Rude & incompetent LHR Terminal 5 officers.

[realstory]

I'm a NON-EU PR holder. Arrived a few hours ago from Rio ( olympics). So,Went to the EU Queue, just as you're supposed to.

A short lady looked at my passport and went:

Her: "Have you filled out the Landing Card?"
Me: "I'm a PR holder, I'm not supposed to." and showed her the PR card.
Her: "it doesn't matter, you still need to fill one out and go to the NON-EU queue"
So I spent 2 hours at the non EU queue and by the time I was called forward,the border official told me to fill the form. I replied to him I wasn't under any immigration control anymore,and he was extremely rude, telling me to shut up or he would send me to the end of the queue again. I felt so bad I can't describe it. Where to complain ?? I am so mad about it. What's the point of having a PR and be treated as shtt?? Guys...clarify: which queue , EU or non EU? And do I have to fill the landing card?? Thanks in advance !!

[noajthan]

I'm a NON-EU PR holder. Arrived a few hours ago from Rio ( olympics). So,Went to the EU Queue, just as you're supposed to.

A short lady looked at my passport and went:

Her: "Have you filled out the Landing Card?"
Me: "I'm a PR holder, I'm not supposed to." and showed her the PR card.
Her: "it doesn't matter, you still need to fill one out and go to the NON-EU queue"
So I spent 2 hours at the non EU queue and by the time I was called forward,the border official told me to fill the form. I replied to him I wasn't under any immigration control anymore,and he was extremely rude, telling me to shut up or he would send me to the end of the queue again. I felt so bad I can't describe it. Where to complain ?? I am so mad about it. What's the point of having a PR and be treated as shtt?? Guys...clarify: which queue , EU or non EU? And do I have to fill the landing card?? Thanks in advance !!

EU Q for you.
Did you get their number?

5.2
Endorsing the passports of residence card holders

Regulation 11(3)
A Border Force officer may not place a stamp in the passport of a person who holds a residence card when he is admitted to the UK, even if they do not hold an EEA family permit.

Regulation 11(3) expressly prohibits an officer from endorsing the passport of a person who holds a valid residence card or permanent residence card.

In addition these passengers are not required to fill in a landing card and should not be asked to do so

Ref https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... ndents.pdf

If you think that was bad have you encountered the US officials, you don't want to mess with those guys.

[Wanderer]

I'm a NON-EU PR holder. Arrived a few hours ago from Rio ( olympics). So,Went to the EU Queue, just as you're supposed to.

A short lady looked at my passport and went:

Her: "Have you filled out the Landing Card?"
Me: "I'm a PR holder, I'm not supposed to." and showed her the PR card.
Her: "it doesn't matter, you still need to fill one out and go to the NON-EU queue"
So I spent 2 hours at the non EU queue and by the time I was called forward,the border official told me to fill the form. I replied to him I wasn't under any immigration control anymore,and he was extremely rude, telling me to shut up or he would send me to the end of the queue again. I felt so bad I can't describe it. Where to complain ?? I am so mad about it. What's the point of having a PR and be treated as shtt?? Guys...clarify: which queue , EU or non EU? And do I have to fill the landing card?? Thanks in advance !!

Just chillax, forget about it, don't complain, accept it, forget it, apologise for mentioning it and remember, that's what being British (as you will maybe soon be) is all about.

[ohara]

Ha, try taking batteries in hand luggage if you think the IO's are bad!

[realstory]

Thanks for you replies guys!
Well, the number of the officer I couldn't get it. But he was on the booth 32 on the 31st of august at 13:30. So on my complaint to the HO I will highlight this info. It's almost surreal the way these guys treat people at LHR. I don't think they will do anything if I complain, but at least I will try.

[Roger Freely]

When you say "I'm a NON-EU PR holder" I assume you mean you have standard Indefinite Leave to Remain or Enter, rather than an EEA Residence Card or Family Permit? In which case you were not entitled to use the UK/EEA line (although I tend to find they let you use it if you're travelling with British/EU family).

As an ILR/ILE holder you may not be subject to control but as with others who are not subject to control (such as foreign diplomats or aircrew) you're still not entitled to use the EU line.

And not "under any immigration control" doesn't really mean anything in your case. You lose your ILR/ILE if you've been away for more than 2 years, they can take it off you if you're no longer a resident here, or if you've been convicted of a serious enough crime. So, although you may be no longer subject to control (and this is sneaky), the Immigration Officer is entitled to examine and question you, in order to establish that you're not subject to control. (Immigration Rules, paragraph 18).

As ILE/ILR can lapse after 2 year's absence, that's why they put a stamp in your passport (the regulations quoted by noajthan specifically refer only to those who have an EEA Family Permit or Residence Card - Immigration Directorate's Instructions - Chapter 7 Section 3 Paragraph 5.2.6).

From personal experience, I've found that if you do end up in the wrong queue, acknowledging this fact and politely asking if they'd be willing to let you through anyway is likely to have a better outcome than mistakenly asserting your non-existent "rights".


(If you do have an EEA Residence Card then you were absolutely entitled to use the British/EU queue and the IO didn't know what she was talking about).

[Casa]

The fact that the OP has mentioned a PR Card and not a BRP, tends to suggest that he holds an EEA Residence Permit and not ILR.

[Roger Freely]

Hopefully they will clarify!

[realstory]

I guess you're wrong. I have a Permanent resident card. (We all know about the 2 year absence rule) Which means....PERMANENT. HE WAS dumb and rude. I would in NO WAY apologise to that prick....on the contrary, I am taking the home office to court. Just spoke with my lawyer about it and he told me to proceed with the lawsuit. That officer got the wrong guy. Now he's gonna learn. In my family we don't put up with that. The UK people are passive....well, I am NOT.

[Casa]

Who are you preparing to sue? The UK Government or the Border Force Officer? Do you have your independent witnesses lined up ?

Unless you have very deep pockets, or your lawyer will agree to act on a no win, no fee basis, it might be wise to first follow the complaints procedure. I suspect that any Judge would expect this to be done in the first instance before Court action.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisat ... -procedure

[secret.simon]

I have a Permanent resident card. (We all know about the 2 year absence rule) Which means....PERMANENT.

Even people with PR and ILR are questioned by Immigration Officers to verify
a) that you are who you say you are.
b) that the PR/ILR has not lapsed due to absence and
c) that your PR/ILR has not been revoked (very rare, but not impossible).

In my family we don't put up with that. The UK people are passive....well, I am NOT.

When in Rome...

If you are NOT, now is the time to start being a bit more British. I presume that you intend to apply for British citizenship further down the line. This period of being on PR gives you the time and space to learn more about the British way of life and integrating with that, never mind your family's way of life.

Just chillax, forget about it, don't complain, accept it, forget it, apologise for mentioning it and remember, that's what being British (as you will maybe soon be) is all about.

Wanderer's advice is spot on.

[vinny]

Every time you are thinking negatively about this, you are letting these rude and incompetent officers hurt you all over again. They won't suffer. But you will continue to suffer, probably for longer than the two hours in the queue.

[Casa]

IMHO the only person who will gain out of a lawsuit will be your lawyer.

[realstory]

Casa, and wandrer: if being British means being a fool, then I will pass. As for the duties of the officer, I agrree he has to check on me, but not make me fill out a landing card. That's dumb. Oh, one more thing: I will take this further, and I am not suffering from what happened, even because I told him to stop being dumb, and he was quiet about it. He found a bad a*#s guy (me), and he will regret this. I will get his as*% good in court, even if I have to wait 10 years. I have the dough and the time. Thanks. Ps: british people need to be more proactive, more bad as#*s.

[secret.simon]

Ps: british people need to be more proactive, more bad mule.

That is exactly how to improve the image of immigrant foreigners in the UK after Brexit. Tell the Brits to be less passive and improve themselves.

I am guessing that the forum software is bowdlerising references to an equid reputed to be unintelligent, but also used as a colloquial reference to a part of the human anatomy. There is no other logical reason for so many references to mules in the preceding post.

[realstory]

I was saying AS*#s but it corrected. Now I edited it. Its good now. And no matter if mule or as*#s, you got the point.

[Abc499]

All big Bosses here but you all missed one thing which cause the issue.

Arrived a few hours ago from Rio ( olympics).

OP was coming from Olympic, so might be expecting a little different reception but entry officers treat as normal others.

[noajthan]

Casa, and wandrer: if being British means being a fool, then I will pass. As for the duties of the officer, I agrree he has to check on me, but not make me fill out a landing card. That's dumb. Oh, one more thing: I will take this further, and I am not suffering from what happened, even because I told him to stop being dumb, and he was quiet about it. He found a bad mule guy (me), and he will regret this. I will get his mule good in court, even if I have to wait 10 years. I have the dough and the time. Thanks. Ps: british people need to be more proactive, more bad mule.

Your lawyer will be rubbing her hands with glee.

That officer could have been having a bad day, (divorce on the cards, kids' exam results disappointing, bunions or fallen arches playing up);
- did you think to ask?

Being British means developing a certain stoicism and sense of sangfroid (oh the irony);
together with the bulldog spirit, a sense of fair play and knowledge of which battles to fight.
Oh, and learning how to queue is a big asset.

[secret.simon]

OP was coming from Olympic, so might be expecting a little different reception but entry officers treat as normal others.

Ahhh. Good spot.

Was the OP carrying any gold in his hold? That may have made it somewhat easier.

PS: To the OP, a bit of piss-taking is quite British too.

As Fwd079's signature has it, being British is a state of mind. And you are not quite there yet.

We are here to help you with an immigration issue. And you were right. You should not have been asked for a landing card. Not because you are free from immigration control, but because you have PR under the EEA Regulations.

But don't make an a$$ of yourself in court. Don't flatter the Immigration Officer by following his example.

[realstory]

Coming from Rio was a good thing. The IO wasn't trained enough to deal with the fact that Rio beats the shtt outta London. In every way. Oh, and I can guarantee ya all British people were treated with courtesy and respect at the brazilian port of entry, contrary to the uk one.
Oh.... I will sue. No way back. I will get that fool. And I don't wanna be British. I am Texan.
That's a man's state. We take no heat. Thank you all for the jokes and advices. Cya!

[Casa]

No doubt the Home Office will be happy to co-operate by handing over the name and number of one of their Border Officers. You'll need that for your lawsuit.

[vinny]

Don't be surprised, if records are missing.

What you experienced was a walk in the park, compared to this woman.

[Obie]

I feel physically sick to read the OP's story.

Most of these incompetent officers don't even have a GCSE attached to their names, no basic literacy skills, so it will be hard for them to understand the Law.

It reminds me a time when an innocent visitor was detained. Poor man. Remember talking to a chief immigration officer and he was adamant that he had the power to detain this individual until time for filing his admin review has elapsed.

When clearly that is not the statutory purpose for detention.

The poor man begged them to let him go, but they insist they will not , and kept him detained .

The only crime this man committed was the fact that he did not arrive with his wife, who he was meant tO assist to settle at university .

The only language they understand is force. Only when a writ of Habeas Corpus was lodged, was this poor man released.

When the man went to Heathrow terminal 5 to get his passport to go home, they said no passport is there.

He had to come back 2 days.

A genuine tourist , who is the CEO of a bank in his home country.

He has vowed to never step foot in the UK again.

OP I am sure you have more brain cell that most of them combined.

Just ignore the provocation, as they will likely deny it.

[Roger Freely]

OP, so just to confirm that you have PR as the the family member of an EEA National and it states on your residence card that you're the family member of an EEA national?

[Petaltop]

and I am not suffering from what happened,

Yes you will, everytime you think about it, The same with whatever else happens to make you angry.