U.S. Citizen not allowed in U.K.

[annelizabeth 1]

I have been a victim of the dreaded SSSS twice flying from Louisville to London, via Chicago. I was beginning to feel victimized too!

What was worse was that all the time I was being searched I was bawling my eyes out, having just said goodbye to my fiance!

[desert_fox 32]

Gosh where is Jonny Corcoran in time like this?

He died....they think that OJ did it.

[Cassie 8]

hey, my husband (was boyfriend at the time) went through the wringer coming into Canada because he brought his laptop with him for non-business reasons. They didn't initially believe him since his profession is computer and systems programming. And he had stuff searched, and a Customs Officer came out to the waiting area and questioned me in public.

Oh, and he be pasty white.

[Boiler 45,521]

I have never had that problem, but then I usually fly BA or UA and it seems that the odd ones out are those without laptops.

I have been through UK immigration with my now wife when she was not, all I can say is that she never had a problem and she always has her work laptop with her.

There was a good prog on I think BBC that was a fly on the wall documentary about Immigration, quite fascinating.

[Cassie 8]

I have never had that problem, but then I usually fly BA or UA and it seems that the odd ones out are those without laptops.

I have been through UK immigration with my now wife when she was not, all I can say is that she never had a problem and she always has her work laptop with her.

There was a good prog on I think BBC that was a fly on the wall documentary about Immigration, quite fascinating.

Oh, I hear ya, but they had a hard time believing him at the time, must have had sawdust in the Wheaties that day!

[Batunde 0]

My USC fiance, who is mexican by birth, had a good grilling one time when he was visiting me for a couple of weeks in the UK, so it is by no means unusual. They asked him all sorts of questions about me, where I worked, what I did etc etc. Eventually what swung it was that they asked him what our intentions were and he said that he was hoping to persuade me to go and live in the USA! They let him through after that.

He did stick out like a sore thumb that day, since he arrived on an Air India flight dressed like a Mexican cowboy complete with hat and boots!

Hmm, Cowboy hat, thats it. I was wearing my cowboy hat because I couldnt put it in luggage. By the way talking of African American being grinded. That same morning it was 2 of us they did call to the side. There was this girl from Iowa who has Serria Leonne background aswell. And thats just within 4hrs that I was there. So I have every reason to say they are hostile to Americans that has African background and people with cowboy hats.

I will keep on checking this thread. The only thing I need to do is get access to that file they have in their office where they put the names of the people they grinding and we will see to the class action or not.

Edited March 7, 2006 by Batunde

[TracyTN 237]

Hmm, Cowboy hat, thats it. I was wearing my cowboy hat because I couldnt put it in luggage. By the way talking of African American being grinded. That same morning it was 2 of us they did call to the side. There was this girl from Iowa who has Serria Leonne background aswell. And thats just within 4hrs that I was there. So I have every reason to say they are hostile to Americans that has African background and people with cowboy hats.

I will keep on checking this thread. The only thing I need to do is get access to that file they have in their office where they put the names of the people they grinding and we will see to the class action or not.

This has got to be some kind of phenomenally crafted piss take!!

[Lou Lou 1]

This has got to be some kind of phenomenally crafted piss take!!

It's a pretty darn good one

[Boiler 45,521]

This has got to be some kind of phenomenally crafted piss take!!

It's a pretty darn good one

Hit post 39 on a non event.

This sort of post is very common from those refused entry into the USA, I am guessing here but my assumption is that the elements are the same, up to the applicant to show non-immigrant intent and that they are going to comply with ther terms of their admittance, not the other way around, otherwise bye bye.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

They, like any country, dont HAVE to let you in. Thats it. period.

Unless you are UK resident or by birth you have no 'right' of entry.

If you were unhappy with the service I suggest you write and complain, but as the UK has a HIGH rate of entry fraud one expects to be checked heavily (same with USA).

[saturn5man 0]

The immigration rules are being tightened up further in the UK,with a new points sytem......

According to today's report from the BBC):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4781030.stm

Neil.

I showed them my U.S. Passport and ofcourse when they were searching my luggage they found my Nigeria Passport and thats when they saw some old printed copy of resume (CV). So with a U.S. Passport I will still have to pray before getting into UK? Meanwhile I have been there before for like 2wks holiday.

Now my option is to get a visa. I'm thinking of getting "Holiday Working Visa" how easy that to get I dont know.

Oh, so you *were* planning to work on a tourist entry. Sounds like the UK border agent did his/her job.

Truthfully, I wasnt going there to seek any work. But since they have made a claim and I feel like I have no option than just get the working visa to be able to visit. I travel most times, I even have project in another country to go to in April or May, I have no intention to do any work in UK, I'm self employed. And by the way, I do have company I'm providing a service in UK already, that I work for from U.S. So the whole thing about working there or not was just so funny to me. Even from U.S. I'm already working with UK establishment.

I was just going to be with family in UK and they wont take it for truth and I dont know what else they want me to tell them. I realise that the working holiday visa thing is just something you hold just in case later you plan to work.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

They, like any country, dont HAVE to let you in. Thats it. period.

Unless you are UK resident or by birth you have no 'right' of entry.

If you were unhappy with the service I suggest you write and complain, but as the UK has a HIGH rate of entry fraud one expects to be checked heavily (same with USA).

Exactly what I stated earlier. I have guaranteed entry rights in only two countries--Canada (since 1982) and US (since last April); any other country (including India) has the right to decide on its own (even if I have a valid visa to go there) whether to permit me to enter.

Edited March 7, 2006 by sriniv

[Welshcookie 17]

I got pulled over, grilled and searched at Alabama airport...and I am white and British and was just trying to leave.....

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I got pulled over, grilled and searched at Alabama airport...and I am white and British and was just trying to leave.....

Were you in transit THROUGH US?

(unfortunately, North American airports are NOT transit-passenger-friendly generally)

[ktun 0]

Is this guy for real? 2 African-Americans got grilled in 4 hours? Well how many white people got grilled in the same time frame?! Come on!!

First time my Hubby (then boyfriend) visited me, he had one hell of a time and he's white, blue eyed etc. Mind you poor darling did look a bit strange. He had a seizure on the plane, was pale and shaky etc, they probably thought he was a drug addict/smuggler or something. They came out to talk to me too and it was only when I asked if he had had a seizure that they relaxed. Couldn't understand his odd behaviour before that.

I've been taken aside and searched too before bording a plane to LEAVE America. I didn't take any offence, just thought they have to pick a certain number to search and I happened to be that one that day. I had nothing to hide, so no problem for me.