this train, but when I flew into the UK in 2009, I was held in immigration holding for 14 hours, before being deported. Its not quite the same as a normal deportation when you are refused entry (for not having a flight out of the country booked upon arrival), but it is indeed a bit of a pain in the ass. Maybe it's easier on the train, but likely you will be put on the next train back to France, and quite possibly controlled again for entering Schengen (as well, you will likely have an "escort" officer with you).
Good Luck, let us know how it goes. I guess you have a bad day ahead of you if this is your plan.

 

[London Ben]

They checked me for passports when I went from Paris to London, and from London to Paris . Its cause we're not part of the Schengen Agreement (which allows all people in the EU to cross other EU borders without the need of a Passport).

What type of visa do you have? If you have any?

 

[Cardboard]

Oh, also concerning the rest of western Europe, Denmark has just last year started random controls on it's borders, kind of opposing the the Schengen agreement. The other place that I know is controlling is the French side of the Franco-Italian border. These place both have made some special exceptions to the rules, and will control.
You can occasionally expect controls elsewhere inside of Schengen, but its rare.

 

[lalalazoe]

thansk for the info guys. but bahhhhhhhhhhhhhh shitty shitty shitty. i might just pay for the ferry from calais to dover, and then get on the next train from dover to london without paying. that way i go legally over the crossing. i am actually a french citizen, and i have an EU passport... i just left it in the states, deep down in a miscellaneous box in the dark corners of my cousin's basement. brilliant, i know.

i wonder, if i really get into some kind of weird deportation situation where im not supposed to be where i am unless im an EU citizen... you think theyd have some way of checking up on the legitimacy of my citizenship if i claim it?

ben, ive got no visa, because im an EU citizen. (idk if tht makes sense... i dont think i need a visa to be here in france though. i was also supposed to have left back to the states a week ago... ) but if im using my american passport to get in to the uk... i dont need a visa, do i?

 

[Cardboard]

No, again, you shouldnt need a visa, but an exit plan is important. Its going to be easier for you with EU citizenship (I would use your french passport if you have it), but I imagine them being out of schengen they will still want proof that you will leave. Your cheapest option might be flying. Look for a commuter line like ryanair or something, and pick up the cheapest flight you can. shouldnt be hard to find something for 10 euros or so, some months down the line. Even if you dont use it, you will at least look you you have plans of leaving, which will keep them calm.

 

[lalalazoe]

nah, french passport i left in the states :/
and flyings no fun, you miss everything!
but ill keep it in mind. ill try first without any train ticket back to france, and see what they say....
ill let you guys know what happens.t
thanks

 

[Cardboard]

I totally agree on the flying, but just spending 10€ or less as an insurance you can get in... you can always skip the flight.

 

[London Ben]

If all else fails.....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Channel#By_swimming

 

[Sam and Laura]

sorry if this is too late but it's really easy to hitch a ride from france to Angleterre on the tunnel. Basically, drivers pay by car, not passengers, and even if they have a prebooked ticket stating how many passangers will be riding, you should be fine. Passport control (even though I'm British) is pretty lame, especially if you're a white female.....From Dover to London hitching a ride won't be difficult (once again, being a white girl helps)....
The Police in the UK seem to me less corrupt and less irregular than anywhere else in Europe, but I would just not black a train in England, it would go against everything the English stand for, and you would be in trouble, they are strict about ticket checks and the like.
There's a myth that hitching in England is hard too. NOT TRUE. In fact it's easy, but you must have a sign.

 

[lalalazoe]

sooooo I ended up hopping on a train from Paris to Lille, then Lille to Calais... (got tickets both times, but gave a bullshit address woot)
then I payed for the ferry from Calais to Dover, where they checked my american passport and gave me some trouble because i didnt have a return ticket blah blah. they asked if i had money, which i said i did. (4 pounds...) but didnt tell tem how much and when they asked to see how much i had, i strted talking about something else and at the end, they forgot to check. so tht was good........
i also showed them a copy of my brith certificate so they knew i was born in france... which doent actually make me a french citizen, bc to be a french citizen one of my parents has to be french.... but she got the point and let me through anyway.

hahahah what was funny is tht she told me i couldnt busk ANYWHERE because tht counts as work and i dont have a work visa. silly, silly, silly.
then i took another train from dover to london, and the i told the two controller guys i didnt have a ticket and i had only 2 pounds on me, and they were real worried about kicking me off the train and leaving me in a place i didnt know, all by my lonesome.... so they took me to the last train car and sold me a staff ticket for 1 pound and 35 pence so that when i got out the cops at the station wouldnt hassle me for not having a ticket, and then we talked about music and the guys' kids and london and the queen and whatnot. it was fine and dandy. and two days ago i met these kids and went back to their squat to find out they were holding on to a hugee abandoned courthouse! wtf!

on the downside, busking isnt going so well. havent found any good spots yet and i often dont have enough money to eat, but i do like london very much for the most part.

so theres that.

 

[wizehop]

Worst part of the EU is less passport stamps, all I have to say on that

 

[Komjaunimas]

for food dumpsterdive etc...i never have a single penny but i always have food and booze, there are plenty of ways to get around. If ya want to meet for a drink or smth sometime PM me or text 07727831977.