Absolute nightmare of an experience at Brussels airport passport control. Likely getting profiled because the birthplace on my French passport says Turkey and the chip isn’t working (which is why I was in the manual control lane to begin with).
The joys of being white passing in racist countries. You’re fine until they see you might be a bit too Brown inside.
Now sitting in a room with other Brown and Black folks, waiting (and they have my passport).
@aral Just to contribute (a little late) with my own experience... My wife and myself have been working full time for Belgian organizations for more than 15 years. Last summer, my wife unfortunately lost her job. Although she had always paid all her social contributions in Belgium, they refuse to give her a single cent for unemployment compensation because of her Japanese passport (no Belgian ID) and the fact that she is the wife of a French citizen.
@aral Moreover, they now claim that she is no longer allowed to accompany me on our regular trips to Belgium since she lost her job in Belgium, even though she has a perfectly valid European residence permit as the wife of a French citizen. Despite hosting most of the European institutions, when it comes to foreigners, Belgium doesn't hesitate to violate the most fundamental principles of the European Union (free movement of workers and their families & coordination of social security systems).
@SebastienLugan Bloody hell, I’m so sorry you and your wife have to put up with such treatment, Sébastien.
Mind if I boost your posts?
@aral Of course: please feel free to do it, and thanks!
@SebastienLugan @aral Sorry to hear that. It is frightening how bad a situation one is in when 'only' married to an EU national. The status of and rights from being married have been erroded so much it makes me wonder why ?
@SebastienLugan
That's terrible! Thanks for telling people about this.