Clearing Gatwick Customs & Immigration

Hello all,

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, but I suppose it falls under the description of a general topic. 

I'm flying into Gatwick tomorrow (yea!) to see my fiance.  Considering that I'm planning to move there after we're married in October, I'm taking my full baggage allowance of stuff to leave.  How likely is this to cause me a problem?  If I'm questioned, should I just be blunt and say I'm going to visit my fiance and this is stuff I'm leaving?  Or should I say I'm seeing friends and these are "gifts"?  I'd rather just be honest, but I don't want to be put on a watch list or be interrogated after flying (which I hate anyway) all night -- not that it would ever be fun.  Can someone please give me some advice on this? 

Cheers,
Jenn

You go through immigration before you get your bags and go through customs, so it won't be an issue. Don't worry. Good idea, by-the-way!!! 

If you are just visiting (with proof of return ticket) and haven't previously overstayed your welcome in the past you probably won't be stopped.  If you do get stopped by immigration, then yes, be honest because they will probably escort you to baggage and go through your stuff with a fine tooth comb.   The last thing you want to do is get caught in a lie.   If you aren't stopped by immigration, Customs won't bat an eye at 3 suitcases.

anne is right, you don't have your bags at customs!

and if they ask abotu fiancees etc. tell them the truth and prove you know the process etc.  that's all they care about

i'd get asked and mention fiancee and they'd say where ya gonna live? and i'd say 'after we marry i'm going to the NY consulate and getting my spouse visa to come here'

no probs. 

As long as you don't get detained by immigration for some reason, then I agree that you should be fine.

I've been detained twice and both times they went through EVERYTHING in my luggage. I was asked what I needed certain things for. They photocopied things like my address book and some pieces of mail I had with me. I've read someone else's experience of the immigration officer reading their diary as well.

If you don't have a fiance visa yet... I think it could cause problems. Again, only if you're detained. But seeing certain things might make them think you are planning on overstaying your visa and not going through the proper channels. I'd say be careful with this. I may be more cautious about these things than other people because of my bad experiences...

I hope you enjoy your trip and good luck with everything!

Thanks for the advice.  That's what I'd rather do since, as they say, honesty is the best  policy and all that.  I will have proof of return (even if it is an eticket) and anyway, if I skipped out on my own wedding by not coming back my mother would be less than thrilled  

Don't worry too much - they sense fear.  Seriously, even though a few people here have had trouble (amongthestars that sucks - what a nightmare experience!), I came back and forth a good four times the year I met my dh. I was always totally honest about what I was doing - always said I was visiting my boyfriend (I think the word fiancee makes them nervous) and though a couple times they asked a few more detailed questions (On various occaisions I got: how did you meet? how much money do you have with you? what do you do for a living? how long are you staying?) but they always waived me through. Be totally honest, don't be scared, and maybe don't use the "f" word if you don't have to (after all, he IS your boyfriend - save the fiancee word until you have that visa.) And have a great trip!

Thanks for the advice.  That's what I'd rather do since, as they say, honesty is the best  policy and all that.  I will have proof of return (even if it is an eticket) and anyway, if I skipped out on my own wedding by not coming back my mother would be less than thrilled  

Like I said, I'm probably more paranoid than everyone else because of my bad immigration experiences... so I just wanted to say that having a return ticket might not be good enough. I had one and I still got denied entry. But....if you have anything at all to show that you're planning a wedding in the states (invitations, catering contracts...anything) then I'd recommend bringing something like that as proof. I think with that everything would be fine even if you got detained for some reason.

anne is right, you don't have your bags at customs!

I assume you meant at immigration, not customs.

bvamin

Speaking of this, every time my son and I have come back from the states, I've been asked different, SURPRISING, questions while going through passport control. My son, who is 2 years old, and was born here in England, and we both have I.L.R. stamped on both our passports. Yet the people seeing us through, want to question us!! I had thought, perhaps ignorantly, that once we had I.L.R. , we would be ok coming and going! Yet they keep asking weird questions!! What does your husband do. Is he still doing the same job since you came here. What qualified you for the I.L.R. My husband said, this last time, to just tell them, "It's YOUR home office!!!! You tell me!!!" Honestly, I dunno what they want from me! I am legal here dammit!!!! Why the goofy questions?? Or do I just bring out the smart-aleckyness in people?

Speaking of this, every time my son and I have come back from the states, I've been asked different, SURPRISING, questions while going through passport control. My son, who is 2 years old, and was born here in England, and we both have I.L.R. stamped on both our passports. Yet the people seeing us through, want to question us!! I had thought, perhaps ignorantly, that once we had I.L.R. , we would be ok coming and going! Yet they keep asking weird questions!! What does your husband do. Is he still doing the same job since you came here. What qualified you for the I.L.R. My husband said, this last time, to just tell them, "It's YOUR home office!!!! You tell me!!!" Honestly, I dunno what they want from me! I am legal here dammit!!!! Why the goofy questions?? Or do I just bring out the smart-aleckyness in people?

I get similar questions when going back to the US (I am a US citizen).  I was once asked "How did I get my US passport?"  I wanted to say, "I applied for it."  LOL

bvamin

That's wierd, the U.S. people just scooch us through without any questions at all.

I assume you meant at immigration, not customs.

bvamin

yup.    duh.  wake up amy! 

I get similar questions when going back to the US (I am a US citizen).  I was once asked "How did I get my US passport?"  I wanted to say, "I applied for it."  LOL

bvamin

Wow, thought it was just me.  Last time we went back to the US, I got asked "How long have you been a US citizen?"  Floored me slighty before I replied "All my life"  Yet didn't ask DH a single thing. 

I often get weird questions coming back into the US - even some really personal questions about my relationship. I find it highly annoying and don't really see what purpose it serves - passports clearly show your place of birth so there should be no question as to why you're allowed to be there.