Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

I'm planning my first trip back since I moved here in 2003. My husband might not be able to go so I will be taking my daughter (UKC) and son (USC only).

My question is probably obvious but just in case there is an easier solution, I thought I'd ask: when we arrive & get to the short queues for UK passort control & the long queues for non-UK, do we have to take the long way for his passprt checks or will my son be allowed through the UK control with me as his guardian?

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

I'm sure you're son will be allowed through the UKC line! :)

However, why don't you get him a UK passport? I think that would be a really smart thing to do - not just that, but actually registering the birth at the UK embassy and getting him a UK-style birth certificate.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

No, sorry I didn't expain properly; he's not a UKC, he was born here & is not my birth-son. Probably stuck in the long queues, huh?

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Been here since 2003 and not yet learned to act like an American? :rofl: Throw off those proper, orderly British ways and head straight for the short queue! What's the worst they can do to you? :rofl:

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Nah - you use the short queue!!! :)

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

The non-UK passport line is really not that long unless you deplane after a flight from Africa or Asia. I usually just sit toward the front of the plane and walk at a brisk pace. I frequently go straight through to an agent without waiting in line. I've never been held up longer than my baggage

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Does the same apply if you go through as a family and everyone is a UKC except for a spouse who is a USC? If she does use the short line do you need to say anything special in order to get her in there?

Bit of a retarded question to some, but we've never done this before now. :)

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Just asked my gf who works for immigration!! She said kids with a parent as a UK citizen even if they are step kids should go thru the queue with parent ... this case UK queue. Two adults one adult UK the other USC they have to seperate and go thru their respective queues. She said make sure u have something on you tho if ur not the birth mother that states u have guardianship so that they will know u didnt nick him (her words not mine)!!!!!

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Well that sucks......:frown:

I'm their natural Father and their natural Mother is the USC. The kids and I are all UKC's. Thanks for asking your GF.....:) ........So, even tho we are travelling as a family.....no step kids....no cat.......no budgie, my OH will have to go through her own line and I (along with our kids) will need a letter from her stating that I did not steal my own sons........right?

Thanks a lot BTW........

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

only if ur not the "birth" parent! !!!! if ur the natural parent its not an issue!

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Just curious--isn't that the same procedure you follow when coming to the US (or do you have a GCard?).

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Have you legally adopted him? If so, you might be able to apply for him to be registered as a British citizen - but the application for citizenship would need to be made before age 18.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

No, I'm dual (funny that way........)

Haven't been out the country since WW1 :)

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

What? They just ask them do they.....or is the name enough.....which doesn't necc prove birth birth Father......:confused:

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

A couple pf months ago I was in the UKC line at Manchester and saw a Brit woman being told that her USC son had to go through the Foreigners line by himself. He was 10 !!. The Passport Nazi was rude, indifferent to her stress and unhelpful.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Interesting, last time my wife and I flew into the UK (Heathrow) we both went through the non-EU line because we weren't sure. When we got to the desk we were told we could have gone through the EU line together. We plan on trying it at Gatwick at the beginning of May.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Flew to Gatwick in March. Took the entire family through the UK line.

2 step kids also. I never had any problems. I did say our flight was delayed and we needed to get our connecting flight.

Texas

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Since you and your sons will have to come back into the US on your US passports, won't you have to leave the US on those passports?

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

As I undertsand it.....we enter the UK on UK passports, then return to the US on the US passports........

Except the OH, who enters the UK on her US passport, is strip searched, poked and probed and we meet her on the other side all smiles..... :) :)

When would you flash a passport to leave your "own" country? Haven't done this in so long......:blink: .....I'm assuming I'll use my DL to prove ID in leaving US, either that or slip a 20.....

Clear as mud.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Wouldn't it be easier to all travel on US passports, and all go through together, instead of splitting with mom. Also, you would have to carry around 3 less passports.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Yeah but no but ah but yeah but..........if we enter the UK on a US passport it would need a visa stamp in it wouldn't it? Besides, I just spent months getting the bloody things and I'm damn well going to use them.......;) :rofl: :rofl:

Mallory, you are confusing me more.....:rofl:......I thought I had it sussed.......bugger it, we'll just all get Ukrainian ones........:D

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Dont worry you will not loose sight of her, the line's are all near by each other.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

But what if you lose the precious objects, when you didn't really need them on this trip? Save them for the BIG trip!

Yeah, I would want to use them too! LOL

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

I wonder if you are a UK citizen if you have to enter and leave the UK on your UK PP. Afterall it is an offence if you are a USC to enter or leave the US using a PP from another country.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Ah, that's what I am worried about. He's 10 also, way too young to go through alone. This will be Manc airport too.
Maybe I'll just ask on the plane when I'm on the way LOL

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

I have never heard that before......thought it was just a preference of the State Dept.......you know, you are unprotected by the US Embassy if in trouble in the UK.......but if you are a UK Cit, why run to the US Embassy anyway? Unless you are really in trouble..... :eek:

.......hang on, something just went *boing* in my head.....:blink: :blink:

OK, here's a question then......do you need to show a Passport to leave a country?.....I honestly cant remember.

US DL => Leave US (boarding ID)
UK PPort => Enter UK
UK PPort => Leave UK (for want of anything else, as ID)
US PPort => Enter US

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

yep, passports are checked or should be when you check in for your flight and then again at the departure lounge.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Yes you do...as TruBrit says.

A similar question has just been discussed in the Immigration forum. A Canadian (actually I seem to remember he is a UK citizen as well) who is becoming a USC thinks he won't need his Canadian PP. He has just been told to enter and leave Canada the Canadian Govt require him to use his Canadian PP.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

If you have a UK & and US passprt can't you do it as:


US DL => Leave US (boarding ID) - show US passport
UK PPort => Enter UK - show UK passport
UK PPort => Leave UK (for want of anything else, as ID) - UK passport
US PPort => Enter US - US passport

??

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Isn't that what he said? :confused:

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

I dunno, I got cofused LOL could have!

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

As a rule of thumb you use the PP of the country you are in...whether you are departing or arriving.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

The US will only recognise you are a USC when overseas if you have entered that country on a US PP. Therefore as you are a Brit in the UK you would have used your UK PP.

For example: If you entered Japan on your US PP the US Gov. would recognise you as a USC...if you entered Japan on a UK PP...the US Gov would not recognise you as a USC.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

I always thought if you were USC, you left with your US PP, traveled around Europe with your UK PP if you so desire, and then return to the USA on your US pp. We need an expert to chime in, because I don't think we really know for sure.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

Isn't that what we've been saying? You must leave and enter the US using your US PP.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

i dunno. i thought he said he was going to leave on the UK pp, and come back on the US pp. i wouldn't want to chance leaving the US with a US pp, and arriving in the UK with a UK pp, seems a bit dodgy to me.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

I think JG has it when she says:

"As a rule of thumb you use the PP of the country you are in...whether you are departing or arriving."

I thought it was a bit dodgy at first......sort of like "Mr & Mrs Smith" ;) but it does make sense that you'd do it that way......

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

I arrived back from States into Gatwick on Sunday and can assure anyone your kids even foreign passport will go through with a UKC parent but if the other parent is non UK or EU citizen I am afraid to say they will be sent to the non EU line.

Re: Going through passprt control in UK - question
 

It doesn't just make sense, it is the only legal way to do it - unless you want to be an alien in your own country... :blink: