UK Border Force
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 1
From: Asia
UK Border Force
Is it my imagination or are these people trying to become as difficult to deal with as the infamous US INS ?
On my last two visits to Heathrow they have dared to ask me questions concerning my visit. When visiting other countries I am accustomed to simply handing my passport over and having it stamped and returned. On the first visit I was asked if I had a return ticket ! Next time I listed a hotel as my UK address, the immigration officer asked if I had friends and family in the UK. When I said that I did she asked why I wasn't staying with them !
I am middle aged and have an Australian passport with lots of stamps in it. People like me don't need to be questioned and shouldn't have to queue up in the third world lane with Nigerians and Bangladeshis. I can understand a twenty something backpacker may arouse suspicion for wanting to work illegally, but grey hairs and employed in a good job usually means you're not going to be looking for bar work in a pub in Earls Court.
Rant over.
On my last two visits to Heathrow they have dared to ask me questions concerning my visit. When visiting other countries I am accustomed to simply handing my passport over and having it stamped and returned. On the first visit I was asked if I had a return ticket ! Next time I listed a hotel as my UK address, the immigration officer asked if I had friends and family in the UK. When I said that I did she asked why I wasn't staying with them !
I am middle aged and have an Australian passport with lots of stamps in it. People like me don't need to be questioned and shouldn't have to queue up in the third world lane with Nigerians and Bangladeshis. I can understand a twenty something backpacker may arouse suspicion for wanting to work illegally, but grey hairs and employed in a good job usually means you're not going to be looking for bar work in a pub in Earls Court.
Rant over.
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 866
Likes: 7
From: Simply Towers.
"On my last two visits to Heathrow they have dared to ask me questions concerning my visit".
Well fancy that. Border control asking such questions of foriegn Nationals. i bet that never happens back in Australia eh?
Well fancy that. Border control asking such questions of foriegn Nationals. i bet that never happens back in Australia eh?
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 1
From: world
It's their job. You should see what we Brits endure arriving in Australia mate! Same in the USA for that matter. These officials are trained to spot any telltale signs in your body language and your answers. Just accept the questions and answer them honestly and without sarcasm. You will be on your way in no time, no worries!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: Malaga
People like me don't need to be questioned and shouldn't have to queue up in the third world lane with Nigerians and Bangladeshis
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
I think you get the odd one or two difficult to deal with persons at the border. Not sure what 'people like you are' but we Brits are treated a lot worse dunnunda. My very worst experience was my partner's gran being treated like dirt entering through SYD when she was almost 90 and suffering from dementia. Actually being shouted at. Welcome to Oz, ey? Well over a decade later the other half still tears up talking about it.
Just like you we have a right to protect our border and if the odd little questions here or there annoys people then that's just tough.
Just like you we have a right to protect our border and if the odd little questions here or there annoys people then that's just tough.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 1
From: Asia
Perhaps 'people like me' should invest £70/year in the Registered Traveller Scheme to avoid the 'smellies'. I think there's a box on the application form where you can add 'Reason for Application - Sense of Entitlement'
Seriously a middle aged Australian couple of the paler shade aren't a high risk for immigration anywhere. The "in your face" attitude of the British immigration officials of West African origin doesn't go down too well. The UK has a serious immigration problem from the third world and Eastern Europe, not the antipodes and some staff training in the area of who needs extra attention would not go amiss.
Australian immigration officials are generally courteous but as in any country you can usually find one who's having an off day. US immigration are a different matter.
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Neither do pale skinned 90 year olds. Didn't stop her being shouted at and treated like dirt in SYD. The fact of the matter is you never know. Do you think UK visitors to Australia just flash the passport and get in no questions asked?
Should we have a queue for whites and one for the darker skinned visitor? Or should an Australian passport give you free entitlement to the fast track queue?
I'm not sure if it's been a while since you've been here but your attitudes remind me a bit of the late 80s in the UK. We've moved on. I suggest you do too before you really offend someone!!
Should we have a queue for whites and one for the darker skinned visitor? Or should an Australian passport give you free entitlement to the fast track queue?
I'm not sure if it's been a while since you've been here but your attitudes remind me a bit of the late 80s in the UK. We've moved on. I suggest you do too before you really offend someone!!
Guest
Posts: n/a
The UK border force is making arrival into the UK (even as a UK / EEA national) an unnecessary pain.
By all means control the border but do it, as it was done previously, before the idiot Theresa May found out - that is by officers using their intelligence to target the people they need to question in greater detail.
Meticulously checking everyone's passport is largely unnecessary, and creates irritation for visitors and UK citizens returning to the UK alike - just look at the Stansted thread in "Airlines, Airports & Routes" to see that. The current system does little to enhance the UK's appeal as a tourist destination.
Of course, we could just join Schengen - but that ain't about to happen.
By all means control the border but do it, as it was done previously, before the idiot Theresa May found out - that is by officers using their intelligence to target the people they need to question in greater detail.
Meticulously checking everyone's passport is largely unnecessary, and creates irritation for visitors and UK citizens returning to the UK alike - just look at the Stansted thread in "Airlines, Airports & Routes" to see that. The current system does little to enhance the UK's appeal as a tourist destination.
Of course, we could just join Schengen - but that ain't about to happen.
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 866
Likes: 7
From: Simply Towers.
Perhaps we should let them do their job? Im sure they have been briefed and know what they are doing.
Okay like in any occupation there will be the odd OTT Power crazy type or someone having a bad day but generally they have a job to do, they know better than us who they are looking for and why on a specific day/flight or whatever.
Reference to the individuals skin colour and comments like " People like me" say more about the OP than the Border Agency.
Okay like in any occupation there will be the odd OTT Power crazy type or someone having a bad day but generally they have a job to do, they know better than us who they are looking for and why on a specific day/flight or whatever.
Reference to the individuals skin colour and comments like " People like me" say more about the OP than the Border Agency.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
From: Confoederatio Helvetica
Registered Travel Scheme
£50 bleeding pounds a year and just that lets you through the EU/EEA queue? At some airports the others queue is often shorter.
What a
rip-off
I'd pay £50* for five years, but not for one!
*Plus the £20 administrative fee ...
What a
rip-offI'd pay £50* for five years, but not for one!
*Plus the £20 administrative fee ...
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 1
From: Asia
Should we have a queue for whites and one for the darker skinned visitor? Or should an Australian passport give you free entitlement to the fast track queue?
There is talk about certain countries linking up passport control so that a Singaporean visiting Australia for example, could use the automatic lanes currently limited to Australian passport holders. Obviously this would be limited to countries with low overstay/problem rates and where the integrity of the passport system wasn't in doubt.
At least in the 1980s immigration officers were polite and well mannered when dealing with visitors.
I think you will find that Australia has a greater problem with illegal immigrants from the UK than vice versa.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,726
Likes: 103
From: The Winchester
There is talk about certain countries linking up passport control so that a Singaporean visiting Australia for example, could use the automatic lanes currently limited to Australian passport holders.
FWIW those lanes at SYD are now available to us Poms, possibly other nationalities as well, and worked fine last week (both inbound and outbound)..shame really, I never did have a chance to chat about the cricket
Mind you if LHR and the "EU passport" experience is anything to go by once you open up the "automated" lanes to all comers the queues grow to such an extent that it's a toss up between going automated or sticking with the personal process..
.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 6
From: Lemonia. Best Greek in the world
Aussie border guards
I used to travel to aus a few times a year. For a Brit going in to Aus on business, they normally treated me worse than the OP described. I worked for a multinational that was well known and well regarded in Aus.
I just thought they were doing their job.
Nothing to moan about.
I just thought they were doing their job.
Nothing to moan about.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 649
Likes: 4
From: Edinburgh
The best immigration experience I ever had was in Pyongyang 2 years ago.
Officer (smiling, while looking at my various stamps): "Where you come from?"
Me: "Scotland"
Officer (still smiling, stamping my passport): "Another one for you."
I moved on to baggage reclaim in less than 2 minutes from entering the terminal.
Worst was Chicago one year previous to that where I was more or less interrogated and spoken to like a child when I told them I was leaving the USA 2 weeks later from TPA. They seemed confused as to why someone would leave from another state to the one they entered! Explaining I was visiting friends in IL and family in FL only seemed to draw more questions.
Fast forward to last summer and I more or less strolled into the USA (this time in SFO) and the CBP officer even thought my North Korean visa was "pretty neat".
Officer (smiling, while looking at my various stamps): "Where you come from?"
Me: "Scotland"
Officer (still smiling, stamping my passport): "Another one for you."
I moved on to baggage reclaim in less than 2 minutes from entering the terminal.
Worst was Chicago one year previous to that where I was more or less interrogated and spoken to like a child when I told them I was leaving the USA 2 weeks later from TPA. They seemed confused as to why someone would leave from another state to the one they entered! Explaining I was visiting friends in IL and family in FL only seemed to draw more questions.
Fast forward to last summer and I more or less strolled into the USA (this time in SFO) and the CBP officer even thought my North Korean visa was "pretty neat".
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Rawtenstall
Easiest passport control for me has to be Naples, where the Italian border guards seem determined to get back to their espressos as quickly as possible, and simply waive you past if you have anything resembling a passport in your hand 
