Flying into the UK

[Mark UK 3]

Hi, gang,

A quick question (and something that I've asked about before, sort of).

My wife and I are visiting the UK next week for the first time since I emigrated to the US of A. I now have a US passport, so I have dual citizenship, but she only has a US passport.

If I was travelling alone, I would leave the US and enter the UK with my British passport (on the outboard flight) and leave the UK and enter the UK with my American passport (on the inboard flight).

I guess my question is what do we do when we arrive in Manchester and have to go through immigration? It's been five years since I flew into the UK, so I don't really remember, but will my wife have to go through non-EU citizen immigration and for me to go through EU citizen immigration? Or can we both go through the same line together?

She's worried about getting lost in the airport. I told her that I didn't think Manchester Airport was quite THAT big and daunting

Mark

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Hi, gang,

A quick question (and something that I've asked about before, sort of).

My wife and I are visiting the UK next week for the first time since I emigrated to the US of A. I now have a US passport, so I have dual citizenship, but she only has a US passport.

If I was travelling alone, I would leave the US and enter the UK with my British passport (on the outboard flight) and leave the UK and enter the UKUS with my American passport (on the inboard flight).

I guess my question is what do we do when we arrive in Manchester and have to go through immigration? It's been five years since I flew into the UK, so I don't really remember, but will my wife have to go through non-EU citizen immigration and for me to go through EU citizen immigration? Or can we both go through the same line together?

She's worried about getting lost in the airport. I told her that I didn't think Manchester Airport was quite THAT big and daunting

Mark

Needed the fix.

Looking at the maps, it certainly is much smaller than Heathrow (or even the much-simpler Gatwick).

[marlea 84]

Hi, gang,

A quick question (and something that I've asked about before, sort of).

My wife and I are visiting the UK next week for the first time since I emigrated to the US of A. I now have a US passport, so I have dual citizenship, but she only has a US passport.

If I was travelling alone, I would leave the US and enter the UK with my British passport (on the outboard flight) and leave the UK and enter the UK with my American passport (on the inboard flight).

I guess my question is what do we do when we arrive in Manchester and have to go through immigration? It's been five years since I flew into the UK, so I don't really remember, but will my wife have to go through non-EU citizen immigration and for me to go through EU citizen immigration? Or can we both go through the same line together?

She's worried about getting lost in the airport. I told her that I didn't think Manchester Airport was quite THAT big and daunting

Mark

You can go through the Non-EU line with her. The main reason they have two lines is so that EU citizens, who don't have to be questioned as much (or even at all), can zip through without having to wait in line. If you go through separate lines, you will get through much more quickly than she will. But you are allowed to go through the non-EU line so that you can go through together. But, you should still use your UK passport to enter the UK.

[*julez* 124]

When we visit the UK, my Brit waits in the non-EU line with me and uses his UK passport.

[Mark UK 3]

Perfect. Thanks, guys. And, yes, I did need that correction

[Ellie-and-David 38]

Thanks for asking this question. I am flying home to the UK on Weds for the first time since I came here last year and was wondering whether I should wait in the line with hubby or not.

I think I will. Plus, last time I flew back into Heathrow, It was quicker to get through immigration as a foreign passport holder than a citizen. All the blue passports were whizzing by, whilst I stood in line...cold and depressed to be back home!

[amykathleen2005 441]

Last time I was at Manchester I just was able to walk in. No one wanted to see any passports, etc. That was when they were doing construction about 2 years ago. I even went up to the guard to be sure that I hadn't accidentally missed something and he said I could just go.

Edited August 30, 2010 by amykathleen2005

[*julez* 124]

I flew into Manchester in 5/10, 7/09, 2/09, 7/08 and 1/08 - every time we all had to show passports. The OP should be prepared to show his passport.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Last time I was at Manchester I just was able to walk in. No one wanted to see any passports, etc. That was when they were doing construction about 2 years ago. I even went up to the guard to be sure that I hadn't accidentally missed something and he said I could just go.

You too? I wonder if those immigration guys at Manchester are trying to make up for all that now...

[Rob and Jill 82]

If memory serves, both lines were fairly short in Manchester. I think there were 2-3 officers working and it didn't take TOO long to get through the lines. I also remember being upstairs, so maybe that depends on the flights, but there was room if I needed to find someone it would have easily happened.

Still, I would want Rob to stand in line with me since there is an option!

[Mark UK 3]

Worry not, I'm all prepared to show my passport

I'd be funny if, for all the worrying my wife's doing, she didn't even have to show a passport!

[Krikit 1,165]

My last flight to Manchester I stood in the visitors line with my husband (USC) but I used my Canadian passport. I was interested to see how they would react to me using the Canadian passport -- since it was the first time I'd done so -- because it lists my birthplace as the UK. No problems whatsoever. Same with Heathrow a few weeks later. I can't believe some of you got through without having to go through Customs!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I am actually quite intrigued by it. How can it be possible? Apparently it is!

[amykathleen2005 441]

I am actually quite intrigued by it. How can it be possible? Apparently it is!

They were doing construction and I believe had rerouted everyone around to another baggage area for domestic flights, therefore bypassing customs.

[heishe 2]

Hey, you all are probably gone on your trips by now, but I wanted to add that my hubby (UK citizen) and I (US citizen) went through the EU citizen line at Heathrow last May with no problems. He went in front and introduced me as his spouse. This worked fine at every EU airport we visited on that trip.

EU immigration law says "Family members who do not have the nationality of a Member State enjoy the same rights as the citizen who they have accompanied." We interpreted that to mean I could hit up the citizen line, and it went fine.

The law I mentioned:

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learning/l33152_en.htm