Former Lancastrian

OMG the UKBA doesn't have a programme like NEXUS? 3rd world country system

beckiwoo

I've heard of NEXUS but I don't know what it is..?

SchnookoLoly

I've only flown from Stansted once, don't remember there being any issues.

I have a Portuguese passport, and so always used that to enter the UK... never had any issues with it except once. Usually the lines were pretty quick - even if they were a big long they move so fast since there's not much communication through the process. I've also used the biometric machines before, also pretty straight forward.

The one time I did have an "issue" with my passport, if you can even call it an issue:

UKBA: Where are you flying in from?
Me: Toronto
UKBA: And how did you come to have a Portuguese passport?
Me: My mom was born there
UKBA: THEN I GUESS I HAVE TO LET YOU IN, DON'T I.

And she practically threw my passport back at me. I hurried off, rather shocked at that exchange!

orly

Basically you get vetted in advance and then get a card that allows you to skip the usual line up at border crossings.

MarkG

I just go to the automated passport scanner thingy at Heathrow if I'm travelling by myself. There's never any queue, and it's just me and a couple of bored-looking customs people waiting for someone to use it.

beckiwoo

That's sounds like a great system.

bats

It only applies to Canadian and US citizens crossing the US border.
Maybe they will bring one in for Scotland?

Former Lancastrian

Actually it applies to PRs of both countries
To be eligible for the NEXUS, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States.
NEXUS - Eligibility

scrubbedexpat091

I also would not say the US and Canada is all that pleasant to enter either, depending on time of day, airport, or border crossing, it can be a nightmare at times as well.

Last time I flew into YVR (4 years ago, rarely use Canadian airports) it took over an hour to get through, and then once at baggage the bags still were not on and that took another 30 minutes.

beckiwoo

I think waiting times, lines and security will get longer and more thorough.

The US has always been long lines though. Even before 9/11 in 2001 I was in transit in DC and it took me an hour to get through - before the days of retina and finger print scanners.

Gozit

I sympathise - the biometric data readers at Toronto Pearson couldn't read my handwriting! Damn landing cards again

Lines at pearson always long, I agree, why is there such scrutiny as to where I've been, etc. I'm a Canadian, i'm re-entering the country because I live here. Full stop. They shouldn't care where I've been or why, seeing as its my right to leave Canada and re-enter as I wish. Foreigners entering however are different as they don't have the right to be here same as Canadians.

On the other hand, when I re entered from the US yesterday the officer didn't even look at my passport, didn't even open it! Just looked at the landing card and asked me what I was bringing back. YMMV

Gozit

I would have told her its none of her business why I have a Maltese passport if I was ever asked.

It would go like this
IO: How did you come to have a Maltese passport if you were born in Canada and flying from Toronto?
Me: Because I am Maltese
IO: ...
Me: Repeats the same answer.

None of their business why we have dual nationality.

Sally Redux

Yeah, try LAX

beckiwoo

I've not had the privilege of going through Border control in LA yet, I'll look forward to that one in summer 2015

MarkG

Mostly depends on how many flights are arriving or leaving; last time I flew through YVR I took about 20 seconds to get through US immigration on the way out, and about 30 seconds through Canadian on the way back. There was no queue at either.

Then I flew through Calgary, the queue went almost as far back as our arrival gate, and we had to wait nearly an hour just to get to the desk. Fortunately, we'd already figured out we weren't going to make our connecting flight anyway because our incoming flight was late.