Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => On The Road => Topic started by: Jethro on 10 September, 2021, 03:09:42 pm
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We were due to fly out to Tenerife next month for a 10-day holiday, but have just found out just how much paperwork and other things we will both need to do before going even though we are both double vaccinated. And then again before we return. If either of us test positive while we are there (Coronavirus figures in Tenerife are quite high at the moment) we will both have to quarantine for 10-days before being allowed through the airport.
We are now considering cancelling the holiday even though we will lose all of the money paid. It could potentially work out cheaper in the long-term!!!
Has anyone else had similar problems?
If I hadnt renewed my passport earlier this year, I dont think I would have bothered to renew it now. My wife's passport is up later next year and she is not going to bother to renew it as she thinks that foreign travel will be problematic for many more years yet.
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We were due to fly out to Tenerife next month for a 10-day holiday, but have just found out just how much paperwork and other things we will both need to do before going even though we are both double vaccinated. And then again before we return. If either of us test positive while we are there (Coronavirus figures in Tenerife are quite high at the moment) we will both have to quarantine for 10-days before being allowed through the airport.
Could you not have foreseen that, given everything that's been in the public domain in recent months?
My wife's passport is up later next year and she is not going to bother to renew it as she thinks that foreign travel will be problematic for many more years yet.
Very sensible.
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The holiday was originally booked at the beginning of 2020 before Covid had really had any effect on the UK. The travel agent then offered us a "good deal" for later that year and then again for earlier this year if we both agreed not to "cancel" and now we have this to deal with.
I wish we had both just cancelled last year.
I wonder how this will all affect PBP even though it is still 2-years away.
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If I hadn't renewed my passport earlier this year, I dont think I would have bothered to renew it now. My wife's passport is up later next year and she is not going to bother to renew it as she thinks that foreign travel will be problematic for many more years yet.
I agree about foreign travel but consider the future use of passports for ID even at home.
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I can only speak for doing France-UK and return (since I start in France) this august. I have never been so stressed doing a cross-channel trip, all of that beforehand. The rule changes happened in my favour, but only after I'd booked the tests. All the stress and hassle was from the UK side, the trip went really easily apart from that. After that no-one looked at my Traveller Locator form, I didn't have a net connection on the phone to download Test&Trace so I didn't and no-one bothered to ask. Coming back into France the passport people didn't even want to see my Attestation sur l'Honneur. Oh and the wait for PCR test results done privately would never be acceptable over here!
If you really want to go on holiday, get on and do it. If you're worried about catching the virus, take sensible precautions to cut the risk without spoiling your holiday too much. If the riisk really flips you then it won't be a holiday and you'll have to cancel but there's a way to go before that really becomes necessary - just take precautions
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Booked trip to Norway for May, it’s a cheapo. Then in June, cycle tour in the Alps carried over from 2021 after being booked for 2020. All in the lap of the gods..
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We went to Madeira in July. It was a doddle. Double vaccinated and NhS app shows vaccine passport certificate.
Fp3 mask for flight as best quality used in ICU standard.
Madeira was safer than U.K. in many ways. More masks, hotel staff wearing masks.
Return lateral flow test was free courtesy of Madeira government. Never got a result fo day 2 PCR test!!
We are going to Tenerife in October. We are in a flat. We will wear a mask in the supermarket and eat at outside tables in restaurants. Less risk than in the U.K. again.
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Agree it's stressful getting through the airports, but worth it if you want to get abroad, which itself can be very good for your mental health.
A few tips
The airport staff are likely to check your paperwork both ways, and they have the power to stop you boarding so get everything ready. On the way out, it's just the vaccination barcode, either on a phone or on paper. Not the card. On the way back you need results of an antigen test, a locator form, and the code for your day 2 PCR test. The checkin staff may ask to see the invoice from the PCR test even though the number is in the locator form. Also one thing that caught me out was the rules say the antigen test must be "in any of the three days before the day of the flight", but the checkin staff refused to accept one that was 72.5 hours before but within the clear rules and made me get another one.
You can buy a self-administered antigen test in the UK to take with you, that you then do over video link and they send you a fit to fly certificate. This is less stressful than finding a test centre if there isn't one at the airport, but more expensive.
Don't worry too much about the horror stories about test providers for the day 2 test, just go for the cheapest. It's a paper exercise - they phone and ask for your result, and if you say "it's not arrived yet", that's fine, the box is ticked. The company I bought my previous tests from were exposed as dumping the samples and giving people a negative result or nothing. Test and trace didn't care (and in the end I got the money back!)
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To add...
There is a very small risk you might pick up covid while you're there. As per the FCO site, you do need to be prepared for the fact you might not be able to come back on your booked flight. As chrisb says the risk is low assuming you're being sensible and not going clubbing, hugging random strangers, etc. If you absolutely cannot afford an extra 10 days' accommodation + flight, don't go. On the other hand if you're quarantining and you're employed you'll be on sick leave wherever you are, there are worse places to be isolating.
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Just got back from Corfu.
No test required to go, only proof of jabs (NHS app) and a Greek PLF.
€20 test for return flight and UK PLF
Day 2 test on return
No quarantine
Edit: I got our Day 2 test from Expert Medical, @ £28 ea they were by far the cheapest. I ordered them while in Corfu a week before returning, and they arrived on the day we needed to take them. I was a little concerned, and no replies from their email, live chat or phone didn't help, but we got them in time
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We are planning a trip to Austria so my husband can see his parents in person for the first time since September 2019. We've added to the fun by deciding to go by train. It does look like the most stressful bit will be getting back into the UK.
You can (and we have) buy insurance that will cover you for accommodation etc if you do get COVID and can't come home (and some other COVID related things, but NOT for the travel advice changing between you booking your trip and you travelling).
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Trying to decide whether to go to Italy next week. is the hassle worth it or has lockdown just shrunk my horizons.
Further question on top of PCR related ones - has anyone had issues bringing their expensive bike back into UK out Brexit - presumably it's my bike I took it out and am now bringing it back remains the case without additional paperwork ???
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Miss von Brandenburg did a trip to Germany to see her folks by car last month and reported no major hassles, though they elected to keep the number of border crossings to a minimum by sticking to France all the way to the Rhine instead of going through Belgium, which is shorter and doesn’t involve getting through/round/under Frankfurt.
They are, however, not planning on visiting Mr von Brandenburg's mum in Finland any time soon…
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If I hadn't renewed my passport earlier this year, I dont think I would have bothered to renew it now. My wife's passport is up later next year and she is not going to bother to renew it as she thinks that foreign travel will be problematic for many more years yet.
I agree about foreign travel but consider the future use of passports for ID even at home.
Given how long it takes to get a passport. Have one ready. Just in case. You never know when you might need one.
J
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Oh wow. Due to fly to the UK tomorrow. Had a test (negative) yesterday, supposed to download a certificate from the government website and it doesn't work. Phoned them and they are "aware of the problem" and lots of other people have been phoning them. Let's hope the jobsworths at the airport accept the print out from the clinic as there's no test facility at the airport. Currently a little stressed >:(
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Professor Larrington is supposed to be at some international Old Norse beano in Reykjavik ATM but it got cancelled at fairly short notice. “You could come anyway!” they said. She looked at the cost and hassle of getting all the tests and paperwork required. No thanks, Iceland. Try again next year, eh?
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Trying to decide whether to go to Italy next week. is the hassle worth it or has lockdown just shrunk my horizons.
Further question on top of PCR related ones - has anyone had issues bringing their expensive bike back into UK out Brexit - presumably it's my bike I took it out and am now bringing it back remains the case without additional paperwork ???
You know that it’s your bike, but how does a border official know. A friend provides race service across Europe at events including cycling. He has a Carnet for everything he brings into the U.K.
It all depends on the official of course. As a minimum I’d have some date and location stamped and witnessed photos of the bike. It might not be necessary, but you don’t want an issue.Details of the event, ideally listing you and the bike would also be handy.
I can remember the old days when one went out to race in Belgium with old worn parts on the bike, to return with shiny new Campag ( these were the days of purchase tax in the U.K.).
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Trying to decide whether to go to Italy next week. is the hassle worth it or has lockdown just shrunk my horizons.
Further question on top of PCR related ones - has anyone had issues bringing their expensive bike back into UK out Brexit - presumably it's my bike I took it out and am now bringing it back remains the case without additional paperwork ???
You know that it’s your bike, but how does a border official know. A friend provides race service across Europe at events including cycling. He has a Carnet for everything he brings into the U.K.
It all depends on the official of course. As a minimum I’d have some date and location stamped and witnessed photos of the bike. It might not be necessary, but you don’t want an issue.Details of the event, ideally listing you and the bike would also be handy.
I can remember the old days when one went out to race in Belgium with old worn parts on the bike, to return with shiny new Campag ( these were the days of purchase tax in the U.K.).
Over the years I have travelled quite a lot with a bike and I know a lot of others that do too. Going through “nothing to declare” I have never been stopped (including coming back from Italy at the weekend). It would be different if you were travelling with a van load of unaccompanied bikes in which case paperwork would definitely be required.
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Trying to decide whether to go to Italy next week. is the hassle worth it or has lockdown just shrunk my horizons.
Further question on top of PCR related ones - has anyone had issues bringing their expensive bike back into UK out Brexit - presumably it's my bike I took it out and am now bringing it back remains the case without additional paperwork ???
You know that it’s your bike, but how does a border official know. A friend provides race service across Europe at events including cycling. He has a Carnet for everything he brings into the U.K.
It all depends on the official of course. As a minimum I’d have some date and location stamped and witnessed photos of the bike. It might not be necessary, but you don’t want an issue.Details of the event, ideally listing you and the bike would also be handy.
I can remember the old days when one went out to race in Belgium with old worn parts on the bike, to return with shiny new Campag ( these were the days of purchase tax in the U.K.).
Over the years I have travelled quite a lot with a bike and I know a lot of others that do too. Going through “nothing to declare” I have never been stopped (including coming back from Italy at the weekend). It would be different if you were travelling with a van load of unaccompanied bikes in which case paperwork would definitely be required.
Over the years we’ve been in the EU though.
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Trying to decide whether to go to Italy next week. is the hassle worth it or has lockdown just shrunk my horizons.
Further question on top of PCR related ones - has anyone had issues bringing their expensive bike back into UK out Brexit - presumably it's my bike I took it out and am now bringing it back remains the case without additional paperwork ???
You know that it’s your bike, but how does a border official know. A friend provides race service across Europe at events including cycling. He has a Carnet for everything he brings into the U.K.
It all depends on the official of course. As a minimum I’d have some date and location stamped and witnessed photos of the bike. It might not be necessary, but you don’t want an issue.Details of the event, ideally listing you and the bike would also be handy.
I can remember the old days when one went out to race in Belgium with old worn parts on the bike, to return with shiny new Campag ( these were the days of purchase tax in the U.K.).
Over the years I have travelled quite a lot with a bike and I know a lot of others that do too. Going through “nothing to declare” I have never been stopped (including coming back from Italy at the weekend). It would be different if you were travelling with a van load of unaccompanied bikes in which case paperwork would definitely be required.
Over the years we’ve been in the EU though.
In a busy airport with multiple flights there will have been people (myself included) coming from non eu countries. Never have I been asked where i am returning from with the bike (or laptop, or skis for that matter) or to provide proof of export if a non eu country.
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If I hadn't renewed my passport earlier this year, I dont think I would have bothered to renew it now. My wife's passport is up later next year and she is not going to bother to renew it as she thinks that foreign travel will be problematic for many more years yet.
I agree about foreign travel but consider the future use of passports for ID even at home.
Given how long it takes to get a passport. Have one ready. Just in case. You never know when you might need one.
J
Although if you scream at the FCDO (cybernetically speaking) that your passport is not for travel and that you need it for ID at all moments of your life, they can be surprisingly nimble. I think that mine in june last year took about 10 days but it had run out about a month beforehand and I was held up with stupid things like barbers and photographers (vain sod that I am). I was sweating a bit as I could have needed it at any moment for work and even walking the dog in the evenings! Oh the pleasures of being an assimilated foreigner!
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If I hadn't renewed my passport earlier this year, I dont think I would have bothered to renew it now. My wife's passport is up later next year and she is not going to bother to renew it as she thinks that foreign travel will be problematic for many more years yet.
I agree about foreign travel but consider the future use of passports for ID even at home.
Given how long it takes to get a passport. Have one ready. Just in case. You never know when you might need one.
J
Although if you scream at the FCDO (cybernetically speaking) that your passport is not for travel and that you need it for ID at all moments of your life, they can be surprisingly nimble. I think that mine in june last year took about 10 days but it had run out about a month beforehand and I was held up with stupid things like barbers and photographers (vain sod that I am). I was sweating a bit as I could have needed it at any moment for work and even walking the dog in the evenings! Oh the pleasures of being an assimilated foreigner!
The FCDO is not responsible for passports. They are issued by HM Passport Office, which is an executive agency of the Home Office.
There are delays in issuing passports at the moment of up to three months. If you're going to need one in the coming months, I'd suggest applying for one sooner rather than later.
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If I hadn't renewed my passport earlier this year, I dont think I would have bothered to renew it now. My wife's passport is up later next year and she is not going to bother to renew it as she thinks that foreign travel will be problematic for many more years yet.
I agree about foreign travel but consider the future use of passports for ID even at home.
Given how long it takes to get a passport. Have one ready. Just in case. You never know when you might need one.
J
Although if you scream at the FCDO (cybernetically speaking) that your passport is not for travel and that you need it for ID at all moments of your life, they can be surprisingly nimble. I think that mine in june last year took about 10 days but it had run out about a month beforehand and I was held up with stupid things like barbers and photographers (vain sod that I am). I was sweating a bit as I could have needed it at any moment for work and even walking the dog in the evenings! Oh the pleasures of being an assimilated foreigner!
The FCDO is not responsible for passports. They are issued by HM Passport Office, which is an executive agency of the Home Office.
There are delays in issuing passports at the moment of up to three months. If you're going to need one in the coming months, I'd suggest applying for one sooner rather than later.
Checks passport, indeed issued by HMPO. Looks at preceding passport, issued by FCO. Sorry!! It's difficult moving with the times when you're a dinosaur!
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The wait time for a passport depends on the money you throw at it. Pay to collect in person at one of the offices and you can get it in about 5 days. We certainly did.
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I renewed mine a couple of months back and it only took a week or two with the standard service.
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Trying to decide whether to go to Italy next week. is the hassle worth it or has lockdown just shrunk my horizons.
Further question on top of PCR related ones - has anyone had issues bringing their expensive bike back into UK out Brexit - presumably it's my bike I took it out and am now bringing it back remains the case without additional paperwork ???
You know that it’s your bike, but how does a border official know. A friend provides race service across Europe at events including cycling. He has a Carnet for everything he brings into the U.K.
It all depends on the official of course. As a minimum I’d have some date and location stamped and witnessed photos of the bike. It might not be necessary, but you don’t want an issue.Details of the event, ideally listing you and the bike would also be handy.
I can remember the old days when one went out to race in Belgium with old worn parts on the bike, to return with shiny new Campag ( these were the days of purchase tax in the U.K.).
Over the years I have travelled quite a lot with a bike and I know a lot of others that do too. Going through “nothing to declare” I have never been stopped (including coming back from Italy at the weekend). It would be different if you were travelling with a van load of unaccompanied bikes in which case paperwork would definitely be required.
Over the years we’ve been in the EU though.
Eh? There will be no issue whatsoever. I've traveled to dozens of non-EU countries with a bike and the rest of the forum have traveled to hundreds more. I've never ever, before or since Brexit or even going to countries that have nothing to do with Brexit, had a problem with customs when taking a bike as luggage and I've never heard of anyone else having a problem either.
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Eh? There will be no issue whatsoever. I've traveled to dozens of non-EU countries with a bike and the rest of the forum have traveled to hundreds more. I've never ever, before or since Brexit or even going to countries that have nothing to do with Brexit, had a problem with customs when taking a bike as luggage and I've never heard of anyone else having a problem either.
Given the total number of countries in the world is in the region of 190. 27 of them are EU, a further handful or so are EEA, and similar immigration policies. That leaves about 150-160... To say "hundreds more" seems... utter bollocks. As there aren't even hundreds to start with...
J
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What's the deal with shipping bikes anyway?
If they're attended are they covered by the international conventions on road traffic and therefore covered by its rules of recognition or is it something else that means when you wrap up a bike and put it to the whim of baggage handlers you don't get hammered for customs in the same way you do when you hand it to a courier to ship?
Know a few people who've got fairly hefty bills from the later.
Would also be interested to know what the countries that aren't signatories of the conventions do with bikes, I vaugely remember reading thst China and possibly Russia charge an import fee, register your car in their system and give you a local plate for motorised vehicles.
Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk
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Eh? There will be no issue whatsoever. I've traveled to dozens of non-EU countries with a bike and the rest of the forum have traveled to hundreds more. I've never ever, before or since Brexit or even going to countries that have nothing to do with Brexit, had a problem with customs when taking a bike as luggage and I've never heard of anyone else having a problem either.
Given the total number of countries in the world is in the region of 190. 27 of them are EU, a further handful or so are EEA, and similar immigration policies. That leaves about 150-160... To say "hundreds more" seems... utter bollocks. As there aren't even hundreds to start with...
J
Perhaps the word “nations” would have been better. When you include autonomous dependent territories and other “stuff” international travel options are in the hundreds. Most people would include for example going to the the Turks and Caicos islands as foreign travel. Despite using US dollars and requiring you to show your passport and never being part of the EU it is not a separate “country” to the U.K.
On one 600km ride I made 8 international border crossings (4 borders x 2 crossings each) but only visited one foreign country. My bike was not seized.
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I had to go through the bollocks of paperwork to fly with my bike between Oz, the UK and return. Despite that, I got the third degree from a uniformed bureaucrat about taking a bike out and back. Somehow my near-dead cheap touring bike transmuted into a nice Guerciotti while abroad and my approved form couldn’t tell the difference (neither could the stuffed shirt). That was over 30 years ago though.
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Eh? There will be no issue whatsoever. I've traveled to dozens of non-EU countries with a bike and the rest of the forum have traveled to hundreds more. I've never ever, before or since Brexit or even going to countries that have nothing to do with Brexit, had a problem with customs when taking a bike as luggage and I've never heard of anyone else having a problem either.
Given the total number of countries in the world is in the region of 190. 27 of them are EU, a further handful or so are EEA, and similar immigration policies. That leaves about 150-160... To say "hundreds more" seems... utter bollocks. As there aren't even hundreds to start with...
J
Perhaps the word “nations” would have been better. When you include autonomous dependent territories and other “stuff” international travel options are in the hundreds. Most people would include for example going to the the Turks and Caicos islands as foreign travel. Despite using US dollars and requiring you to show your passport and never being part of the EU it is not a separate “country” to the U.K.
On one 600km ride I made 8 international border crossings (4 borders x 2 crossings each) but only visited one foreign country. My bike was not seized.
249 by ISO country code apparently, so hundreds is technically not t*st*cul*r
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1
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249 by ISO country code apparently, so hundreds is technically not t*st*cul*r
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1
Except they are not mapped 1:1. For instance GB and UK are both assigned to the same country...
https://youtu.be/4AivEQmfPpk
Suggests there 193 recognised by the UN, and 202 recognised by the Olympics. Tho given how the Olympics treats Porto Rico as a country when it is part of the US, and also includes a number of UK over seas territories. Unless someone here has visited North Korea with a bike, it would be very difficult to tip us collectively over the 200 mark. And that would require we as a collective to have literally visited every single country in existence.
Hundreds we have not.
Why yes, I am being pedantic, but as the person I replied to has told me I'm an obese woman who doesn't want to do intensity. I have some time on my hands this weekend.
J
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"Unless someone here has visited North Korea with a bike,"
Can be done, it seems:
https://www.serk.cc/northkorea/
For the first time ever, Koryo Tours and Serk Cycling have negotiated access for a group of foreign cyclists to ride through North Korea.
For the inaugural Pyongyang Randonnée in 2021, we will ride south from Pyongyang to Kaesong (near the border with South Korea), cycle around the iconic May Day stadium in the heart of the city, test our legs on Dragon Mountain outside the capital, and then charter a plane to fly to the remote mountain roads of the fabled Mt Paektu in the far north - the sacred birthplace of the Korean people.
To enter North Korea it is necessary to fly through our home city of Beijing. Beijing is home to some some of Asia's best unfound cycling so we've curated a special 4 day Beijing experience to blow your socks off and boost the total km for the ride.
https://www.uritours.com/tours/north-korea-bike-tour/
7 NIGHTS – FROM €1580
** DPRK Visa and return flights from Beijing included! Taking the train is possible and you’ll be eligible for a discount. Contact us! **
Our North Korea Bike Tour is unlike any tour ever offered! It’s geared towards the active traveler rather than professional cyclists, offering a healthy mix of traditional sightseeing opportunities and intimate encounters with North Korea’s untouched landscape and culture. We cover an unprecedented number of routes, take a look at our blog post for an inside look!
https://www.youngpioneertours.com/cycling-around-pyongyang/
In 2016 YPT led the first ever group of tourists for a city bicycle tour of Pyongyang. This was a major milestone achieved; a new way to explore the capital city, as previously tourists have been restricted to hopping off and on buses. Now we can spend more time outdoors, stay active, and experience how a North Korean makes their way around Pyongyang – giving us foreigners a better understanding of their daily life. Here’s why we love cycling around Pyongyang.
Your chance to be the first, three times over!
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Are there tens of countries, hundreds of countries or thousands of countries ?
Perhaps there is a hole in the logarithmic continuum and the answer is none of the above.
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Dozens.
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Scores.
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A several.
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Many.
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(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueofgentlemen/images/b/b6/Tubbs_Anniversary.jpg)
Twelvety!
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Millions!
(https://robertkaplinsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/drevil_cover.jpg)
Why yes, I am being pedantic, but as the person I replied to has told me I'm an obese woman who doesn't want to do intensity. I have some time on my hands this weekend.
To be a successful pedant, you need to start by being correct. Try working on that.
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To be a successful pedant, you need to start by being correct. Try working on that.
193 is not hundreds.
193 minus 27 is not hundreds.
Even 202 minus 27 is not hundreds.
And that's ignoring the additional countries outside the EU, but which share free movement with the EU, and thus the reduced hassle of taking a bike across the border.
You say I am not right.
[Citation needed]
J
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Thousands of years ago the son of god was crucified and then reincarnated.
No, total bullshit, it was less than 2 thousand so not thousands (plural) of years. Clearly I have totally debunked the Christianity.
To celebrate this achievement I shall therefore indulge myself in a slice of toast (1.97 slice of toast to be precise but still not quite slices).
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Thousands of years ago the son of god was crucified and then reincarnated.
No, total bullshit, it was less than 2 thousand so not thousands (plural) of years. Clearly I have totally debunked the Christianity.
To celebrate this achievement I shall therefore indulge myself in a slice of toast (1.97 slice of toast to be precise but still not quite slices).
[citation needed]
Also, nice work to bring religion in with a reductio ad absurdum attempt...
J
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Shouldn't we be counting countries by London buses, or 'size of wales', or swimming pools.
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Shouldn't we be counting countries by London buses, or 'size of wales', or swimming pools.
I did love the headline of when a country the size of Wales played football against a country the size of Belgium...
J
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One must also remember that there is a difference between a country (basically a geographic concept), a nation (a social concept) and a state (a legal concept) - although accept there are overlaps.
The UK (1 UN member state) comprises 4 countries and arguably 5-6 nations (depending on whether you're Cornish or not).
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One must also remember that there is a difference between a country (basically a geographic concept), a nation (a social concept) and a state (a legal concept) - although accept there are overlaps.
The UK (1 UN member state) comprises 4 countries and arguably 5-6 nations (depending on whether you're Cornish or not).
I think integers are too restrictive. The republic of Kosovo should count as approximately half a country as it is recognised by 97 of the 195 members of the UN.
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The UK usage of “country” is a weird inversion to make a semi-autonomous province the size of Wales stop bombing shit and excuse us having too many football teams.
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Liechtenstein and Vatican City are proper countries but Bermuda isn’t.
Perhaps Karla should have phrased it more precisely - “the number of countries not in the EU is an order of magnitude greater than the number within the EU.”
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Liechtenstein and Vatican City are proper countries but Bermuda isn’t.
Perhaps Karla should have phrased it more precisely - “the number of countries not in the EU is an order of magnitude greater than the number within the EU.”
Err... technically, the Vatican is not a country. It is a city state.
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Liechtenstein and Vatican City are proper countries but Bermuda isn’t.
Perhaps Karla should have phrased it more precisely - “the number of countries not in the EU is an order of magnitude greater than the number within the EU.”
Would an order of magnitude not be 270? 27 -> 270?
J
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Liechtenstein and Vatican City are proper countries but Bermuda isn’t.
Perhaps Karla should have phrased it more precisely - “the number of countries not in the EU is an order of magnitude greater than the number within the EU.”
Would an order of magnitude not be 270? 27 -> 270?
J
19, 27, 88 are of order of magnitude 1
131, 205, 870 are of order of magnitude 2
The order of magnitude is the integer part (by truncation) of the base 10 logarithm of the number.
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If I hadn't renewed my passport earlier this year, I dont think I would have bothered to renew it now. My wife's passport is up later next year and she is not going to bother to renew it as she thinks that foreign travel will be problematic for many more years yet.
I agree about foreign travel but consider the future use of passports for ID even at home.
Given how long it takes to get a passport. Have one ready. Just in case. You never know when you might need one.
J
Although if you scream at the FCDO (cybernetically speaking) that your passport is not for travel and that you need it for ID at all moments of your life, they can be surprisingly nimble. I think that mine in june last year took about 10 days but it had run out about a month beforehand and I was held up with stupid things like barbers and photographers (vain sod that I am). I was sweating a bit as I could have needed it at any moment for work and even walking the dog in the evenings! Oh the pleasures of being an assimilated foreigner!
The FCDO is not responsible for passports. They are issued by HM Passport Office, which is an executive agency of the Home Office.
There are delays in issuing passports at the moment of up to three months. If you're going to need one in the coming months, I'd suggest applying for one sooner rather than later.
Checks passport, indeed issued by HMPO. Looks at preceding passport, issued by FCO. Sorry!! It's difficult moving with the times when you're a dinosaur!
Since 1993 the FCO only issued passports overseas and hasn't done that since 2011.