Splitting up a family at an airport

Immigration officers cause me a headache whenever I land in the UK with my wife. She is a Filipino and has a family visit visa we live abroad with our daughter who is 15 months and a British Citizen.

She has some adverse history in the UK before she met me but has no problem being issued family visit visas.

This doesn't stop officers at Manchester being unhelpful and giving us long delays. Their usual approach is to invite me and my daughter to pass through first, something I always refuse.

Am I right in thinking they cannot refuse entry to my wife unless she agreed to be separated from her baby? Is there anything firm we can say to them to avoid these big delays at the border, would us travelling separately with her carrying the child help as surely they couldn't deny entry to the baby or separate her?

A friend of ours has the same issue and was once questioned for 7 hours. About 90 mins is our record but after a 14 hour flight this is a headache we could do without.

Would really appreciate any advice anyone can offer?

Turn it around from the ECO's point of view:

Lady turns up at immigration with husband and baby, both british citizens. She only has a visit visa. She's from a country where there's a history of poor immigration conformance.

Do you a) let her pass without question or b) question her situation?

To answer the question - can they separate her from the baby? Yes. But will they? Probably not. Your daughter is 15 months - so probably not nursing any more - so there's less 'commitment' from the mother in the relationship (if you get me).

As for separating with her carrying the baby - imagine the questioning:

"Why are you here?" - "I'm here to see family"
"Are you travelling alone?" - "No - I'm with my husband"
"Where's your husband?" - "He's over there in that queue"
"Why isn't he with you?" - "Errrm ...."

In short - there's no real way to make this much shorter other than to keep doing the journey.

M.

I think the questioning is due to the previous adverse immigration history that you've mentioned. It flags up as a warning on the system.