Clearing Gatwick Customs & Immigration

I took serious offence to the IO at Orlando Int'l when he referred to my family as "three US citizens and one alien."

ALIEN?  Does he have antennae coming out of his head I haven't noticed?  ALIEN?  He wasn't trying to immigrate - just visit Disney World, FFS...

Alien, indeed...

I've got quizzed extensively at Gatwick immigration when I came to visit my boyfriend in April. What does he do? How did you meet? When is he coming to see you? Etc.

I'm actually wondering - since I have a job interview when I go this time (leaving tonight) should I say I'm coming in on business?

Man Gatwick was terrible for me! I nearly pee'd my pants. The guy looked like Ed from Shaun of the Dead. I assumed he would be friendly. He almost didn't let us through because we didn't have our hotels sorted out.  Scared to death. If you get detained does that mean your getting sent back? Or do they just hold you and then let you go?

Ash

I've got quizzed extensively at Gatwick immigration when I came to visit my boyfriend in April. What does he do? How did you meet? When is he coming to see you? Etc.

I'm actually wondering - since I have a job interview when I go this time (leaving tonight) should I say I'm coming in on business?

Didn't you mention earlier that you have Polish citizenship?  If so, and you have a Polish passport, you should be able to go through the UK/EU line w/o any issue.

bvamin

If you get detained does that mean your getting sent back? Or do they just hold you and then let you go?

Ash

Getting detained doesn't mean you're automatically going to be sent back. It just means they need to question you further. I've been detained twice. The first time was at Heathrow and I was detained for over 6 hours and denied entry. They let me go for the night to get a hotel room but I had to be back the next morning for my flight. The second time I got detained was in Newcastle and it was for a couple hours while they got my records from Heathrow and while they searched my luggage (this is standard when you're detained) and they interviewed me. They also went out to the main terminal to find my boyfriend and ask him lots of questions. After about 2 hours they let me go but I was only granted entry for 1 month instead of getting the normal 6 month stamp.

Man why were you denied entry if you don't mind me asking. I just don't want that to happen to me it would scare me to death. I'll be there in a few weeks for about 2 weeks to see my boyfriend. Im staying with him as well.

Ash

Didn't you mention earlier that you have Polish citizenship?  If so, and you have a Polish passport, you should be able to go through the UK/EU line w/o any issue.

bvamin

Hah, indeed - my freshly renewed Polish passport arrived just last week and I'm still in denial about wielding it.

I'm actually wondering - since I have a job interview when I go this time (leaving tonight) should I say I'm coming in on business?

I would recommend that you do not say that you're over "for business". I said this once in Canada and had big problems since they were afraid that I was going to be paid in Canada without a legal right to work! The first time I came to the UK I said it was for a job interview and that was ok - but as I recall I was asked to show my return ticket and evidence that I had something in the US to return to (like a job!)

On other matters, I held ILR for years and generally got some kind of questions - where are you working, how did you get ILR, are you still at such and such? I've always answered quickly and confidently and there never was a problem. I think a big part of it is walking up with the expection of sailing through; in one of my recent trips I was running for a connection and the IO commented on how I had strode (stridden?) up to the counter. I told her that I had 20 minutes until my flight because of a late arrival and that was it, no questions at all.

I've only been asked once in the US. Same as someone earlier here - how did you get the passport? An indignant "I was born here" and that was it.

Man why were you denied entry if you don't mind me asking. I just don't want that to happen to me it would scare me to death. I'll be there in a few weeks for about 2 weeks to see my boyfriend. Im staying with him as well.

Ash

I wouldn't worry too much. I had never traveled out of the country before so I was really naive and didn't bother doing much research on getting through immigration. I knew I could come over to the UK as a visitor for 6 months so that's what I planned on doing. When I got there, I had a return ticket for 5 1/2 months later and my boyfriend was going to be supporting me while I was there. Well, the length of my trip flagged me and I got pulled aside while the immigration officer phoned my boyfriend to check out my story. Then I got detained...  In the end, the immigration officer told me that they were denying me entry because I wouldn't be able to support myself for six months if Peter decided not to. However, she wrote something completely different on the official documents! She stated in writing that she didn't believe I was intending to come in as a "visitor" and that she thought I might overstay my visa.

Honestly, if you're only planning on coming over for a two week stay, I'm sure you'll be fine. I didn't mean to scare you. It's just good to bring along evidence that you have something to return to back home. Like, a letter from your employer stating they are expecting you back to work on a certain date.

Im an extreme worrier lol. Esp since I haven't seen him since March and even then it was for a day and a half. I wanna make sure I cover all the bases. Do you think its okay to just carry a visa card? Or should I get money in advance. I wasn't going to be paying for anything either such as food or accomodation. Hes taking care of it all. The last time I was there was for Uni Interviews.  I don't think theyd ask why I was there the last time. But if they did I guess I'd just tell them thats what I was here for and hopefully i wouldn't seem shady. Lol Im not even up to anything and they have me worried! Oh well I suppose its their job.

Ash

Ash I have been to the UK 6 times, all of those to visit my boyfriend now fiancee and I was NEVER  detained or questioned past the usual.
Here is my advice to you..... When asked what is the purpose of your Visit, say Holiday (after all you are indeed on a holiday, right?).  When asked where you will be staying, say with a Friend(s), in whatever city(after all you boyfriend is your friend, right?)  When asked how long you will be saying, say 14days or 2 weeks.. which is a normal holiday for the UK so they shouldn't question it.
  NEVER say that you are there to visit a boyfriend.. some may disagree but it will only lead to more questions and possible detainment if not being sent back.... but having said that you don't need to lie, if questioned further about your friend you are staying with, tell them honestly who he is, if questioned further tell them how/where you met, but there really is no need to tell them what kind of "friendship" you have or how serious your relationship is. (IMO)
  Too many details or too much info offered(don't offer any info until asked) makes Passport control suspicious.  Kept it short and sweet... if they ask you how you are when you first walk up to the desk, say you are tired.. after all you just came off of a Loooong flight and if/when you trip over your words (because you are nervous) you can blame it on being tired (because you are:D).   
  Good Luck and remember to have fun while in the UK

Yeah I guess that makes sense. Just say I'm here to visit some friends. Which is true. I don't want to get all nervous like last time. They smell fear! I met him the last time I was over there. It feels like I'm lieing. But i'm not lol.  Do you think just bringing a visa card is okay? Or will they think I don't have enough money to take care of myself. I'll bring my e-ticket too so I have proof of return. It shouldn't be too bad since im only there for 2 weeks or so. I think Im gonna be stressed about it till Im past that counter.

Ash

Just having a credit card  with you is not going to be okay.  if you dont have any money with you, they will be very suspicious indeed.

Dang, these stories are frightening!  I've never had a problem at Gatwick or coming back in the US - just 'Welcome Home'. 

Just having a credit card with you is not going to be okay. if you dont have any money with you, they will be very suspicious indeed.

  I usually carry a little cash ($50) and my credit/debit when I go over, but I have never been asked how much money I had with me or if I had any with me at all.