UK Border Security

[Jean Desses 0]

Well when they start asking questions, you gotta answer so that's all you could do. I never called my UK "friend" my fiance ...as in never referred to him by that term to him or friends or famiily. (Maybe on VJ I did) He never proposed and I didn't get an engagement ring. But when we went back to England married, he breezed through the UK line and I got in visitors. (Didn't know I could go through with him.) I said I was visiting my husband's family. Then the questions flew at me. What are their names? Where do they live? Is your husband a UK citizen? Where does he live? Where is he now?...right behind you waiting for me to get through this queue. I guess husband, like fiance was the magic word.

It would be so nice to be able to go through customs with my fiance, but I imagine I can only do that once we're married?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

It would be so nice to be able to go through customs with my fiance, but I imagine I can only do that once we're married?

I think you mean "immigration control". Customs has to do with your baggage and personal items.

I still go through visitor's and let him go through the UK line. I really don't want to go through the family ties questions. I say I'm on holiday.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

The first time my fiance came to visit me last year he flew into Ireland then into Cardiff so I didnt have to drive to Heathrow. At Ireland, they didnt stamp his passport so when he arrived at Cardiff they were super suspicious of him and went through his bags while they held him for an hour. I had a interview with the guy holding him to verify our story. Everytime hes come here since, hes been held and Ive been questioned. Its super annoying! Theres nothing I can do about this right?

I don't understand this. Is this because of the new terminal at Dublin? Or did he have a "through" ticket (not a connecting flight) and wasn't required to go through immigration?

Seven years ago I flew into Dublin. I had a separate flight afterwards to Donegal. I had to go collect my bags and go through Irish immigration, then check my bags back in for my flight onto Donegal. Three years ago I had to do the same when I had a non-connecting flight into Londonderry.

Even with the new terminal, I'm having a hard time believing he wasn't stamped in at Dublin. Are you sure the problem wasn't that he didn't go through immigration at Cardiff? That's a known problem for non-UK citizens who land first in Ireland. Because of the common travel area, visitors flying from Ireland into the UK don't get a stamp. And yeah it can be problematic.

[xjoseyx 19]

I don't understand this. Is this because of the new terminal at Dublin? Or did he have a "through" ticket (not a connecting flight) and wasn't required to go through immigration?

Seven years ago I flew into Dublin. I had a separate flight afterwards to Donegal. I had to go collect my bags and go through Irish immigration, then check my bags back in for my flight onto Donegal. Three years ago I had to do the same when I had a non-connecting flight into Londonderry.

Even with the new terminal, I'm having a hard time believing he wasn't stamped in at Dublin. Are you sure the problem wasn't that he didn't go through immigration at Cardiff? That's a known problem for non-UK citizens who land first in Ireland. Because of the common travel area, visitors flying from Ireland into the UK don't get a stamp. And yeah it can be problematic.

He flew into Dublin because they have a US immigration centre. They were closed when he arrived as it was around 4am. He didnt have to re-check his bags , they were loaded onto his flight to Cardiff. Im not sure what kind of ticket he had. He definately went through Cardiff because I got interviewed by the officer there. I guess hes just going to be picked up everytime he comes here now.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

There is no immigration control on flights between the Republic and Britain....I have never flown from Dublin to Heathrow and encountered an immigration officer at the Heathrow end. Occasionally there will be someone on the Dublin end but you have to ask to be stamped.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

He flew into Dublin because they have a US immigration centre. They were closed when he arrived as it was around 4am. He didnt have to re-check his bags , they were loaded onto his flight to Cardiff. Im not sure what kind of ticket he had. He definately went through Cardiff because I got interviewed by the officer there. I guess hes just going to be picked up everytime he comes here now.

Yes it's true there is US immigration control at Dublin. But that only matters when you are leaving Dublin.

I still can't understand how he didn't get stamped into the Republic.

[Darnell 8,478]

i hate heathrow for other reasons.

Usually, when I'm returning to Liverpool for my work/business, I fly in to Manchester, show my passport with the business visa in it. I've not had any problems in Manchester at all, these last 2 years.

[xjoseyx 19]

Yes it's true there is US immigration control at Dublin. But that only matters when you are leaving Dublin.

I still can't understand how he didn't get stamped into the Republic.

My brother has a seizure in Cork and we had to drive from Cardiff to west wales for a ferry to Ireland. My fiance, my father and myself strolled in and out of the country without having to show our passports at all! It was crazy.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I've had to show my passport only once in my many trips from London to Dublin. Now that I think of it, before becoming a UKC I flew JFK-Dublin, stayed in Dublin a few days and then to London and they never stamped my passport. I did have a valid UK work visa though.

What USC needs a business visa for the UK for a business trip?

[Darnell 8,478]

well, that would be me, as I live in Liverpool 2 to 3 months at a time.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

But you would be allowed to stay visa-free for a trip of that length for business purposes, would you not?

Edited March 4, 2012 by Trompe le Monde

[Darnell 8,478]

never bothered to find out.

I'm some partner in a company there, listed with the firm. have domicile, pay taxes, all that silly stuff.

having a business visa was never the issue, was just something to do when I joined the firm.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Have domicile - I see, not just a regular business trip