Heathrow Airport descends into fresh immigration chaos
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at 07:21 by TerryMcManus24.
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FormerlyDoSParticipantRFerguson
I don’t know this for sure, but I think it likely that many illegal immigrants enter legally and then overstay.
What is the point in checking people in, carefully, if they are not checked out?
I know where you are coming from, but your assertion of ‘can’t have it both ways’ is shot down by this simple omission.
20 Oct 2013
at 06:34
davey_boyParticipantEven for those who do filter through the system the UKBA does go to great lengths to find and deport them.
20 Oct 2013
at 08:47
MartynSinclairParticipantMy question last night at 23.28 was more to do with why UK passport holders or even EU passport holders do not have a permanent Fast Track lane, but Premier passengers with Non EU passports, appear to have a Fast Track Lane in T5… is this another “Brussels Regulation”??
20 Oct 2013
at 08:50
FormerlyDoSParticipantdavey_boy
I’m not doubting you, but it does seems a basic fault not to check in and out, e.g.
Person X enters on dd/mm/yy and is due to exit no later than dd/mm/yy (visa expiry date.)
If no outbound record exists on expiry of visa, automatic red flag and action by the authorities.
Tell me it ain’t so?
20 Oct 2013
at 09:22
davey_boyParticipantFormerlyDoS
I don’t represent the UKBA and am unable to say what controls are in play in such circumstances and would like to think there are controls to handle such situations. It wouldn’t surprise me if the UKBA plays these closer to their chest to stop illegals finding other ways to beat the system. Watching the show I posted earlier certainly shows how far people will go to gain entry into the UK. Also I doubt the UK is the only country in the world which suffers from these problems.20 Oct 2013
at 10:34
SimonS1ParticipantThere are no controls on exit Davey_boy.
I’m afraid you have been lulled into a false sense of security by a TV reality show. Once you are in the country there is no means of tracking your stay.
Otherwise they would surely have deported those two mixed fleet crew that you alleged had brought the airline into disgrace with their soft porn movie?
20 Oct 2013
at 11:20
capetonianmParticipantThe only controls are if they get caught working illegally, chances pretty slim despite what you see on TV shows, or if they leave and then try to re-enter. In other words it’s a farce.
20 Oct 2013
at 11:26
CommunipawParticipant@rferguson – 20/10/2013 01:52 GMT
“And you have the pleasure of being ‘welcomed’ to the USA by some of the most unfriendly vile people on the earth.”
Come now Mr. Ferguson…seriously???!!!
20 Oct 2013
at 14:23
CheeryguyParticipantCommunipaw – 20/10/2013 14:23 GMT
@rferguson – 20/10/2013 01:52 GMT
“And you have the pleasure of being ‘welcomed’ to the USA by some of the most unfriendly vile people on the earth.”
Come now Mr. Ferguson…seriously???!!!
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Yep that’s how I see it.20 Oct 2013
at 14:41
capetonianmParticipant“And you have the pleasure of being ‘welcomed’ to the USA by some of the most unfriendly vile people on the earth.”
I can’t claim to be a frequent traveller to the USA, maybe 15 to 20 trips in the last 25 years, but I have never been treated with less than the expected courtesy, and often they are very friendly as well. I can think of at least 10 countries where immigration people are often unpleasant, the USA is certainly not one of them, in fact, their neighbour to the north is far worse in that respect.
20 Oct 2013
at 14:51
rfergusonParticipantcapetonianm…..I travel to the US at least twice a month. Have been for the past 15 years. I have entered JFK, EWR, IAH, DFW, LAX, PHL, SAN, BOS, SFO, ATL, PHX, IAD, ORD, DEN, SEA, BWI…and probably quite a few i’ve missed.
As crew, we have the same immigration checks as passengers, albeit generally thru a dedicated line so without the wait.
USA aside, as crew i’ve passed through immigration check points in more countries around the world than I could possibly count.
Without even having to think more than a second about it the most unpleasant people I have ever encountered at a border control are in the US. A rough breakdown would be:
10% of the time – friendly. Houston stands out.
50% of the time – absolutely zero humanity. ‘Right hand’. ‘Photo’. Three words and no more.
40% of the time – downright rude. Barked at, berated (the most recent being for folding my customs declaration in half). And believe me, I am a polite chap – even after an 11hr flight.Sometimes I am honestly waiting for a host of one of those ‘youve been framed’ shows to jump out from somewhere with a camera crew. Recording the reactions of passengers to ‘officials’ that seem to compete in rudeness.
As for giving foreign nationals priority – yes totally agree. And in my Australian example there were dedicated lines for Australians. My partner is Australian and it took him around 30minutes to clear. I’ve never waited longer than that to clear UK immigration as a EU national. Though maybe i’ve been lucky. It’s also worth noting in Australia there is exit immigration also – with no priority for aussie nationals.
My main point is that once again the British just seem to love giving themselves a hard time. And they shouldn’t. Yes there have been periods where waits at LHR immigration have been totally unacceptable. But on the whole (talking T5 here) take it from someone that passes through it at least once a week – in comparison with lines/delays i’ve seen elsewhere in the world, it’s not too bad.
20 Oct 2013
at 15:21
BA4everParticipantI agree with rferguson. Sometimes people moan just for the sake of it. I’ve never faced immigration that seemed to take too long and I’m arriving at peak times.
Yes, there will be bad days I’m sure but generally things are moving OK. You can’t expect to fly through immigration and you shouldn’t want to. I’m so frustrated with the immigration at Athens airport (non-existent), no wonder why we have Europe’s biggest problem with illegal immigrants…20 Oct 2013
at 19:37
FormerlyDoSParticipantI had a strange sense of deja vu reading RFerguson’s post, but knew it did not strike chord with US Immigration.
Then I realised, it was a decent summary of my interactions with cabin crew, in diverse airlines economy class, since 1978!
10% of the time – friendly
50% of the time – absolutely zero humanity. ‘Chicken or beef’ Three words and no more.
40% of the time – downright rude. Barked at, berated21 Oct 2013
at 05:22 -
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