Surely I was supposed to fill out at least *one* form on entry into CDG, right?

[Febs]

Hi all,

Little bit confused and hoping someone can help...

I flew AA48 from DFW to CDG on Friday (connected to DFW from Kansas City - MCI). Shortly before landing in CDG I asked the FA for an immigration form. She told me I should've grabbed one in Dallas, and that she didn't have any on-board. No worries, I'll grab one at immigration...and presumably a customs form too.

I get to the immigration queue (using the fast-track pass I got on-board AA48), and couldn't see any forms. Handed over my passport, the officer took the fleetingest of glances at it (he may have scanned it, but he must've been very quick), gave it back and said thanks (no, that's not the part that confuses me ).

After that, I grabbed my bags (which were already there, to the left), and walked straight out.

No immigration form, no passport stamp, and no customs form. Is that right? Keep in mind I was coming from the US, not EU. Is that how it's done in France?

Hope I don't have any troubles leaving on Monday!

Cheers,
- Febs.

PS: If flying J out of CDG on JAL, am I allowed two pieces of carry-on? Heard an announcement as I was leaving CDG about 1 piece only...but I'm not sure if that was specific to a certain airline? Thanks.

 

[Reggie]

Febs,

I have flown in CDG many times PER-SIN-LHR-CDG on an Australian passport. Sometime the crew give out immigration forms, sometimes not. As you noticed there are none at the immigration counters. I have never had a problem leaving when I didn't fill out the immigration forms. I never get a stamp unless I specifically ask for it

Regarding the customs, I have never had my bags checked or been asked any questions by customs. From my local collegues in France, they tell me that customs usually checks baggae from flights that have originated in Africa and places like that.

Can't help you regarding the carryon luggae, other than in January I was still carrying 2 pirces of carryon through CDG.

Reggie

 

[Febs]

Thanks Reggie, that puts my mind at ease.

I wish more countries adopted that approach! It took me almost 10 minutes to walk from the plane to immigration (I walk fast, but it was a looong walk)...then about 2 minutes from immigration queue to out the front door!

 

[oz_mark]

I wish more countries adopted that approach!

Entry into Malaysia through KUL is a paperless affair.

 

[Febs]

Entry into Malaysia through KUL is a paperless affair.

I guess I just travel to the US too often.
(Actually to be honest I don't find US Immigration/Customs/TSA too bad, but I know others do.)

 

[oz_mark]

I guess I just travel to the US too often.
(Actually to be honest I don't find US Immigration/Customs/TSA too bad, but I know others do.)

I'm hoping the form filling exercise gets banished from moe and more places.

 

[Keith009]

I had the same experience on arrival at VIE. No problems when I departed the EU at HEL. EU immigration officers have a novel way of saving space on your passport - by stamping on existing stamps when they can't be coughd to find an empty page! :shock:

 

[brissyflyer]

Entry into Malaysia through KUL is a paperless affair.

Not anymore

You now need to fill out a combined arrivals/customs/departure form. They reintroduced it recently. In May there was no paperwork, in August/September there was paperwork.

Peter

 

[Skyring]

My first time into CDG, I don't think anyone even looked at me sideways, let alone asked for a form or stamped my passport. A few days later at St Malo, they hauled me over in the boarding line for the ferry to Jersey and stamped me out. Stamped me out at CDG earlier this year, but I can't find any inward stamp from St Malo.

Wotta way to run a country.

Pete, in Dublin, luggage somewhere over Siberia

 

[opusman]

Wotta way to run a country.

I far prefer it to the "automatically assume everyone is guilty of something" attitude you get in Australia and the US!

 

[Keith009]

Zero paperwork on entering Turkey at IST.

 

[anat0l]

It took me almost 10 minutes to walk from the plane to immigration (I walk fast, but it was a looong walk)...then about 2 minutes from immigration queue to out the front door!

Can't be that long - 10 minutes of a fast walk covers a distance of anywhere between 600m - 1.2km.

The longest passenger airport in the world is Kansai International Airport (KIX), which is 1.7km, by way of comparison.

 

[Bundy Bear]

No forms need to be filled out when flying into Amsterdam, they will check the passport and stamp it but that is about it.

Flying into the UK those without British and EU passports need to fill out a form.

I think Australia; New Zealand and the US is the worst place for having to fill out a form.