When passing checks at the border, each citizen receives a stamp in his passport, allowing entry into the country.

On a standard stamp, the date of entry or exit is indicated in red numbers, the name of the country with which the border was crossed is indicated in Latin letters, as well as the name of the checkpoint and the number of the shift that carried out the check are mentioned. The corresponding icon also reflects the way of crossing the border - the icon of an airplane, train, or car.

However, there are cases when, instead of the usual stamp, the border guard puts its crossed-out analogue in the passport and indicates the letter next to it. What does this mean and when can I get a similar mark on my passport?

If the check at the border has not been passed and you are not allowed into the country, then a stamp will appear on your passport. The letter tells why it was denied entry into the country. Also, the border guard must fill out an additional form, which will detail the reason for the refusal. He must provide a copy of it to the citizen. Check this document carefully, because if you file an appeal, incorrectly entered data will complicate the process. The form will also indicate how long the ban will last.

Letter decoding:

• A - the document presented at the border crossing is invalid (passport or other permit);

• B - the document has signs of a fake;

• C - no visa (or other document allowing you to stay in the country);

• D - the visa has signs of a fake;

• E - there are no documents confirming the purpose of the trip;

• F – violation of the period of stay in the Schengen area within the visa-free regime (90 or 180 days);

• G - insufficient funds to stay in the Schengen area;

• H – the term of the ban on entry, which was introduced earlier, has not expired;

• I - the border guard believes that the citizen is a threat to security or order in the EU.