Archive » United Kingdom » This may sound dumb but..
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| kayac00 Member Member # 5977 | Posted December 11, 2002 02:14 AM i will be travelling with my b/f to london heathrow then onwards to belfast northern ireland ( were i live) soon. my b/f is a visa national and has his visit visa what we want to know is what happens when we land at heathrow? do the immigration officers question him ? this is his first time on a visa and we dont really know the procedures. I know i have to pass through EU gate as im british citizen but what happens with him? sorry if this sounds dumb but this is new for us thanks |
| Kayalami Member Member # 5984 | Posted December 11, 2002 11:27 AM Once off the plane you will be directed to the Immigration Control. It will have two channels - EEA/EU nationals (you go this way) and ALL OTHER Nationalities (your b/f goes this way). The All OTHER Nationalities channel is further subdivided into: 1. Permanent Residents/Work Permit Holders/People returning to UK with visa validity beyond 6 mths. 2. All OTHERS - your b/f should go this way. Your b/f should have filled out a white card (landing card) giving his details to include Date of Birth, Nationality, Passport Number, Passport validity, Flight No and Intended Address in the UK. These cards are often issued during the flight but can be picked up at the Immigration Control point. When its his turn the Immigration Officer checks his passport and visa are both valid and genuine and that there are no adverse records in the Home Office database. Technically this is done by laser/ ultra violet light sensors (visa) and a swipe (ppt) through a scanner (like a credit card). The IO may ask about his intentions and cross reference this with his ticket i.e. length of stay must equate to ticket validity. The IO may also ask to see proof of funds and accomodation. Your b/f should have all the documentation he used to get his visa available for presentation to the IO. If the IO is satisfied that your b/f meet the conditions for a visitor then he stamps your b/f ppt with an admitted on date stamp. The IO has final say in admitting your b/f and can vary any of the conditions in his visa. Your b/f is then free to proceed to customs. BTW you don't have to go through the EEA/EU channel. You can go with your b/f through his channel. This may be helpful in case the IO needs to verify any details although you cannot influence the IO's final decision in any way. If you do go the EEA/EU route don't panic if your b/f takes a while to meet you by customs. The Non EEA/EU channel can have horrendous queues and it can take some while to get through (especially weekends). Also you may get the formal Immigration checks described above either at Heathrow (as your first port of entry into UK) or Belfast. The procedure should be the same in either Port of Entry. Bon Voyage and Good Luck. [ December 11, 2002: Message edited by: Kayalami ] -------------------- ---audi alteram partem--- |
| Thorsten von Thyssen Member Member # 4397 | Posted December 11, 2002 05:51 PM Kayalami, When he travels from London to Belfast (within the Common Travel Area) he will not pass again through immigration control. -------------------- ----------------------------------- |
| Kayalami Member Member # 5984 | Posted December 11, 2002 07:38 PM Thanks Tnavon - Yes if IO does checks/ visa stamping at Heathrow you will not get a 2nd check/stamp at Belfast. Is it possible that he gets checked at Belfast and not Heathrow? -------------------- ---audi alteram partem--- |
| kayac00 Member Member # 5977 | Posted December 11, 2002 09:29 PM we are flying from bucharest romania to prague to london heathrow then catching a connecting flight to belfast ( quite an exhusting day!!) its confusing because we are flying with czech airlines all the way to london so our lugguage will be checked through to there.. our flight to belfast is with british midlands (i dont think they will send our lugguage all the way to belfast when it is a different airline) this is were i get confused last time i went through heathrow i was flying with one airline all the way so i just had to follow signs for flight connection.. but since we have to go find lugguage will this mean he will get his visa checked at heathrow? will it really be ok if i go with him through the non eu channel? thanks for your help ! |
| Kayalami Member Member # 5984 | Posted December 12, 2002 11:19 AM Yes you can go through your b/fs channel. The EU/EEA channel is just an expedited route whcih checks you have an EU/EEA ppt or ID..I've seen Immigration on several occasions wave people through without bothering to actually hold the ID/ppt as long as you show them the photo. From your flight route/ details I believe your b/f will get Immigration Control checks at Heathrow. -------------------- ---audi alteram partem--- |
| marka Member Member # 1907 | Posted December 12, 2002 11:55 AM I think there is pre-clearance in Prague for UK bound flights, but I am not 100% sure. Last time I was at heathrow T2 there was a special queue for Prague arivals and they were moving faster then anyone else. Mark |
| david Member Member # 9 | Posted December 12, 2002 12:13 PM quote: This is from the UK Visas government website. Basically if you already have entry clearence from the embassy, getting through immigration at Heathrow is just a formality unless, as they say, your circumstances have changed. There really is nothing to worry about. Technically your boyfriend is actually in a stronger position than most non-visa nationals entering the UK as tourists. Because he has had pre-entry clearence from the British Embassy to enter the UK, his bona fides have already been assessed and he has been judged suitable for entry to the UK. Non-visa nationals are subjected to this scrutiny in a much more stressful environment, i.e. on arrival after a long flight queuing at the immigration post. So actually, your boyfriend will have no problem at all. |
| citizen Junior Member Member # 6471 | Posted December 13, 2002 03:02 AM After many years I passed through Heathrow again and was pleasantly surprised at how easy immigration has become. I was travelling on an Indian passprt on transit with a flight the next day from Gatwick. I had no visa but they easily gave me a transit visa at the counter with no questions or issues. So with a proper visa there should be no problem at all. |
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