Delayed again by EU, rightly in my opinion, because it’s causing too much delay
2 Likes
I dont know. I got to lisboa 2 days ago and went to the normal booth thing and I have been using an App for the last few years to track my 90/180 time as I dont have a card yet and what was weird is for the first time it popped up (on that new screen) with the amount of time i had remaining and the day amount actually matched my app. They are tracking and it seems to be correctly tracking now will l they use it or not thats another thing.
Yes, I had a similar experience on leaving Lisbon thru the ‘all passports’ queue.
A red number flashed on the screen saying how many days I had overstayed…I asked the officer what it meant - he said its fine, he’s now scanned my card and he could see it override the overstay.
In other words, without the card I would have been an overstayer. He didn’t say what would happen then.
1 Like
Arrived Oporto this past Monday night from London. Had to do EES stuff again… but most everyone else was EU so my queue was quick.
Border agent said I’d have to do 4 fingerprints + photo on every entry “for now,” as the systems aren’t linked up yet. Once they are, should only need to re-register biometrics every 3 years.
4 Likes
4 fingerprints + photo leaving Funchal yesterday as well… I’m told American law and border enforcement call this a “4-slap” 
It’s the fingers+photo that takes most of the time in the queues, so the following new ability to pre-register isn’t going to save a ton of EES time…
Initially, the system will only be available at Lisbon airport, and should be progressively extended to other airports in the coming weeks.
2 Likes
Hi guys, i need some advice please.
I have two trips back to the UK from Lisbon booked, but i still don’t have my vjsa card. Last Monday i got news from my lawyer that AIMA have given me final approval but we are still waiting for the DUC to be issued so I can pay.
Do you think i’ll run into issues at Lisbon airport? Is the ESS system back up and running?
In the past, we did not run into any issues. However, we have U.S. passports which allow us visa-free (again, in the past) tourist access to both UK and EU. We also carried with us a confirmation from SEF (now AIMA) that we have a pending residency application. Twice we had to demonstrate it: once to a TAP check-in agent in Heathrow (British Airways never cared), and once to a border control agent in Lisbon. In both cases, we were allowed to proceed with no issues.
Hi Roman,
Yes i understand how it used to be. My worry now is that I’ve overstayed my 90 days hoping my visa would be here by now. I can show I’ve been accepted but i still haven’t got the DUC document to pay the final fee and then get my card.
That’s how it was for us for over three years. We were travelling with over-stayed 90-day visas multiple times, predominately through UK, but also at times through France, Spain, and Germany. Again, we never had issues. The SEF letter was simply that we have attended our biometrics and had an active petition on file. As for the “domestic” travel within the EU, nobody even asked for any travel documents, aside from the passport biometric page to verify our identity upon boarding.
Go through the EU Residents queue, not the EES one.
With a UK passport?
Yes, because you are a EU resident now, aren’t you? That’s what I do anyway.
Just tell the EES people that it does not apply to you, they should let you in/out without taking your biometrics again. Break the mould.
1 Like
I never tried that one yet. Do they stamp your passport, or do they just wave you through?
Well i am when I have my card. Have you gone through the EU gates without an EU visa card?
I asked the border guards on exiting Portugal which queue I should join on my re-entry.I was told if you hold a resident card you should use the European Passports lines which I did. Showed my resident card and UK passport and had no issues. Passport did get stamped yes.
2 Likes
Fantastic! I will test this in two weeks! If I am detained, I will blame ~padel09 for misinformation! 
Are you leaving before the 2nd?
No, after 8th.
I wonder if this is just for the Lisbon airport or for all airports in the Schengen area…
Probably just airports in portugal, but maybe all.
Back to my question above. Has anyone been through the EES gates without a resident card but they are waiting for it, and having gone over the 90 day tourist stay?