gardnma

The Ironpourer family:

SecretGarden

I'm thinking this through and trying to remember.....I know that when my husband and I came back together to Chicago, he went through the line with me (USCs and permanent residents). I believe that when we flew to Heathrow I had to go in the separate line, but I think I was able to see him the whole time since it was all in the same, large area. In fact, I believe that I was asked the purpose of my trip and I said that I was here visiting with my husband, and I pointed to him.

I haven't ever been to Gatwick so I don't know if you'd be within visual range of her or not. What passports do your children have?

~SG

Elvira

I would certainly go through passport control together. There is nothing stopping you and the kids going through the non-citizen line, though I'm not sure whether it would be okay for your USC wife to go with you through the EU line. But they usually have officials there to advise people who are unsure about which line to join.

BigDavyG

Ahh - it was prob the nunchuks that drew the attention of security.
Is it just me or does the person on the right have massive toes ??

jen_andreson

We always go together. My children are little, I prefer that we stay together in case of any issue and so that we don't have to worry that the other is getting the third degree. Before we were married we went through separate queues and always met just after passport control, so that the first through could watch for the other.

Technically speaking if you are married then you can go through either line. I say technically as there are, naturally, some grumbles about this-my husband has been told (at LHR) that he's in the wrong queue and we've explained that the family is together and it's been fine. When returning to the US I usually ask the officer which queue they prefer us to join.

My children are usually asked, on both sides, for their names and ages. We've not had any trouble when travelling as a family.

Generally speaking we fly into Detroit and it's usually very easy. Two years ago Northwest built a new terminal and BA flights arrive there, too. This means that the POE/Passport control group manage fewer flights than the main international terminal, and they seem to be pretty organised.

gardnma

They will have both US & UK.

gardnma

Thanks a lot for your responses.
I expect we will just check with the UK officials when we get there.

Rushman

Thieving little urchins!!!

ironporer

After meeting Cathy, she came here on a 90 day VWP visit, then returned to Spain for a few weeks, then came back in on another VWP visit. On her 6th VWP entry to the US in about 2 years time she was singled out and not allowed entry due to "living in America without a visa". She had been waiting on her divoce to become finalized, which it finally was- but in Missouri where we were living at the time, it had to be final for 30 or 60 days before we could marry there (back then we didn't know about the "10 foot pole" and simply planned to marry here and file for a visa), so she had gone back one last time.
She was not allowed to call me, or anyone for several hours, was handcuffed and held in a locked office until finally a different Officer allowed her to call me and tell me she was being sent back. I even spoke to the guy who apologetically told me there was nothing he could do- she was going back on the next plane. A nightmare for her, and the beginning of our 1 year odessey to get a fiancee visa...which finally culminated in our marriage in Gibraltar and filing thru the DCF process in Madrid. All because allowing a 37 year old Spanish mother into the US for another 90 days presented such a huge threat to the security of the country....or maybe because some fat ass government witch liked to fu(k with people when she had a bad day.

ironporer

gsnichol

The division is probably largely a logistics thing; citizens of a particular country are allowed in with just a swipe of the passport, whilst non-citizens may require further questioning, paperwork-filling and stamping etc. A few extra seconds per person but the cumulative effect is a longer wait in the queue, which is probably why they divide you by nationality to keep a good 'flow', especially if a lot of flights arrive at once. But I would think there would be no problem with a non-citizen accompanying the rest of his/her family who are citizens of that country through 'their' line.

gardnma

You said:

Her experience in Newark was a nightmare, when she was denied entry and handcuffed and driven (sirens blaring) to another plane hours later...while the officers 'high fived' the fat bitch who 'caught' her.

Big Davy said:

Bloody hell - care to explain ??

I tried to make a joke. Oh, come on, it was a bit funny.

gruffbrown

You are, the immigration area isn't very big.

gardnma

Yep, Artfull Dodger and 'Orrible Dodger.

gardnma

Cheers. Ta . Thanks very much.