Any visa advantage if you're a UK citizen's relative?

[jmorganlondon]

I ask this question on behalf of my friend. He is originally from Vietnam but now he has a British passport.

His mother in Vietnam wants to apply for a visa to France.

To your knowledge, is there any EU law that says a relative to a British citizen, living in Vietnam, may have some advantage if applying for a Schenge visa to France.

I understand that Vietnamese people may have some paperwork difficulty when they apply in Vietnam. So in this case, does the mother have any advantage?

Thank you

[Donutz]

EU/EEA family members traveling to an other EU/EEA memberstate fall under directive 2004/38/EC "freedom of movement" and therefor are entitled to move freely through the member states. However it's best to get a visa in advance.
See:
1) http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens...y/index_en.htm
2) English (and other language) PDFs with the actual directive, first few articles should be useful (1-6).

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32004L0038

The visa should be free, issued ASAP, with minimum hassle and minimum documents.
a) proof that you are family (marriage act for spouses, birthcertificate for other direct family), best if ti's certified by the relevant authorities (check with your embassy) and officially translated.
b) ID yourselves with passports (EU and non EU family member)
c) Show that you will be traveling together to an EU/EEA state that the EU national is not a national of: statement from the EU family member, possibly flight reservations. Hotelbookings, insurance etc. is not required which should be obvious from the sources in point 1 and 2.

[jmorganlondon]

Thank you so much for your kind advice.

However, someone told me that in Vietnam, they have to go through the formalities of applying for a visa, usually in person. Even if the mother held a Home Office issued UK residence card, the situation is much the same: visa required.