USA passport with British residency permit. Can I use the EU passport line?

Upvote:-2

As you're not an EU citizen, the answer is almost certainly a resounding NO.

You may be a US citizen and a legal resident of the UK, but that doesn't mean you're an EU CITIZEN. Your residency status doesn't change that in any way.

If you could enter other EU countries without a passport, using just your residency papers, that would possibly be different, but were that the case you'd not have to ask this question.

It's no different from the situation my Australian friend is in who has a Canadian residency permit. He still needs an ESTA (if traveling by air) and his Australian passport to be allowed to enter the US.

Upvote:-1

The "lines" at airports are not official and strict.

I often just use the wrong one because (a) I don't care or (b) I'm walking along with a friend in a different category.

I've never once been told I'm in the "wrong line" and to go re-line.

OP, in the example given of your papers, if you mean in Britain I would certainly just join the EU line. And really I would do the same when on the continent, in the example given of your papers.

Upvote:1

Couldn't add this as a comment to MJeffryes:

I have an EU passport, my spouse has a US passport with a various UK residency permits/visas over the years.

After arriving at the front of a long non-EEA line at Manchester and being told we could have gone through the short EU line together, we both now go through whichever line looks quickest. My spouse has also been though on their own in a UK/EEA line. It's been fine at Manchester, Heathrow and Edinburgh.

Can't vouch for the "officialness" of this, if in doubt, just ask the border staff before you join a queue -- they may or may not know or be correct, but at least it's not your fault then!

Upvote:4

Unfortunately, the answer is that it depends. It's well known that at many airports, family members of EU citizens are allowed to use the EU passports queue. There is some suggestion on this discussion board that at Manchester Airport, UK residents are allowed to use the EU queue regardless of citizenship, even in the absence of an EU citizen family member. I wouldn't rely on that since it's a fairly old thread, but if the queue is very long for the all passports queue at your port of entry, there is no harm in asking a member of staff which queue you can use, making sure to point out your residency status to them.

Upvote:7

Your residency permit and passport themselves aren't enough to use the UK/EU line at most airports. I've heard of some people at major airports being allowed to use the UK/EU line.

You can register as a registered traveller here, as a US citizen your US passport is eligible. You won't have to fill out a landing card and can go through the EU/EEA/Swiss line (including ePassport gates) at some UK airports and train stations.

You can use the service at the following airports:

  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Cardiff
  • East Midlands
  • Edinburgh
  • Gatwick
  • Glasgow
  • Heathrow
  • London City
  • Luton
  • Manchester
  • Southend
  • Stansted

You can use the service at the following Eurostar terminals:

  • Brussels
  • Lille
  • Paris

Registered traveller cost £70 and is valid for 12 months. If you are unsuccessful in your application you are refunded £50.

There are some eligibly requirements here. But if you travel to and from the UK a lot it's worth doing. To renew it costs £50 after the first 12 months and £20 if you get a new passport while you have membership.

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