UK Border Force
Originally Posted by theredbarron
The "in your face" attitude of the British immigration officials of West African origin" tells me all I need to know about you Metro Man. I'd suggest that racists like yourself ought to be permanently banned from entering the UK.
The fact that I don't like an "in your face attitude" does not make me a racist. An attitude like that is best left behind in the country of origin where it belongs. Are good manners and common courtesy too much to expect from officials ?
The worst one I can remember was at the U.S. Embassy in London back in the 1990s. A visa interview with the most sarcastic bitch (white) that I have ever come across. Of course they know you have to bite your tongue and put up with it if you want the stamp.
The worst one I can remember was at the U.S. Embassy in London back in the 1990s. A visa interview with the most sarcastic bitch (white) that I have ever come across. Of course they know you have to bite your tongue and put up with it if you want the stamp.
Paxing All Over The World
A USA Republican candidate has a plan for visitors: Chris Christie: Republican presidential hopeful calls for visitors to US to be tracked like FedEx packages - Americas - World - The Independent
A USA Republican candidate has a plan for visitors: Chris Christie: Republican presidential hopeful calls for visitors to US to be tracked like FedEx packages - Americas - World - The Independent
I think there was a gent in central Europe that tried a similar scheme in the mid 20th century - his name escapes me but I think he might have been a failed Austrian art student!
At least this "loony tune" looks as though he has less chance than some of the others in the republican race of getting the nomination.
Should be fun; I suppose on arrival at the US Border you'll have a bar code imprinted on your forehead, enabling a visitor to be tracked through scanners in shopping malls, theme parks, fast food restaurants etc. etc.
Paxing All Over The World
The only problem I can see farci, is that - when the bar code does not scan first time, you'll have to walk backwards and forwards until it beeps. Or wait for the supervisor. 
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To be fair, as a UK passport holder entering major airports in Australia you can use the SmartGates, along with a handful of other nationalities.
I arrived in LHR a few days ago, as a British passport holder with my 4 year old Son on his British passport, so couldn't use the electronic gates, queued for 45 mins and then were asked quite a few questions about our travel history and where we are going (both of us have passports which are 70% full of stamps from a wide variety of countries).
I arrived in LHR a few days ago, as a British passport holder with my 4 year old Son on his British passport, so couldn't use the electronic gates, queued for 45 mins and then were asked quite a few questions about our travel history and where we are going (both of us have passports which are 70% full of stamps from a wide variety of countries).
On all of my most recent trips to the USA, (Atlanta, San Francisco, JFK) I have met nice, chatty, pleasant and smiling Border Police. One even cracked a joke about the hotel I was using for the first night.
It didn't use to be like that. Have they been sent on customer service courses?
Or is it more likely to be my sharply decreasing amount of very grey hair?
The Aussies this year (Jan 2015) were the same as they have ever been. Thorough and professional. They had the cheek, just like the OP's encounter with the Brits, to ask me questions!!
It didn't use to be like that. Have they been sent on customer service courses?
Or is it more likely to be my sharply decreasing amount of very grey hair?
The Aussies this year (Jan 2015) were the same as they have ever been. Thorough and professional. They had the cheek, just like the OP's encounter with the Brits, to ask me questions!!
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Returned to UK last week from Spain,to be met with a queue for Uk passport control/border farce.
Approx 420 (counted with my own eyes) people in front of us waiting to enter the uk,no E passport gate here.
Eventually get to the passport control officer,hand over passport they stick it in their machine and officer says "the photograph does not resemble you".
I replied " it did when I joined the queue" passport handed back to me from a very silent officer.
.
Approx 420 (counted with my own eyes) people in front of us waiting to enter the uk,no E passport gate here.
Eventually get to the passport control officer,hand over passport they stick it in their machine and officer says "the photograph does not resemble you".
I replied " it did when I joined the queue" passport handed back to me from a very silent officer.
.
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I've found immigration in most places to be surly but acceptable. Never really liked going into Oz (have flown into Melbourne, Perth and Sydney) - bit of an attitude, confirmed by many friends and colleagues.
Best experience by far - US immigration at Orlando with my family, officer was lovely with the kids and even stamped the girls' pretend "stuffed toy" passports with the official stamp.
Worst experience by far - UK border control at East Midlands, same trip. Wouldn't even let my daughters (9 and 4) hold hands in the zig-zag line to passport control. I sincerely hope those
all suffer from bleeding haemorrhoids, it's the very least I could wish on them.
Best experience by far - US immigration at Orlando with my family, officer was lovely with the kids and even stamped the girls' pretend "stuffed toy" passports with the official stamp.
Worst experience by far - UK border control at East Midlands, same trip. Wouldn't even let my daughters (9 and 4) hold hands in the zig-zag line to passport control. I sincerely hope those
all suffer from bleeding haemorrhoids, it's the very least I could wish on them.
