UK Ambassador in Corralejo 29/11 6pm

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Just seen:

The meeting is convened tomorrow, Thursday, November 29, 2018, from 18:00 hours, at the Municipal Auditorium of Corralejo

The City Council of La Oliva collaborates with the Embassy of the United Kingdom and the British Consulate for Andalusia and the Canary Islands in the organization of a meeting in which the authorities of the United Kingdom summon the community of this resident nationality in Fuerteventura, with the aim of informing them about the brexit.

This meeting is convened at 18:00 hours tomorrow, Thursday, November 29, 2018, at the Municipal Auditorium of Corralejo.

In this act, the interventions of Simon Manley, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Spain, Charmaine Arbouin, Consul of the United Kingdom for Andalusia and the Canary Islands, and Esther Martín, British Vice Consul and responsible for the Province of Las Palmas are foreseen.

They will be accompanied on the table by the president of the Fuerteventura Chapter, Marcial Morales, and the first deputy mayor of the City Council of La Oliva, Oliver González.

According to the British Consulate, citizens of this nationality will have the opportunity to share their concerns and clarify doubts during the question time at the end of their intervention.

Previously, at 4:00 p.m., a meeting is planned at the El Mirador Hotel in Fuerteventura (former National Parador), convened from the Cabildo de Fuerteventura with the British and Majoreras authorities.

According to the Padrón figures, in the municipality of La Oliva there are 3,348 inhabitants of the United Kingdom as of December 2017

[Captain Sensible]

In my opinion it's a waste of time and Money for the British Consul to come here to talk about Brexit as no-one knows any answers.

And why is Marcial Morales, the Fuerteventura Cabildo President going?  Perhaps for the free food before and afterwards!

The event is advertised in the Ayuntamiento office in Caleta.

[Emmi Smith]

I agree.  I went to the one held in Caleta  last year ( or year before,I can't remember).  No real answers to any questions posed and I suspect the same from this meeting.

I imagine Mr.Morales is going to keep his profile high as I believe there are regional elections coming up next year.

[Archer]

Morales needs another photo of himself in the press. He's only been photographed 15 times this week.

[windermeregolfer]

Back on Subject - if anyone on here is going please could you give us feed back on what is said, things like healthcare (EHCI's & S1's) diving licences, GB car identification plates,  mobile roaming, I have looked on line and can't find info on these in the present agreement news.

Others will probably have other questions.

Thanks in anticipation

[Sam]

Sorry John but you won't be able to get the definite answers here, not this time. Nothing has been decided yet and that keeps us all in the dark, the Ambassador included.

Here's a few answers from the Ambassador at the meeting in Tenerife:

The position of “swallows” who aren’t resident here but who come for more than the traditional fortnight’s holiday: their position remains to be clarified, but one thing can be said now, namely that the rumour about visas being required at least for longer-term visits was only in the case of a no-deal Brexit if the UK Parliament (or the European Parliament) rejects the deal.

Driving licences: this issue again depends on whether Parliament accepts the deal or not, but the Consul said that the best advice right now for anyone who wants to drive here as a visitor is to get an international driving licence, and that anyone living here should really exchange their UK licence for a Spanish one even though this is not a “legal requirement” for those with UK/EU-complaint photocard licences (these legally only have to be renewed in the country of residence at the point of expiry, but the rule applies to EU nationals, which of course British citizens won’t be after Brexit).

The difference between residence and permanent residence, and the right to travel within the EU: the difference is a technicality since “pernanencia” is automatic after five years legal residence. No-one has to re-register, or have a document that says “permanente” on it to be a “permanent resident” if they have been legally here for five years. Once bilateral negotiations start, however, then Spain could and almost certainly will require different documentation which could be a plastic photocard like that which is provided to other “third-country nationals” (which is what we will be). To be explicit: there is a “presumption of continuity” in permanencia, which means that no-one needs to reregister – after five years legally registered, permanencia happens automatically. Indeed it is actually set out in European Law in very clear terms that no EU nation can require foreign residents to register more than once. As to forward movement, that too is still on the table with no confirmation possible at present.

Healthcare arrangements: clearly this is of major concern to the majority, especially since the average age of British nationals here is higher than that of Spanish nationals in the UK. When it comes to healthcare, however, the ambassador was really quite upbeat. Nothing will change, he said, because one way or another reciprocity will continue even in the case of no deal.

Tax status: tax residence is automatic after half a year, but apart from that one fact, the advice across the board was “get professional advice”. I’ve said it myself too, many times, anyone needing tax advice should speak to qualified professionals.

The final two questions were concerning the right of businesses here to employ specifically British staff where necessary, eg a British school. Employment matters, the ambassador said, were among the many items still to be determined. The final question was whether our rights would remain in place to return to the UK after lengthy residence in Spain, and the answer to that is clear. Unless we revoke British nationality, which would be required if someone applied for Spanish nationality, then the right to return remains in place: we are British, and we never lose our citizenship, nor our right to return to our home country.

All taken from Janet's blog, click to read the whole post.

[Spitfire58]

Just on that. I can have an Irish passport, through my mother. Never had it up to now as born in U.K. & always had British passport but I am seriously considering getting the Irish one in the thoughts that it might resolve some issues if the U.K. ends up going down the “no deal” road. Got our Empadrons last visit so gradually working through things. Anyone any thoughts ???

[SheilaW]

Is anyone thinking of going down to make a noise? I really don't want to listen to his empty promises and platitudes but I would quite like to make my feelings felt, not that he'd take much notice.

I shan't bother if I'm going to be on my own though 

[Sam]

Welcome to the forum Sheila, we all appreciate you joining us!

Unfortunately we won't make it today but I'm sure there's many people who's getting ready for the meeting right now and you won't be alone there.

Just don't make too much noise, we would love to see you here again

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

A friend and I went to the meeting this evening. As I expected there was nothing that could be stated as being definite, all depending on Deal or No Deal etc. I really just wanted to check that this was the case and I hadn't missed anything. So, the report that Sam posted re the meeting on Tenerife stands good for this one as well. There wasn't a great number of people in attendance, perhaps 50-75.

The point that was reiterated was get yourself 'legal' here to be in the best position possible come Exit, whether Deal or No Deal. This involves getting on the Registro de Extranajeros at the National Police in Puerto del Rosario and on the Padron at your local Ayuntamiento. This includes anyone who is on the island for more than 90 days in total during the year. The stumbling block here, for anyone other than UK pensioners who are living here all the time and can obtain an S1 from DWP, is proving their provision of healthcare cover. Forget the EHIC card, it is not designed for this. What they should do is look at www.healthcareinspain.eu and email that team for help with this issue - that is their job!

(Going on the Registro de Extranajeros does not have tax implications, you only need to start thinking tax if you are here for 180 days in a year, according to the ambassador.)