Visiting UK as a family
 

When we plan to visit the UK next year.
Me having my UK passport, our baby having a UK and U.S passport, and hubby having his U.S passport.

which passport line will my husband have to take if we are travelling together. would he have to follow the non-EU line or can we all be together in the UK line.

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

There are technically three lines in the UK now.

- non-EU
- UK/EU
- UK automated

The last being unmanned, you have to have a chipped passport to use it. I had a friendly race with my wife as she stood in the non-EU line and I went for the automated one. The non-EU line was very slow.

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

so family or not, my husband will have to stand int he non-EU line?

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

If your husband is a non-EU passport holder (i.e. the US passport is his only one) then yes, he will have to go through the non-EU line as he'll need to go through immigration.

You and the baby have a choice though. You can use your US passports and go with your husband, or use the UK ones and go through the UK/EU line. It's up to you (as long as you use your US one to exit and enter the US).

I'd be inclined to use the UK one and breeze on through to baggage claim, but with a baby in tow you might all want to go together, whatever you want to do really :)

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

When I went back to the UK at Christmas with my USC boyfriend. I took him through the UK passport holders line with me (UKC/USC), since the non-EU line had a lot of people in it and the EU line only had 3.

No-one seemed to mind, they asked a couple of questions about where we lived and what we were doing in UK, but other than that we were in and out in a few mins.

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

Twice the wife has beaten me, her through the non-EU line, me through the (non-automated) UK line. Yes, she had to (apparently) use the non-EU line even though she was married to me. Just depends on the flight(s) arriving at the time.

Everybody does! (Except maybe the Queen)

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

Oh shite. Well you know what I meant :o

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

Couldn't resist it, sorry! :p

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

No need to apologise, I'd have done the same . . .

:)

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

I wonder what foreign countries do when HM comes to visit? She has to be admitted somehow. Do you think they have an officer go on board the private plane, or does she get ushered to a private room to be admitted?

Where's MrF when you need him?

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

At Heathrow dignitaries using the Royal Suite wait in the lounge and have their passports taken into an office where they are stamped. I've been in there a few times when the POTUS, President Putin and others have arrived. Also Queenie but I can't remember if she had a passport.

Likewise the VIP Suites have their own immigration office.

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

We did the name with my daughter's Canadian fiance...he was told not to use the EU line again.


The Queen doesn't have a passport. All other members of the Royal Family do.

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

Well when your face is all over the money and stamps, ID can be pretty flexible :D

As to the OP, which ever line is shortest but how much grief you may or may not get would depend on the airport.

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

d'oh, I should have thought to ask you.

Now why wouldn't the Queen have a passport? I mean, I can see the obvious, but I'll bet she keeps one in that handbag of hers. Rattling around with her lipstick, since there's nothing else in there.

Re: Visiting UK as a family
 

Is this a recent change? I've always been able to go through the UK one with my USC wife without issues, and vice versa on the way back. Quickest service in both directions!