Travel to/from USA-UK
Sep 28th 2010, 4:24 pm
#16
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Travel to/from USA-UK
On entering the UK, you and your husband can join either queue i.e the EU or non-EU lines. Or at least you can at Heathrow - there is a sign at the beginning of the line stating this (but if, in doubt, ask one of the attendants - that's my wife and I did because it seemed so unlikely!). As for the US, my experience is that you can only queue together in the non-US line (but I don't know about the status of PLRs). Actually, it was quite an eye-opener for my wife when we went through the non-US line together at Logan airport (Boston) - she got to experience first-hand how unbelievably rude, aggressive and offensive the CBP officials who monitor the queues are.
Unfortunately, I can only attest to your last sentence there.
It often seems to me that a substantial number of the CBP agents at US POE´s have been trained to discourage as many "alien" visitors as possible to come back to the US by being as nasty as possible.
I find this highly regrettable, as it certainly is perfectly feasible for immigration and customs officers in any country to be strict and correct without behaving in a downright insulting fashion.
It often seems to me that a substantial number of the CBP agents at US POE´s have been trained to discourage as many "alien" visitors as possible to come back to the US by being as nasty as possible.
I find this highly regrettable, as it certainly is perfectly feasible for immigration and customs officers in any country to be strict and correct without behaving in a downright insulting fashion.
Sep 28th 2010, 5:56 pm
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 134
Re: Travel to/from USA-UK
Yes, unfortunately you are right. It is a well-known fact that the attitude of some UK Customs and Immigrations staff at times can be pretty obnoxious, especially so when dealing with non-EU citizens.
Whatever the country involved, overly surly and outright rude customs and immigration staff is always extremely bad PR for the country concerned...
Whatever the country involved, overly surly and outright rude customs and immigration staff is always extremely bad PR for the country concerned...
Sep 28th 2010, 9:07 pm
#20
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 1,352
Re: Travel to/from USA-UK
Yes...they detained a friend of mine overnight last year (an American who had been visiting France and came over for a weekend in London) and treated her terribly before putting her on a plane back to (the wrong part of) France. We both filed complaints but nothing happened.
Sep 28th 2010, 9:28 pm
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 134
Re: Travel to/from USA-UK
Yes...they detained a friend of mine overnight last year (an American who had been visiting France and came over for a weekend in London) and treated her terribly before putting her on a plane back to (the wrong part of) France. We both filed complaints but nothing happened.
The UK is, I´m afraid, in a league of its own when it comes to the way many non-EU citizens are being treated at the POE.
Most other EU countries are far, far better in this particular respect, I´m glad to say.
Sep 29th 2010, 10:41 pm
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,759
Re: Travel to/from USA-UK
My married-in relatives have all had positive experiences (11 separate occasions AFAICR at LHR, LGW, and BRS), but then they all had the correct paperwork and backup documentation (never needed) which is always a good start.
Sep 29th 2010, 11:29 pm
#23
Saxon
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 40
Re: Travel to/from USA-UK
I'll be travelling to the UK in a year or two with my USC nephew - we'll both use the slow lane (ie 'non-EU' in the UK), I expect, so I don't lose him.
Sep 30th 2010, 5:35 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 67
Re: Travel to/from USA-UK
I am UKC on a GC, wife is USC -- on dozens and dozens of flights we have taken back and forth, we have always gone into both the UK (nearly always LHR) and the US through the locals entrance.
I think only once did the person at LHR give us the raised eyebrow, and that's all it was, a raised eyebrow.
Coming into the US it's never been questioned even slightly -- I think for the reason mentioned above, that the US passport trumps all other considerations.
I think only once did the person at LHR give us the raised eyebrow, and that's all it was, a raised eyebrow.
Coming into the US it's never been questioned even slightly -- I think for the reason mentioned above, that the US passport trumps all other considerations.
