Upon Arrival at Gatwick

[Candace 2]

Actually, this is certainly true at Heathrow but I do not know about Gatwick, a spouse of a UKC CAN go through the 'short' line when travelling with their spouse. I actually stopped to ask the first time we travelled together, when there were five flights all arriving in Terminal 1 at once from non-EU places, and the long queue was loooooooong. The immigration officer told me that the policy is direct relatives (spouse, parent, child) may come through the queue with the UKC. Not six family members, mind you, as the people in front of us last time were trying - all except one got sent to the 'long' queue.

My husband has always come through the EU-citizens queue with me at Heathrow, they take both our passports together, his US and my UK one.

[homesick_american 1]

Actually, this is certainly true at Heathrow but I do not know about Gatwick, a spouse of a UKC CAN go through the 'short' line when travelling with their spouse. I actually stopped to ask the first time we travelled together, when there were five flights all arriving in Terminal 1 at once from non-EU places, and the long queue was loooooooong. The immigration officer told me that the policy is direct relatives (spouse, parent, child) may come through the queue with the UKC. Not six family members, mind you, as the people in front of us last time were trying - all except one got sent to the 'long' queue.

My husband has always come through the EU-citizens queue with me at Heathrow, they take both our passports together, his US and my UK one.

I tried that once and was sent to the back of the non-EU queue. Haven't ever tried it again!

Besides, when I've come in the non-EU and the EU queues seem to be about the same length and one doesn't seem to move any faster than the other.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

When we went home for the first time I went to the non-EU line with my husband..... when we got to the immigration officer he said he was sorry we had had a long wait, but we had no issues at all....

Kez

[Fandango 1,439]

Lol Helen, I thought your joke was funny

Sorry no real answers for ya about the eu non-eu line....Gatwick was where I was detained all those years ago, and seeing the name gives me chills to this day, lol.

I would assume your visa is pointless to Immi there.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

In response to the OP:

It is akin to me entering at Calgary between Dec. 1999 and Apr. 2005 (when i had Canadian Passport and Green Card). The US Green Card would be an irrelevant document, so only your passport need be shown to UK Immigration (you do need the GC to reenter US).

A good question is if a dual Limey-Yank could "brazen" into UK with the US passport (say if the UK passport is expired, and the Limey hasn't renewed it yet). I'll prolly be trying the Canuck equivalent (@ Ambassador Bridge) around Thanksgiving this year.

[Mags 112]

Lol Helen, I thought your joke was funny

Sorry no real answers for ya about the eu non-eu line....Gatwick was where I was detained all those years ago, and seeing the name gives me chills to this day, lol.

I would assume your visa is pointless to Immi there.

Helen, tell your bloke not to wear a purple furry jacket and he'll be fine.

Edited May 2, 2007 by mags

[TracyTN 237]

Sounds like USC spouses of UKCs have had mixed luck going through the non EU line at Heathrow, damn it. Guess it depends on whose working that day...!

I'd probably just get in the non EU line and let Chas breeze through the other line (and then go get our luggage).

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Sounds like USC spouses of UKCs have had mixed luck going through the non EU line at Heathrow, damn it. Guess it depends on whose working that day...!

I'd probably just get in the non EU line and let Chas breeze through the other line (and then go get our luggage).

This is exactly what I've always done -- both my husbands have complied with a little gentle persuasion!

For a short time, Terminal 4 at Heathrow had a "Long-term Visa Holders Only" queue which was fantastic for us LLR/ILR people -- no queue to speak of! Then one time I went and it was all gone, no explanation beyond "there wasn't a lot of need for it". Well I sure needed it!

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Thanks for the replies and experiences.

I'll be the Gatwick ambassador and try to bring him through the EU line. I'll let you know how it goes!

Awww damn mags, who told you about Dave's purple furry jacket?

Want me to kick an immigration officer on my way thru LisaD?

*warning* this post is full of sarcasm and jokes

[Fandango 1,439]

Helen, tell your bloke not to wear a purple furry jacket and he'll be fine.

LOL!

and tell him not to wear his 'yield to the princess' tshirt either

Thanks for the replies and experiences.

I'll be the Gatwick ambassador and try to bring him through the EU line. I'll let you know how it goes!

Awww damn mags, who told you about Dave's purple furry jacket?

Want me to kick an immigration officer on my way thru LisaD?

*warning* this post is full of sarcasm and jokes

LOL I'd say yes, but I"m still too traumatized so they have me frozen in fear

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Why would you leave him to go the the non-EU line alone...... go through the non-EU together thats what we did just because you have a UK passport does not mean you cant go through the non-EU line with your husband....

Kez