Brexit and its implications for British, HU and any other citizens

‘Pretty shambolic’: new EU border checks cause stress for UK travellers https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 … re_btn_url

‘Pretty shambolic’: new EU border checks cause stress for UK travellers https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 … re_btn_url - @SimCityAT

Shambolic at Rotterdam getting off the Hull ferry a few weeks ago.  Queue wasn't much and I got out of the car to go through the fingerprint and photo process; fingerprints went OK, and I was chatting with the Marechaussee guy while he set up the camera; he took the shot and the system confirmed I could proceed, then it had a second thought and said I needed to repeat the photo, which we did,  The system then refused to allow me to proceed as the previous photo which it had rejected, was still in the system and I suspect the guy on duty didn't have the authority to reset it.  So, the guy then checked on the system, my fingerprints were OK, but no photo,  He said ordinarily it wouldn't be a problem, but as I intended to cross into Germany to see my wife's sister, the Germans may detain me.  By then the queue was backing up back onto the ferry, so I shrugged my shoulders and the guy let me in.  No problem later on and I got back OK when we came back to the UK.

‘Pretty shambolic’: new EU border checks cause stress for UK travellers https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 … re_btn_url - @SimCityAT

Every time I have gone through Budapest airport, I've never seen anyone standing at the machines. It's always manual after long queues.

Budapest has special RP queues. Maybe other countries should do the same for RP and visa holders.

Woman stranded in Spain after UK’s eVisa system mistakes her for twin sister

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 … re_btn_url

ChatGPT:

What is the procedure for residence permit renewal under Article 50 in Hungary?

Answer:

Yes. I checked the current Hungarian immigration authority (NDGAP/OIF) guidance, and there has been a **specific 2026 update for British citizens holding the Withdrawal Agreement/Article 50 residence status**.

If you have the **Hungarian national permanent residence permit issued under the EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement (Article 50)**, the renewal is now essentially a **document replacement/extension**, rather than a fresh immigration application.

### The procedure

**1. Apply about 3 months before expiry**

OIF specifically asks applicants to submit the extension **3 months before the expiry date** of the existing national permanent residence permit. ([OIF][1])

So, if your card expires in **early January 2027**, you should be applying around **early October 2026**.

**2. Apply electronically through Enter Hungary**

The application **must be submitted through the Enter Hungary electronic platform**. ([OIF][1])

[Enter Hungary – English](https://enterhungary.gov.hu/eh/tajekozt … hatgpt.com)

This is important: you don't simply make an appointment at the immigration office and fill out a paper renewal application.

**3. Upload the required documents**

OIF says you need to upload:

* the electronically generated application form;

* a **photograph**;

* a **complete copy of your valid British passport**, without certification or translation.

The system-generated form must then be **printed, signed by you, scanned, and uploaded back into Enter Hungary**. ([OIF][1])

**4. Pay the fee**

The current fee for the extension is **HUF 20,000**. ([OIF][1]) <- This seems like a lot

**5. Attend the immigration office for fingerprints** <- what again?

After you have paid and the application has progressed, NDGAP will notify you through Enter Hungary that you need to attend the **competent NDGAP client service office for your place of residence** to have your fingerprints taken. ([OIF][1])

This is the only significant face-to-face part of the process.

**6. Wait for the new card**

The stated administrative processing time is **21 days**. ([OIF][1]) <- think this will take longer

The replacement document will be a **National Residence Card (Nemzeti Tartózkodási Kártya)** and will normally be valid for **10 years**. ([OIF][1])

### The particularly important point

You **do not have to re-prove your eligibility for permanent residence**.

For Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries, OIF expressly says that the authority **does not reassess**:

* means of subsistence;

* entitlement to healthcare; or

* state of health.

You don't have to make declarations about those matters. ([OIF][1])

In other words, this is **not equivalent to applying for a new Hungarian residence permit**.

Your underlying **right of permanent residence is indefinite**. Expiry of the physical residence document does **not** cause the underlying right of residence to expire. OIF nevertheless recommends keeping a valid residence card and Hungarian ID card because they are important for everyday administration. ([OIF][1]) <- This I did not know.

### One thing I would do in your case

Given your **early-January 2027 expiry**, I would aim to submit the application **in October 2026**, rather than waiting until December.

There is also a very recent OIF announcement specifically saying that British nationals with these national permanent residence permits **must apply through Enter Hungary before their existing document expires**. ([OIF][2])

If you want, I can also walk you through **exactly what you will see in Enter Hungary and which application/document type to select for an Article 50 renewal**, including what to enter in the Hungarian fields.

[1]: https://oif.gov.hu/factsheets/informati … ly-members "Information note for british nationals with the right of permanent residence and their family members"

[2]: https://oif.gov.hu/index.php/news/new-i … out-brexit "New information about Brexit"

(BTW, ChatGPT is starting to become my firm friend for answers but I always cross reference what it says).

p.s.  This is also worth reading:

Information note for british nationals with the right of permanent residence and their family members

(it's the Footnote 1 show in my previous post).

My eyes glazed over at **2; is this good or is it worthwhile reading to advise others?

My eyes glazed over at **2; is this good or is it worthwhile reading to advise others? - @Cynic

Yes, I think it works for ONLY for British people with the Article 50 cards.   Immigration here is just a murky business and no-one goes there regularly - in theory once every 5 or more likely soon to be 10 years. 

But it is ChatGPT output, so there's no guarantee it's not hallucinating.  It was quite good at finding the guidance.

And it's formatting is dreadful but I'm as lazy as hell and I could have tidied it up.  Maybe I can have a go later.

I don't remember how many British people are here on Art 50 cards.  I have an idea it's about 7,000 but that's just dredging up memories or just imagining.

When I lived in NL (for the 2nd or 3rd time), there were 14,000 British people there but that was in the early 2000s.

EU (Euronews):

Travelling to Europe? EES border checks are changing from 6 September

On Sunday 6 September, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) emergency flexibility measures will come to an end.

Over the summer, member states were granted authority to temporarily suspend the collection of travellers' biometric data through fingerprints and facial scans to ease congestion in exceptional circumstances.

Industry bodies are now pushing for these flexibilities to be extended beyond September amid concerns of renewed border delays.

Looks like chaos will return.  Going to the UK, only direct flights to avoid queueing at the transfer airports.  Particularly, avoid Brussels. It's a disaster there on long haul to Schengen flights. Hours of waiting.

I am on my second extention.

Went in person to their Buda side office twice, told only to apply online,When we told them it was not taking my e -mail address, kept stating it was already in use, we tried using other e-mails and still no luck;

Went to their other office, was told, yes our online app was out for a wzeek, more like forever in my case;

I lost sleep for weeks trying for hours on end everyday to get online to fill out their request.

Called their number, women was nice but repeated to try online;

Finally went back in person to the office of OIF and finally got someone to get me into see a clerk to do my easy, so called easy paperwork; Been back no less then 4 times now, I saw the card machine to pay for services with credit cards but in my case the clerk hand wrote out a check to pay at the post office, did that and returned within 2 days to show prove of payment.

It cost 39,000 not 20,000.

Do not care just want my new card ASAP.

Time will tell,got till Nov now, they are super slow.

Online it stated not to apply any sooner then 45 days, their info is all over the place.

Most everyone I spoke with inside immigration had hired a lawyer but still there were sittiing and waiting.

What gets me is I was told twice by the guy handling my case that I can not leave the country until my nex card arrives. Held hostage really. He also said my card would arrive in about 2 weeks, seems like two years! Been since June really.

Oh yes, when I     asked a lawyer inside their Buda office how much they charge to help with the paperwork, she quoted me 100,000. My case they say is an easy one too.

P.s. I am at BUD airport now and it's mobbed. It took 1.5h to drive here due to heavy traffic. And airport is really busy. Dreadful but not impossible.

p.p.s.  Arrived Liverpool Airport, UK.  About 45m to get through British passport control and I'm a citizen.  Categories of travellers like EU, USA, Canada etc have been removed.  It was one big scrum with everyone being forced into one queue.

I just came through BUD airport and despite my RP, they stamped my passport.

I did not complain. What would be the point?  The next passport moron will not stamp it and then another passport nitwit will stamp it again.  Really brain dead.

I think they are stamping because EES doesn't work EVEN though it doesn't apply to RP holders.  They already scanned both my passport and my RP so it's not like it's necessary.

A Romanian woman at the next counter also might have had her passport stamped unnecessarily.

Brexit RP renewal:

After a lot of silly stabs at getting into EnterHungary.gov.uk, we finally managed to do it. 

The big problem seems to be the e-mail address.   We found there's a way around foolishness of the site not accepting the e-mail address and just ignoring the user.   

We used normal e-mail address with a sub-address as follows;

If my e-mail is  applicant@gmail.com and this is "already registered", then it's possible to add a + to the address to make a sub-address which EnterHungary can accept.   So I could try to use applicant+oif@gmail.com or some variant after the + sign.  OIF is the Immigration Office.  When an incoming mail comes in, I will know it specifically comes from them.

This does not seem to work with some forms of e-mail provider addresses like hotmail and possibly live,com.   These might be banned in some way or filtered. It's well known some web sites barf on sub-addresses.

Once one gets in, it's relatively easy.  The actual payment link for 20K HUF (circa $62) does not seem to reach the payment gateway with the error:

": [EHXXXXXX : A banki rendszer nem érhető el, próbálja újra később.]"

The EHXXXXXX data item is the case number.   The text after says the "bank system is not reachable, try later".  Apparently this is a recurrent problem. I got online and transferred 20K HUF directly to the account at the government treasury - they tell you the details.  It has to include name, DOB and case number in the comments of the transfer. 

I've received a kind of pre-filled form within the case handling system which I am supposed to download, print, sign and write in the transaction number, rescan and upload to OIF under my case number.

It remains to seen if this actually going anywhere via the EnterHungary site.  If it means anything, I'm expecting an appointment or if it goes the way it's supposed to, just the card in the post within 3 weeks.  OIF say Brexit renewals are valid 10 years.

I sincerely hope this is the case because I would need a paper to show my case is pending which I can show to the Passport jobsworths so they don't mess me about going in and out of the country. Apparently this application pending paper costs 4000 HUF.

Stop Press - Update....

Immigration (OIF) now request extra info which was all previously uploaded.

They also want me to go there in 15 days otherwise the application will be cancelled.

I have to take physical copies of the same uploaded info with me to the OIF office.

So in other words, uploading is ignored but a bar to cross in order to get to an offer to go in there for a  face to face appointment.

This should be fun

This should be fun
- @SimCityAT

East Midlands.   Like anyone wants to fly there!  It's mainly a cargo airport.   Bit like Stansted.  Who wants to fly there? No-one!  I always wondered why they didn't get on properly with Manston.

Assuming it works, it will be good news for you frequent travellers.

Assuming it works, it will be good news for you frequent travellers. - @Cynic

I've been going into LPL and it's all manual there. No e-gates.   MAN has e-gates.

Last time it was well over an hour queueing at LPL.  And for what? Nothing much.

@fluffy2560

These appear to be the son of e-gates; they scan your face and if you have an existing UK visa/residence permit etc, then you just walk through; that's how they appear to be being sold anyway.

@fluffy2560
These appear to be the son of e-gates; they scan your face and if you have an existing UK visa/residence permit etc, then you just walk through; that's how they appear to be being sold anyway. - @Cynic

It'd be useful if they could even make the ordinary e-gates work before getting fancy. 

EMA seems a very stupid place to start this trial. 

I'd have thought a more mainstream airport like BHX or LGW would give more meaning to it.

I'd like to see better e-gates here in Budapest for UK nationals.  The process still requires passport AND RP scanning which means double time.  Surely passport IDs the person, gives a look up to shows a valid RP exists, job done.   It's not joined up thinking.

The EES terminals abound in Budapest but I've never seen anyone use them.  There are 20+ and possibly only 1 or 2 look switched on.

One thing in BUD which is quite interesting is a no-touch fingerprint scanner.  Just pass hand through the scanner.  No need to touch any glass or wot not.   

@fluffy2560These appear to be the son of e-gates; they scan your face and if you have an existing UK visa/residence permit etc, then you just walk through; that's how they appear to be being sold anyway. - @CynicIt'd be useful if they could even make the ordinary e-gates work before getting fancy. EMA seems a very stupid place to start this trial. I'd have thought a more mainstream airport like BHX or LGW would give more meaning to it.I'd like to see better e-gates here in Budapest for UK nationals. The process still requires passport AND RP scanning which means double time. Surely passport IDs the person, gives a look up to shows a valid RP exists, job done. It's not joined up thinking.The EES terminals abound in Budapest but I've never seen anyone use them. There are 20+ and possibly only 1 or 2 look switched on.One thing in BUD which is quite interesting is a no-touch fingerprint scanner. Just pass hand through the scanner. No need to touch any glass or wot not. - @fluffy2560

If EMA is as you describe it (I've never worked it), then it's the logical place to start; if they encounter the problems the French had at Dover, then the impact is much less; I recall when the MOD switched over to MMARS (mid 80's), which was the BA booking/handling system), we had a paper backup for every aircraft (C-130, VC10 and charters) for the first month, but it worked just fine.  We even had back up personnel trained who could deploy to exercise locations and airfields world-wide that didn't have the hard/software installed, so we could set up field-based flight check-ins and freight handling points; it all worked.

Soon, you won't need to scan your passport; it will be done entirely with facial recognition. 🤯✈️

For those unfamiliar, the current e-gates at UK airports employ facial recognition technology to verify passengers' identities against their passport photographs. Passengers place their open passports on a scanner and look into a camera, rather than interacting with a human officer who looks at their faces. 🤖📸

Queues can sometimes take a while, as it doesn't work for the odd person in the queue, or someone needs a little time to figure it out, perhaps putting their passport on the scanner the wrong way around at first. But a new Government scheme aims to speed it up by removing the passport element. ⏩

A statement reads: "The system uses state-of-the-art facial comparison technology to verify a passenger's identity before the UK's robust border security checks are carried out in full. Legitimate travellers can then simply walk through, without needing to place their passport on the eGate reader.

"If further checks are needed, passengers will need to place their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer, as happens today. Border Force officers will continue to monitor all eGates offering assistance, and passengers should keep their passports with them at all times."

The following UK airports currently have eGates available - and will transition as part of the upgrade by early 2027:

✈️ Birmingham

✈️ Bristol

✈️ Cardiff

✈️ East Midlands

✈️ Edinburgh

✈️ Gatwick

✈️ Glasgow

✈️ Heathrow

✈️ London City

✈️ Luton

⚠️ Important note: This is NOT a "passport-less" journey. 🙅 Border Force explicitly states that passengers still must keep their physical passports with them at all times.

....

The following UK airports currently have eGates available - and will transition as part of the upgrade by early 2027:
✈️ Birmingham
✈️ Bristol
✈️ Cardiff
✈️ East Midlands
✈️ Edinburgh
✈️ Gatwick
✈️ Glasgow
✈️ Heathrow
✈️ London City
✈️ Luton

⚠️ Important note: This is NOT a "passport-less" journey. 🙅 Border Force explicitly states that passengers still must keep their physical passports with them at all times. - @SimCityAT

MAN and LPL are not listed.  I wonder why they aren't included?

@fluffy2560

Maybe at a later date?

If EMA is as you describe it (I've never worked it), then it's the logical place to start; if they encounter the problems the French had at Dover, then the impact is much less; I recall when the MOD switched over to MMARS (mid 80's), which was the BA booking/handling system), we had a paper backup for every aircraft (C-130, VC10 and charters) for the first month, but it worked just fine. We even had back up personnel trained who could deploy to exercise locations and airfields world-wide that didn't have the hard/software installed, so we could set up field-based flight check-ins and freight handling points; it all worked. - @Cynic

Yes, I use the IATA codes and EMA is East Midlands Airport. I pretty much know all the IATA codes without looking them up.   Not the same as the ICAO codes. 

Not sure why they aren't the same but actual flight planning I assume uses ICAO, not IATA.

Life of constant travel and work talk makes it a bit nerdy and a gross assumption others know as well means talking in a kind of jargon cum shorthand which would baffle those not involved.

A lot of IATA codes are easy to guess but the one that always gets me is Canada which seems to have codes that all begin with Y for some reason.   

I'm using Skyscanner to plan and budget trips these days.  I also use FlightRadar24 to try and find routes.  I used to use a travel agent for some obscure and complex journeys but they told me they were going entirely corporate.  Put the kibosh on it and just have to do it myself.     

I'm currently looking at a way to go from BUD (Budapest) to the Asia-Pacific region without going via the Middle East or US territory and returning via Australia via SIN (Singapore) or direct to LHR (London Heathrow) maybe VIE (Vienna).  It seems I could be in the market for a round the world ticket.

@fluffy2560
Maybe at a later date? - @SimCityAT

It might depend who owns the airport.   

MAN is owned by Manchester City Council.  They own a few airports as far as I remember. 

LPL I think is Peel Holdings but maybe it's not true - I think it was before.  It needs a huge investment. It's a scruffy old place.

LBA is also not shown.  LBA is Leeds Bradford.

Update on Doc checklist for Brexit RP Renewal:

Here's what's on my list to make sure I'm totally covered for an OIF (Immigration) visit this coming Monday:

1. House contract showing property number (it's in English and Hungarian)
2. My and Mrs F's birth certificates
3. Marriage certificate and certified translation into Hungarian
4. Kids HU birth certificates
5. Colour passport copy cover-to-cover
6. Payment confirmation (20K HUF paid already by transfer)
7. Original RP, Address Card, HU ID card, Passport etc
8. 4 passport sized photos (these cost me 5800 HUF!)
9. Cash notes and coins, cards, phone for payment options

I cannot see anything missing.  It's probably overkill.

Mrs F is my secret weapon.   I will take all docs also in electronic form on my phone.

I'm expecting a semi-immediate acceptance.

I also will need a paper from them showing my application is pending (4000 HUF) as they will keep my existing RP.

Their processing is expected to take 21 days but I think this is an easy one.  But what do I know about anything.

Update on Doc checklist for Brexit RP Renewal:Here's what's on my list to make sure I'm totally covered for an OIF (Immigration) visit this coming Monday:House contract showing property number (it's in English and Hungarian)My and Mrs F's birth certificatesMarriage certificate and certified translation into HungarianKids HU birth certificatesColour passport copy cover-to-coverPayment confirmation (20K HUF paid already by transfer)Original RP, Address Card, HU ID card, Passport etc4 passport sized photos (these cost me 5800 HUF!)Cash notes and coins, cards, phone for payment optionsI cannot see anything missing. It's probably overkill. Mrs F is my secret weapon. I will take all docs also in electronic form on my phone.I'm expecting a semi-immediate acceptance. I also will need a paper from them showing my application is pending (4000 HUF) as they will keep my existing RP.Their processing is expected to take 21 days but I think this is an easy one. But what do I know about anything. - @fluffy2560

They charged me 39,000 forints for a 10 year PR.

Just to  be aware they may pull out more numbers in the end. Think I noticed a bank scanner at the desk.

I thought it was going to be 20,000 but at the desk they had a different number in mind. OK, better then hiring a lawyer but still.

I took my HU husband with me but he did not say a word. Back up is always nice to have though.

I even had to be the pushy old American lady and say I could not wait because of my age and health; Special treatment? Not really,when I think of what my in-laws and husband have done to support Hungary, they should be kinder to us. 5 years in a POW camp in Siberia, working at age 14 6 days a week for low wages, not asking for a larger flat when 5 people lived in a studio size flat. Oh well, can not live in the past, no one cares in the end and history does not seem real to those who did not experience it.

They charged me 39,000 forints for a 10 year PR.Just to aware they may pull out more numbers in the end.I thought it was going to be 20,000 but at the desk they had a different number in mind. OK, better then hiring a lawyer but still. - @Marilyn Tassy

I wonder why yours was 39K HUF?   I guess they didn't explain.  List of fees is here - I was using their own web site which explicitly says 20K HUF for me (Brexit) - here.

There are a few other web pages for Brexit renewals but possibly contradictory.  The writing style is appalling and the design for ease of use is non-existent.   No-one should need a lawyer for us shoe-ins but I can see it could baffle Einstein.  If I have to do this when I'm 76 and half-senile, then I'll probably need to get my kids to do it for me.   

Somehow this is really small (control+ and control- for zoom in and out in web browser):

They charged me 39,000 forints for a 10 year PR.Just to aware they may pull out more numbers in the end.I thought it was going to be 20,000 but at the desk they had a different number in mind. OK, better then hiring a lawyer but still. - @Marilyn TassyI wonder why yours was 39K HUF? I guess they didn't explain. List of fees is here - I was using their own web site which explicitly says 20K HUF for me (Brexit) - here.There are a few other web pages for Brexit renewals but possibly contradictory. The writing style is appalling and the design for ease of use is non-existent. No-one should need a lawyer for us shoe-ins but I can see it could baffle Einstein. If I have to do this when I'm 76 and half-senile, then I'll probably need to get my kids to do it for me. Somehow this is really small (control+ and control- for zoom in and out in web browser): - @fluffy2560

I was not expecting it to cost 39,000 but again, I was about ready to pay 100,000 for a lawyer.

Was just glad to get it done with.

I saw on google that they charge more if you go in person. Well, since they do not let you get into their online site there is no other choice.

What gets me is there is no other option.

Again, not a big deal, my son piad so much at certain times in differnet stages of his 2 wives getting their US work permits and green cards. He paid the US gov nearly $1,000 for the application for his Japanese wive to become a US citizen; Waited and waited over a year, never got back to him.

He just moved to Japan and forfited the money.

I was willing to call up US immigration but he just no longer wanteed to deal with them.

Good luck on Monday, take a deep breath and know this will pass!

They charged me 39,000 forints for a 10 year PR.Just to aware they may pull out more numbers in the end.I thought it was going to be 20,000 but at the desk they had a different number in mind. OK, better then hiring a lawyer but still. - @Marilyn TassyI wonder why yours was 39K HUF? I guess they didn't explain. List of fees is here - I was using their own web site which explicitly says 20K HUF for me (Brexit) - here.There are a few other web pages for Brexit renewals but possibly contradictory. The writing style is appalling and the design for ease of use is non-existent. No-one should need a lawyer for us shoe-ins but I can see it could baffle Einstein. If I have to do this when I'm 76 and half-senile, then I'll probably need to get my kids to do it for me. Somehow this is really small (control+ and control- for zoom in and out in web browser): - @fluffy2560
I was not expecting it to cost 39,000 but again, I was about ready to pay 100,000 for a lawyer.
Was just glad to get it done with.
I saw on google that they charge more if you go in person. Well, since they do not let you get into their online site there is no other choice.
What gets me is there is no other option.
Again, not a big deal, my son piad so much at certain times in differnet stages of his 2 wives getting their US work permits and green cards. He paid the US gov nearly $1,000 for the application for his Japanese wive to become a US citizen; Waited and waited over a year, never got back to him.
He just moved to Japan and forfited the money.
I was willing to call up US immigration but he just no longer wanteed to deal with them.
Good luck on Monday, take a deep breath and know this will pass! - @Marilyn Tassy

It's not a happy experience to be at Immigration. 

This was all unnecessary before my fellow countrymen lost their marbles and voted for Brexit.

I still don't understand what possessed them to do that.

I know some of my relatives voted for it.  When it comes up,, I've now begun asking them to apologise for voting that way.  Why would anyone vote to screw their relatives over?!  I get inane answers.  No-one can really explain.

I am sure plenty of people regret voting for Brexit. And plenty of people will regret they voted for Trump.  Such is the way of the world these days.

Update on Brexit renewal

Went to Immigration arriving about 09.30 at Budafokioffi Utca 60.  Parked in Tesco car park opposite, then walked through the mall to the correct side of the road.

Entered Customer Service area.  It was busy but not overly so - maybe 50 people in front.  The main thing I noticed is was the entire place has been revamped and reorganised. It was very clean and organised with new signage.   Even tables and drinks machines.  There's a passport photo machine - 2000 HUF for 4 x passport size photos.

There's a receptionist now and  he was triaging whatever was needed.   We got a low number and literally within 5 minutes we were seen.  I had to fill in a form which was a data protection agreement but it was trivial. 

I had uploaded all my docs to the EnterHungary.gov,uk web site and had a case number.  I felt well prepared.

All my preparations seem to been unnecessary - just  needed my passport, old RP, the form, a passport photo and the payment receipt for 20K HUF.   My extra docs like house contract, passport copy, birth certificates and marriage certificate with official translation were not required.   That's actually correct for Brexit Article 50 cards but I thought I'd cover all the bases.  There were a lot of stamps going on, paper in scanners, signatures added, photographed by them in a booth and fingerprints taken. 

They couldn't get my index fingers to scan so it was middle finger on each hand.  They were very polite and business like so I won't make an obvious joke about giving them the middle finger. 

Mainly it's a problem pressing down due to my right hand tremor and my occassional left hand tremor.   Any stress or "delicate work" like trying to hold my hand in a specific position causes the wobbles to start.  It's just normal for me and runs in families aka Essential Tremor.  Fiddly work is becoming harder and harder.  But I digress.

Oddly (perhaps), he gave me back the original RP (which is still valid until Jan 2027) and said the new one would come in the post and then the current RP is superseded.  I use the RP to show to the border guards in order to stop them going bananas with their rubber stamps.  He said the old one will still be acceptable at the airport.  OK, if you say  so.  So I did not have to pay HUF 4000 for an "in progress" certificate as I still have the old one.   His estimate is maybe a week or two before it arrives by registered post. Their target is 21 days. I think it will be faster.

So it was about 09.30h in and here's the point we were back in the car by 10.20h.  Lightning fast.

So I am optimistic there's nothing further from them for at least 10 more years.  I hope I've got enough working brain cells to deal with it then.  2037 seems a long way off.  Maybe by then we'll be speaking Russian.