DON'T Do THIS at the UK Border! // Tips on UK Customs & Immigration for Visitors

Wondering what UK immigration and customs are like once you land at the airport? Check out my guide to navigating the immigration line and customs at the UK, as well as the differences at the border in US and UK airports.
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[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

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[@Crusty_Camper]

I'm a retired UK Customs Officer and just wanted to add a couple of points to your excellent video. Firstly, do not , EVER , make any jokes about the contents of your baggage. In today's world potential threats are very real and any "joke" that suggests you are anything other than a regular, innocent traveller is likely to see you detained and probably searched - thoroughly. Unfortunately for your countrymen, it is really only Americans who need to be told this, most other travellers have known this for decades. Secondly, try not to interact with other travellers you do not know when moving through the system. You may be mixing with people from all over the world and you just do not know who you are talking to. If that person is "of interest" to the authorities, then you may find yourself being questioned too. It happens. In fact, it happened to ME in Montreal. Thirdly, just to repeat, do not get your phone out and absolutely no pictures. People sometimes try to take pictures of their friend while their baggage is being searched but avoid that temptation of you will find yourself in deep water. But yes we are human and won't deliberately make things difficult for you or ourselves.

[@jiggely_spears]

Love UK Customs Officers - I arrived back to Heathrow with my wife and 1 year old baby that had a US passport, I'd had 2 years working over there and we were moving back to the UK. He asked us how long we were planning to stay in the UK - we said permanently, to which he said our son could only stay for 3 months. One quick phone call later, he said "my supervisor needs to come and ask you some questions, when he asks how long you're staying just say a month, but then get your child registered here". Sorted.

[@theresaturner1547]

Why only Americans??

[@davidkeetz]

yah, all very true. I've had to learn buy lesson the hard way about keeping funny remarks to myself. It's just that the U.K. guys are often WAY worse than American customs agents or even the really bad American street police......I've seen some U.K. agents who were definitely born in the wrong decade. They would have been so at home in 1930s Germany with just how much effort they put into their tough authoritarian vibe. It's way over the top and it's hard for Americans to see that kind of behavior and play along. I've made sarcastic comments though, to my detriment going through international security checkpoints when I felt they were being unnecessarily rude and condescending.

[@davidkeetz]

@@theresaturner1547 because we love to pop off with sarcastic remarks when confronted with overly aggressive authority figures. We just have this very deep rooted opposition to strong authority and also we find it ridiculous to be asked outright "are you carrying drugs, weapons, etc" - as if anybody would actually stop and go "oh....yah I do have a kilo of coke in my bag". We have a hard time playing along with the script because we recognize how much of a larp it is for agents to be asking people these kinds of questions. MOST of us know that they're asking just to see if they get any signs of nervousness from the person, but we find that condescending and we don't like being psychologically manipulated and most Americans find anti-drug laws to be silly to begin with.

[@Crusty_Camper]

@@theresaturner1547 I suppose it's because in general a higher level of security is relatively new to them. When travelling in America to visit family, I was escorted by my non-travelling cousins right up to the door to the plane. And although things tightened up after 9/11, they relaxed again. For example, some people who are regular travellers or who have respected jobs , such as doctors, can bypass much of the security by registering with the airline. The foolishness of that is shown by the incident we had in Scotland where a doctor and an engineer tried to detonate a suicide car bomb at Glasgow Airport in 2007 ( I think that was the year ). So unfortunately, it is usually Americans who make the silly comments.

[@redrobefan]

Ive never had any problems at the UK border. The agents are polite and friendly. Canada has really nice agents too. Some US agents can be very rude indeed, and dont seem to understand their own procedures.

[@gollygaloshes]

It's funny. I went on a group trip to the US and everyone was talking about how difficult customs was and how aggressive and suspicious the border agents were and how long it took. Meanwhile I had such an easy time going through and they just seemed so friendly.

[@antonioinoa6961]

Try crossing the border by car to Canada lol they always ask 1. Do you have any intentions of looking for work while your in Canada? 2. Do you plan on getting married while your in Canada? Yes to either of those questions is 100% automatic grounds for detainment and deportation. And they ask it (sometimes) in a hostile manner

[@nayi999]

im currently suing them for abuse and causing 4 year long PTSD. ive traveled a lot, never committed a crime, was going to take care of my mother in law with my british husband and the things they made up and accused and caused a panic attack. disgusting absolutely disgusting. they must have been bored

[@Moose185]

Are you white? Because I’m guessing your experience will be quite pleasant.

[@mt_gox]

@@nayi999 you seem guilty

[@missharry5727]

One time when I was on my way to Cape May for a birding trip the immigration guy at Newark looked at my ESTA and said "oh, you're going to Cape May?" Turned out he was a keen birder himself and we had a nice little chat! The queue wasn't too bad and he wasn't in a hurry. Best airport experience ever.

[@raymondporter2094]

Another good video. I haven't been abroad for about 15 years though I MIGHT do so next year. I have no doubt things have changed at airports since 2006. I will be nervous.

[@davidporter499]

I know someone blocked access to the US. After 10 months requesting an explanation (he lost his job through this) he found out that his surname was “somewhat similar to that of an individual listed as undesirable, not to be admitted”. At least here you have to be illegal to be barred access.

[@hannahk1306]

You might be pulled over for questioning in the UK, but they won't actively stop you entering the country once they've realised you're a different person.

[@davidporter499]

@@hannahk1306 I actually know someone whose family was permitted entry, but he was returned to UK. He is of Sri Lankan ancestry.

[@theresaturner1547]

Great information!!!

[@jamesness9542]

Been over to the States. X3 since 2016, with my wife now. Las vegs, we have visited twice, and our last trip to the USA in 2018. We went out to Chicago. Never had any issues at immigration or U.S. border control. However.... I have heard a tonne of horror stories about people being deported / refused entry into the United States. Acctually, Our immigration officer in Chicago, was super friendly !

[@kayflip2233]

As an American I absolutely love the UK e-gates. The fact that I can leave my Manhattan apartment, hop on a plane, then be walking around Central London after just tapping my passport in, makes me feel more connected to the UK. It feels like just another state now, and in fact it's now easier to get into London than even traveling domestically between states where you sometimes have to talk to homeland security just to cross state lines. It feels more like traveling around Asia where very few countries will interview you at the border, most just let you in with no questions asked. I also have global entry so I usually don't have to talk to anyone coming back home either. They typically just ask if I have anything to declare, but once in awhile they will do the full interview depending on where you traveled, even if you have global entry.

[@Sthmohtwenty]

What does global entries mean::: never hear this one before

[@kayflip2233]

@@Sthmohtwenty Global Entry is a program in the US where you can just get your photo taken in a machine at the US border and hand the receipt to the border guard and they let you in with no interview. It's a separate line from the rest of the passengers so you get through the border in seconds. You gotta interview for it and pay a fee though. It's good for 5 years.

[@Sthmohtwenty]

@@kayflip2233 thank u sooooo kindly ..

[@rainbowkitten8990]

I hope you enjoy your time here! 😄

[@itscliffvtr]

Definitely have printouts, good call. With the need for PCR tests I have travelled for work and printouts make it much easier. Everyone now seems to have a document wallet.

[@marcuswardle3180]

When I fly out of the U.K. and am standing in the queue for inspection of your bags I’ve got it down to a fine art including belt off, shoes off and laptop out. I can then get through in about a minute flat while behind me the person who was in front of me is still trying to get all his stuff out of his tray!

[@originalkk882]

You don't need to take your shoes off at any major UK airport.

[@marcuswardle3180]

@@originalkk882 They did a year ago when I posted the above comment. I have flown recently and have not been asked to take my shoes off! Thank God, because I think my feet are able to kill people in a 10ft circumference but only when uncovered!

[@jeremypearson6852]

Your experience really wasn’t that bad. I moved to the US from the UK over thirty years ago. Due to a misunderstanding with my visa, I was detained for hours in Miami and deportation proceedings were instituted against me. It took a immigration officer at the main office to reissue my visa, but in the meantime I couldn’t legally work for several months. I had to go see a judge months after I got my green card and he dismissed the case. In the words of the immigration officer at the airport “my job is to keep people like you out”.

[@livelovelife32]

wow...

[@ABPhotography1]

Yep America is scary...

[@hraeu]

American officers have a ridiculous inflated ego

[@Undecided0]

People like you???

[@bristolishome8049]

I agree with getting to the immigration line as fast as you can. Put it this way, each person you pass on the way can potentially save 5 minutes if they were in front of you.

[@ru66erducky]

That's not true British behaviour. I tut at ppl that rush past. Like your life is going to be so badly affected waiting a little longer?!

[@carolinesmercantile4290]

@@ru66erducky If your are in a group that has to catch another flight to the EU somewhere within the next hour or two, yes, people are going to rush.

[@HankD13]

"Carousel" is the common term for the luggage conveyor!

[@elizabethnicoll]

even though I've never done wrong I've always felt guilty

[@joshsheff7189]

It's half honour system, half tactics re customs. You have to walk through the door, but you're on camera, being analysed all the way from the plane to the customs line.

[@c4715]

Do not go on your phone while you're queuing for the UK border. I've seen foreigners get into trouble with this so many times.

[@simi1530]

How? They ask to check your phone?

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@simi1530 US and Israel will most likely check your phone. Slightest issue will either take hours of ridiculous interrogation or have you deported, without any explanation.

[@simi1530]

@@OmmerSyssel They'll ask to check it???

[@peterlloyd8313]

You are right ,always be honest at uk entry points. And they will help you on things you would pay duty on. I never understand why US citizens have to pay US taxes when living Broad.We don't.

[@tobiojo9454]

Great tips

[@brucet000]

I might be biased, I'm British, but one of the worst immigration experiences in the world is the US. It HAS been a few years since I went to the US but I doubt it has changed much. You get off an international flight in Orlando, New York, Atlanta, most airports, first thing is immigration, there are maybe 50 or 60 lanes and literally, 2 are for international passport holders. You have to queue for hours while all Americans just basically walk through, and the agents at the other 50 gates just stand around chatting . The treatment of EVERYBODY who is an 'alien' is terrible. On one particular trip, we were the last flight of the day, or at least going through that immigration hall, So all the americans have gone, of course, and there is probably 2 queues of maybe 30 waiting, They close all the other gates, don't try and get us through, just close all the rest. THEN when there was about 15 left in our queue they close the gate and make us join the other queue. So back to 25th again. I think that was the worst, maybe 3 hours to get through immigration. I think this was Miami.

[@adha2913]

Similar experiences at LAX

[@markplummer6359]

Had exactly the same issue at chicago - took 3 hours to get through - they kept closing queues and moving us to the back of the queue. Terrible

[@Sthmohtwenty]

Worst airport to go international e/one is a suspect's

[@bash8317]

Mate these things happen in the UK too. I always experience this when I travel there. As I hold a foreign passport, I see British citizens and other EU citizens fly past immigration queues whereas we stay for up to 5 hours! It is not just a US thing and it is not wrong.

[@hcassells66]

Omg I just got back from the US and the US gates were so under staffed, 11 lanes and only 3 people working. We were in the queue for over an hour 😭

[@douglasirons1350]

Love your story regarding your small issue with UK immigrant. We had a lovely experience with Singapore Immigrantion at Changi Airport. We were staying at the Airport overnight and managed to go into Singapore for the evening. We had our boarding passes to London. When I went to speak to the Immigrantion officer I told him that we were spending just the evening in Singapore. He said is that your wife I said yes he said tell her to come and speak to me. My wife came to the officer were he stamped both our immigration forms and then told us were a good bar was in Singapore. Priceless could you imagine this in the UK or USA .

[@ianprince1698]

if you are going to marry a UK citizen make sure that immigration knows about it before arriving in UK or you could face a lot of questioning, they are guarding against marriages of convenience

[@chocolatcats]

and.........Ian, its easier to say NOTHING .....just say you're visiting and have the other one say the same thing

[@Be-Es---___]

Remember that after Brexit this also implies to travel from UK to the rest of Europe. Which leaves out the UK as a good starting point for travel across Europe. (since January 2021)

[@stevemoss7793]

More than 15 years ago we flew into Miami. On the ground at 4.15pm, finally found ourselves in front of an immigration officer at 7! He said he was happy when he saw a British passport. Apparently we'd arrived just behind a couple of flights from S America.... .

[@frankmitchell3594]

Similar to arriving here to find the plane before you is a full A380 from a gulf state.

[@Sthmohtwenty]

Happy r not ...u don't like sth American passport u in d wrong job

[@abbys8479]

Great video, I will be prepared for my first visit. I have a friend in London and I live in New York. I want to go visit

[@jeremypearson6852]

You need to understand that the UK is a gateway to many other countries. Since the UK used to be part of the EU, people could bring in a certain amount of liquor and cigarettes from other countries. Some people bring in more than the allowed limit and try to avoid “declaring it”. Anything over the limit is subject to forfeiture. I’ve travelled many times between the US and the U.K. and US is definitely more intimidating.

[@danieldelagarza320]

I'm going to London for the first time and in the middle of this trip I will visit Dublin for a couple days. Will I need to fill out more passenger locator forms? With more immigration lines? Hope you can help ease my mind

[@nachoshaw7084]

I had the same detain experience returning to the UK and im English.. Same thing, sat in a pen for about an hour then i was allowed to leave. My American Wife, no problem going through. On the flip side, we live in a border town to mexico and when we cross back into the US, i walk straight through and my wife is always stopped for questions..

[@john_smith1471]

The separate Customs declaration routes at the airport are known as the Red and Green channels. You haven’t said why in your case you didn’t use the e-gates, Americans normally say how quickly they’re out of the airport.

[@pedrojuliancereceda8301]

Thank you, Kalyn for these tips. I have a question, though. This is regearding US. Customs. I applied for the "trusted passanger program". Since an Spaniard living in Spain I only was allowed to join "SENTRY" program whereas my intention was to join "Global Entry". "SENTRY" is mostly designed for people travelling from Mexico (driving car or not) and International travellers from Canada. So I just t finished the whole application and now I,m waiting for the interview. My question , whether you know the answer, is as it follows: should I be allowed to cross the US border with "SENTRY" as If I had applied successfully Global Entry? Thank you in advance for your answer.

[@richt71]

Haha border control officers are intimidating! Last trip was flying into Miami end of 2019. Officer wanted my life story!! Made me nervous even though everything was all above board. Often got stopped by customs when I lived in the canaries and traveled back to the UK. The canaries sell duty free goods so they were looking for goods.

[@pauldrake8990]

I returned to the US to work for another year after visiting the UK to visit family etc. At the US immigration I was stopped, questioned for 4 hours and eventually deported citing visa irregularities! Escorted to the plane by a guard and had to push through the pre-boarders at the gate who are looking at me as if I was a criminal... I still do not know what the real problem was!

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Yikes! That's horrible!

[@gereshomeE]

Once landed, I was taken off the plane and questioned on the tarmac while EVERYONE on the plane was looking at me!! When the bus came, everyone was asked to get on the bus and I was allowed on the bus last. My "fellow" U.K. countrymen all nerviously shuffled away from me as I got on the bus!! -C'est la vie! ☺

[@Sthmohtwenty]

What they mean visa irrelugalities...u buy r visa r

[@jummyesteYT]

UK, EU and Other selected countries can use the Immigration Blue Line, and use the E-Gates if you are 12 or over (minors accompanied by an adult and if you have a kid 11 and under immigration officer), biometric passport and correct passport type, because I’m Spanish (EU Citizen) and used E-Gates. But people from the non listed countries need to go an officer. You that are a US citizen can use E-Gates, because your elegible. And the Green lane of customs have special arches that can select you to go open your luggage. And leaving the UK is stress free, not like in Spain that you need to go through departure passport control, here when they check that you borded the flight they warn Border Force to check you out of the UK, and for the DutyFree they check your Bording Pass or Passport to not charge you TAXES. Cheers.

[@carolinaherrera8233]

The very first time I traveled to UK from US to visit my boyfriend the officer asked me several questions, she told me to wait in a little room, she called my boyfriend, she had me in the little room for like about 30 minutes, but then she apologized and stamped my passport, I’m used to the immigration officers as I have to cross the border between Mexico-USA very often because my family live there,last year I went to UK and I stopped in Dublin to connect my flight and was easy, the officer asked like two questions, he was serious but polite, when I had to return to US there is a US customs in Dublin airport and the officer was super nice, just a tip, don’t get nervous and respond what the officers ask and avoid jokes

[@dianeferguson3555]

UK your bag takes a while to come off the plane because it is being x rates before you get it back (not always but if from high risk destinations) and you walk such a long way from the gate because customs officers are watching you on CCTV to spot suspicious behaviour.

[@dianeferguson3555]

Also, be prepared for standard questions. Flying into JFK they asked me what my job was. This was not a two word answer at the time, I should have thought up a quick answer before hand but didn’t.

[@desthomas8747]

Have traveled to the US many times, the last time was told we needed to fill in a Visa Waiver Form, seem to remember the Visa used to be £12, so we filled in the VWF and went to hand it in, "that will be £12 Sir went the man at the airport" nearly said "thank god that's saved us £12" then thought he would not understand British humor (Humour). Mind you we once went to Egypt and was told the Visa would be £10 and we must have the exact amount to hand over. We duly handed over a £10 Note, we were given £E10 change (ten Egyptian pounds approx 10p).

[@juanjorodriguezalvarez7212]

Really good Video. One thing for those who have their ILR, in the event that you get your ILR card stolen abroad it is important that you report this to the local police abroad, but you should NOT cancel your Leave to Remain online with Immigration. A few years ago, when I still had my leave to remain, my card got stolen in Barcelona, and when I returned to the U.K, the Immigration officer told me that I had done the right thing with not reporting it stolen on the Immigration site, as she could still see my card and information on the system, with my passport, and she said that if I had reported it stolen it would have voided it and I wouldn't have been able to get back to the U.K, and would have been sent back to Spain and would have had to stay there until I was able to get a new card issued, which could take months.

[@timdaugherty5921]

I was just in London. Just scanned my passport and went in

[@stracepipe]

Whenever I've been to the states it's taken for ever to get through immigration (nearly missed my connecting flight when I was flying via Toronto, they actually held the plane for me), and I've always been interrogated as to where I'm staying (with a friend); how do I know the friend, and where did I first meet the friend. On one occasion, when I answered "the London underground", I was asked which line. I regularly seen people carted off for further questioning. It's very intimidating.

[@taylorcoburn1457]

Hi there! If you’re flying from the US to Italy but have a connecting flight in Heathrow London (inbetween the US and Italy), do you have to go through immigration or customs? I believe our bags will be automatically pushed through to the final destination flight but worried about having to go through customs with only a 2 hour connection time🥹

[@Crusty_Camper]

The UK has a system called Transit. Depending on the exact circumstances, you should not have to be "entered" but should stay within the security area, to go directly to departures for your next flight. The USA does not have this, all passengers are fully cleared into the country even if they are leaving in half an hour for another country. This happened regularly to me when I was travelling between the UK and Mexico.

[@NeurodivergentGuy2023]

No, you just follow signs for international connections, you only need to through customs if you are connecting onto a domestic/republic of Ireland flight. You will need to do security again though before you can reach your connecting flight.

[@dogstar5572]

US immigration/customs gave me a lot of trouble. Their hostility stops me going back. I’m Irish.

[@Undecided0]

I feel the same way & I’m from the US. They once asked me how long I was staying. I told him forever. They said I had to apply for a green card. I said “I’m a US citizen, dumb ass”. They weren’t too happy with that.

[@carolinekelly3415]

Thank you.

[@julie627]

Exactly what happened to you over here happened to me and my boyfriend when we visited the US back in 2019 we got locked in a room with no explanation whatsoever they literally said stand there, follow me, but because the airport on our end told us there was the problem with the visa we know that's what was wrong very unpleasant experience 🙄

[@sabersycedeno7677]

Helpful video! I am traveling to the UK next week with my husband and we are really excited. We are also trying to travel to France in the Eurostar for a day trip. Do you have any experience with this? Will we have trouble coming back to the UK after leaving to France and coming back the same day?

[@bills1779]

How did you make there and back? Any customs issues? Long lines ? Any advice for a day trip?

[@sabersycedeno7677]

@@bills1779 hey! It was great trip. We used EuroStar back and forth. I’ll advise to get there at least 45min earlier just because it’s literally like an airport and lines can be pretty long. I believe we were in the custom line for about 20 mins. My advise is to map out where you wanna go ahead of time so you don’t waste anytime since you’re doing a 1day trip. Also, if you don’t know any French like me I’ll recommend you do research on what train transportation and tickets you need (if you’re planning on taking the train)

[@bills1779]

@@sabersycedeno7677 thank you!! Last question ... I was wondering if I should get a small amount of French money, maybe $50 worth??

[@tallmale188]

You should do what I do, I use my British Passport when I scan out leaving the UK and my Irish Passport when I return!

[@tonys1636]

I am a UK citizen living in the ROI and a passport is not required for travel within the CTA for CTA citizens, just try telling Ryan Air that, they will only accept a passport as ID. The CTA (Common Travel Area) is the UK, ROI, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

[@relaxationpeacefulmusic6296]

Just for the record, anytime they mistreat you or deport you for so reason, sue them in the UK or in your own countries. They will get tired of paying lawsuits, believe me.

[@tonys1636]

@@relaxationpeacefulmusic6296 One can't bring a civil case or a prosecution against the Crown and HM Border Force or HM Immigration and Customs. as it used to be called, is an HM Government Dept. The clue is in the HM, Her Majesty's. Customs and Immigration officers have greater powers of search and detention without a warrant than Police. Police will often be present incase of a breach of the peace as an assault is outside their remit.

[@relaxationpeacefulmusic6296]

@@tonys1636 Believe me no one is above the law. If they are accused of breaking the law by abusing their powers they can be prosecuted, either the departament, as a individual or both. Hope they never do anything against me. I'd dedicate my life until they pay.

[@tonys1636]

@@relaxationpeacefulmusic6296 The Crown makes the Law and only the Crown can prosecute the Crown. Any UK criminal case is the Crown verses XXXXX. Any abuse of power or breach of the Law will and can be prosecuted by HM Govt. against an HM Govt. Dept. and in the Supreme Court, no jury a panel of the most senior Judges, previously would have been the Law Lords sitting in the House of Lords.

[@ABPhotography1]

I remember when I visited Washington DC and the customs lady, looking at my new passport, asked if I had a criminal record!...

[@barrygower6733]

First time I visited the US I was surprised that the immigration form asked if I was an alien. I had flow in from London, not Mars.

[@ogone1465]

I think it meant foreigner

[@kayflip2233]

Huh? That's the definition of the word "alien" though - it means you're from a foreign country. I think you just watch too many movies.

[@WillOneZeroZeroTwoFour]

I think "alien" is the administrative word for "foreigner" in American English.

[@geoffcook1446]

I am English by birth, but now a US citizen, so I hold a British and US Passport! I find US immigration officials to be a little more abrasive than their British counterparts. I was detained at Boston, on my way home to Rhode Island,. The previous trip I had lost my green card. The US officer took me into a room, he had a colleauge with him. He asked me, where did I lose my green card. I thought for a moment, then replied "I know you aren't supposed to back chat immigration officers, but sir, if I knew where I had lost my card, I would have returned there and found it!" Luckily, his colleague was amused by my response.. I was allowed to go, and never had issue with the lost card since!!

[@girlwithoutacountry644]

I have a us passport and last December entered UK from Ireland. No one ever checked or stamped my passport, I was let off right at baggage claim and didn’t know I had to find immigration on my own. When I left uk to go to USA none mentioned anything about my passport not being stamped. Do you think this will be a problem in the future trying to get back into Ireland or England?

[@ervint8474]

Stamps mean nothing on the passport, many times they are unreadable because they're overlapping each other. They check and scan your passport at the computer and your info is in the system

[@Lee-70ish]

Stansted has always been awful for customs and baggage reclaim my wife’s biometric passport never bloody works mines fine. I’ve actual spent as much time getting back into the UK as the flight from Barcelona took

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Am totally with you on spending as much time in immigration as the flight itself - it's soul destroying!

[@lorilassen6376]

Did nothing when I came from US to Heathrow. Went straight to pick up luggage after showing my passport. No big deal. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@izzyolim2008]

Me having a british and Portuguese passport , my mum dragging me into the eu queue because its always shorter now

[@jj-eg5up]

Thank you

[@Krinmassey]

Traveling to the UK 🇬🇧 from the US in 2 weeks ( first time abroad). I am a little nervous.

[@miguelgonzales8879]

I had no problem getting into the UK, maybe because it was before Brexit. There was a line for US and EU citizens , went through got my luggage and I was on the street. I wanted my passport to be stamped but they told me to keep going.

[@tonys1636]

Entering the UK and passing through Immigration and Customs without actually speaking to an officer does seem weird to many visitors but from the moment one steps off the plane one is being watched on CCTV. Any unusual behavior such as nervousness or looking furtive will be noticed and result in being stopped and luggage searched, with a possible full body search. One is entering a country with the highest number of CCTV cameras per head of population anywhere in the world. From ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras, speed and traffic flow cameras on roads, CCTV on the streets to cameras in the local take away, one is being filmed. Your Visa not being recognised is down to being a recently issued one, the computer system may not have been updated with it, systems often take time to be updated, Civil Servants still work at a snail's pace.

[@schemerzzzz4875]

How does the process work for vaccination card verification ?

[@paulwhitear4983]

I think you might find that your luggage might be scanned before you get your luggage. I might be wrong

[@keith6400]

When you think about the UK honour system the reality is that they look at the APIS data and your luggage has been screened by a team of sniffer dogs a team of guys with x-ray equipment. They will have looked into how many times you have entered the UK how frequently, considered if a person of average earnings could afford this type of travel, look into any previous occasions you have been caught with excess cigarettes etc. Did you pay for your own travel and how long ago did you book the trip. They will have earmarked certain travellers and see if known groups are dividing into separate entities to get through whether they go into the bathroom to rearrange clothing. They would consider if you have come from a high risk drugs country or transited one. Is your routing unusual involving an intermediate high risk drug country. Physically observe you to see if you are wearing more clothes than everybody else are you sweating looking a bit nervous. Then they pounce. That's the honour system.

[@andyhutchinson987]

A Brits three trips through immigration in about 6 weeks. First Greece, Guy was basically half asleep just waving his hand at people, don't bother me. Coming back to UK, questioned by immigration at Newcastle airport for 5 minutes by some guy who I was either at school with and hated me or they thought my Geordie accent and UK passport was fake. Trip into USA about a month later, ready to confess to kidnapping the Lindbergh baby in the 1930's after being questioned. Only really stopped when the immigration guy saw my airline pass in my wallet. working for an airline got you a better class of torture back then :-) USA scary factor worked against the general southern friendliness idea. Worst place I ever flew into was Memphis, then Atlanta then NY. Used to love Detroit, even the immigration folks there were great. Those were highlights, others fall on the scale. The biggest laugh everyone used to get was on the card you used to have to fill in on the plane. And paraphrasing here, one of the questions was if you supported the overthrow of the US Goverment by violent or non violent means. You would have to be a real whack job to answer yes and maybe someone did for a joke...ONCE lol If they had given you the question after going through customs and immigration the answer might have been different :-)

[@jackiethecolordiva]

Do you need a visa if you're coming in from United States?

[@lesbrown8099]

Thank you… :)

[@VAFrias]

I'm an American going to London this summer to visit my LDR partner, so this is definitely useful!

[@richt71]

You forgot to mention sleeping bag in flying into Heathrow at the moment! With it taking on average of 6 hours to clear border control due to them checking for negative covid test. 😮

[@wow47]

I am disabled wheelchair user and I could not use auto immigration exit alone to check my support was not allowed to be with me to help One can get confused and stressed in such a situation Get airport assistant to take you out

[@mjfurniss35]

Customs and Immigration used to be 2 separate entities. Customs used to be part of the tax office

[@ademolaadebayo1005]

I have been to the US a few times. BTW, I am a Brit (I mention this because of my unusual name). My first visit to the US (to a Southern State in the late 1990s) informed me that the civil rights movement that occurred in the 1960s was for real. The immigration was ok, but the customs officer treated me as if I was a criminal. She was not very polite and began searching for my luggage without even asking for my permission. As the search continued, I noticed that her countenance changed when she saw my bible and my payslips. Maybe she suddenly realized that I didn't fit the stereotype that she expected. She didn't apologize for her behavior and just informed me that I can go. I have since been to the U.S. a few times, but to states in the North. I know for a fact that the United Kingdom is the best Western Nation to be a black person, I make this statement based on the fact that I have been to many Western countries and none equals the United Kingdom in the treatment of her ethnic minorities. Regarding your detention, the immigration officer was only doing his job. I know that it was an unfortunate situation, but it is job to ensure that the correct person is in possession of the visa.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Want lots more tips on getting through UK immigration and customs smoothly? Check them out for free here: girlgonelondon.com/going-through-uk-customs/

[@RK-zf1jm]

Its kind of an honour system if you go through nothing to declare and the scans have shown something that the customs people are interesting in you will be pulled and you have already blown your chances of good cop interview its straight to you will be body searched you will be cautioned and if you are not from the UK strong chance you ll be put back on the next flight back to your home nation with probably a travel ban on entering the UK for anywhere from a month to life depending on what the offence is. So yeah its an honour system to a point.

[@tommo8834]

1 other thing dont go through with your in laws i'm a uk citizen born and bred and everytime ive gone through customs in the uk with in laws ive been stopped

[@teresaqureshi6342]

You mean immigration

[@thesherbet]

A couple years ago I decided to take some time off and spend a month in NYC and check out all the bars etc. Pretty much my first time travelling by completely myself and I've heard endless stories about US airports being nightmares etc so I was ready for an ordeal. Turns out JFK is stupidly easy to get through even though it's my first time visiting the states since I was a little kid. Took all of about 20mins to get to the tram on the other side after landing. Compare that to arriving back in the UK a month later and holy s**t. The waiting at Heathrow was hell. Massive queues at immigration for no good reason. Really wished I had renewed my NZ passport just so I didnt have to go through the UK lines that were backed up down the corridor from the actual hall.

[@stevenredpath9332]

Where ever there is paperwork there will be mistakes. If it happens you have to hope that the person you are interacting with can spot the issue and resolve it quickly with minimum fuss. Some branches of the UK government are better at this than others. Thanks to a mistake by a civil servant in one government department many years ago I now have 2 birthdays, my real one and my “official” one despite me telling them & supplying documentation to prove it on numerous occasions. Bureaucracies, meh.

[@nua1234]

Worked with an American who worked in Ireland, when he was transiting in London. After saying he was on is way to Dublin for work got questioned along the following lines: Where are you going to stay while you are in the UK? Here in Heathrow How long are you staying in the UK? 1 hour What is your purpose of entering the UK? To leave How are you going to support your self in while you are in the UK? Very puzzeled, I’m not staying This went on for ten minutes.

[@rgoonewardene380]

I’m sorry, but you were not detained. The officer just needed to check your visa, which I concede had an error. You simply needed to wait for 20minutes to have your details checked.

[@davidkeetz]

it took me a long time to get out of Germany once because somehow my passport info wouldn't pull up my information when they checked it - - according to their system I didn't exist....it was really bizarre but eventually they made some phone calls and got it figured out. German customs agents were also really mean, in another airport after the "you don't exist" incident, they made us go through three separate security scan gates and II made an ill advised joke about how you'd think they'd have perfected moving humans around by now and one of the officers heard me, apparently didn't find it funny because he pulled me out of line and subjected me to a full search (they confiscated a few souvenirs I had purchased in turkey that had already been physically checked and deemed fine by other German agents beforehand btw)

[@TheCorek1949]

I think you'll find the baggage belt is called a carousel.

[@matthewhalsall5743]

Last time I went to the us (I travel there quite a bit for business) I got lost after collecting my piece of paper from the machine I went down the wrong aisle. A Border agent stopped me and growled I needed to join the (humongous) line.I replied in my best British "terribly sorry officer" accent. He said "let me see that" I showed him the paper and he lifted the rope and personally admitted me to the US. Absolutely unbelievable but true. To be honest he was right in the sense I am zero risk individual (highly paid job in uk, family in uk etc) but still I was amazed. Perhaps a case of white privilege.

[@itscliffvtr]

I have always been under the impression that all luggage is scanned at the departing country and if they suspect anything they will phone ahead to the arrival country and then you'll get detained.

[@beverlymcfarlane8681]

And though it looks like there is no one much around at Customs, you are under surveillance all the time. Any suspicious body language and behaviour guarantees you will be stopped. . Plenty of sniffer dogs in use too.

[@michaelz.7140]

me and my girlfriend split because she thought her line would be faster, and mine was faster. She didnt want to come to my line.. I only was asked for my ID and got it back whilst my girlfriend while not knowing english so good got a whole interview. where she stays how long etc.

[@StephenC050]

Best experience of US Customs and immigration was Dallas/Fort Worth, really friendly. Worst was Philadelphia.

[@peterjones6640]

Interesting my worst experience of US immigration was Dallas/Fort Worth, not particularly because they were any more officious than at other US airports but only two officials on duty , it took 4 hours to get to the front of the queue. People were missing domestic connecting flights etc. This was some 12 years ago. It was so bad I complained to US Homeland security when I got back to U.K., people were fainting in the queue, older persons couldn’t stand for that long, no way of getting a drink etc. Friendliest I found was at SFO , been a number of times and although queue usually long usually greet you with a “good day sir” have a pleasant stay.

[@Nevswim]

@@peterjones6640 My worst experience was at Atlanta, best at the U.S. entry port in Dublin Airport.

[@gemoftheocean]

In Philly they are a-holes to US citizens too.

[@theresadash5700]

Hello! Thanks for the information. Have you ever had to show proof of funds when entering England from the UK?

[@xhogun8578]

An aunt of mine used to travel back and forwards to the continent all the time (in the 70s and 80s) she was a very prim and proper lady. She could never understand how she could always walk straight through the nothing to declare gate. I think she felt she was missing out on something as she never had her luggage checked. She decided on the next trip to try and look guilty as she walked through by acting a bit nervously. She was stopped and her luggage checked for contraband. I still laugh thinking about it. It made her day. So though you may not think there is anyone watching they are.

[@spanishdncr71]

American citizens can go through the same e-gates that U.K. citizens go through. Whenever I’ve brought anyone with me to England, from America, with a US passport I’ve taken them with me through the same immigration channel and it hasn’t been a problem. Although, we were not travelling with young children as mentioned.

[@girlwithoutacountry644]

I have a us passport and last December entered UK from Ireland. No one ever checked or stamped my passport, I was let off right at baggage claim and didn’t know I had to find immigration on my own. When I left uk to go to USA none mentioned anything about my passport not being stamped. Do you think this will be a problem in the future trying to get back into Ireland or England?

[@spanishdncr71]

@@girlwithoutacountry644 no, it won’t be a problem. You’ll be fine.

[@pashvonderc381]

Never really had a problem with the US Immigration Officers at JFK, just got asked the normal “ how long are you staying for and where ya going?” questions.. But what got on my tits was the Immigration Officers shouting out “ this way, stay in the line blah blah “ as if we were all deaf and dumb, (there was no other way to go. ) maybe they were on a power trip or had short person syndrome? But other than that… I quite enjoy the Ol’ Colony.

[@0954jamesa1]

I have a UK passport and when I went to America I had to join the visa/estha queue and was questionned three times, followed by giving finger prints. I can't fly into Canada because they won't give me an eTA. I didn't think they would be so strict.

[@fritzkrakaz]

Video made me laugh, so I clicked that like button...

[@Chasworth]

Cool story

[@davidsmith8376]

Can’t be any worse than getting into the US. Even after going through the ESTA process you still have to queue for three hours (Tampa and Miami). And don’t try calling yourself a family if you are gay; “we don’t recognise that type of marriage here sir” - but better in San Francisco.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Sorry to hear about your experiences, that is completely insane! Glad you fared better in San Francisco...but still.

[@peterjones6640]

Even better a friend of mine his partner and children ( they were not married ) were told they were in the wrong line as the US was a Christian country and they couldn’t be a family because they were not married!!!!

[@JC-yc7of]

Last time I came back from the US via LAX, I was "penned" in the glass booth when trying to enter departure. . Not funny.

[@mikepxg6406]

I find American Airports are very slow and illogical. They need to catch up with modern immigration procedures. plus the retina scan and fingerprint taking is not very friendly.

[@Kanad7]

I am a USA citizen going to London for a travel with my daughter what visa are you talking about I didn’t know England needs a Visa for USA citizens.

[@DocRobAC]

I found the us airports much slower on entry. Atlanta is the worst.

[@keithparker5103]

Rob Crowder I found Atlanta slow but the immigration officer seemed quite friendly. Wanted to know if the 6 beers I had would be enough.

[@alexcrawford6162]

Can’t say I’ve ever had to speak to a customs officer when flying into the US from abroad

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Interesting! Which US airports do you usually fly into?

[@fabianmckenna8197]

Travel from UK to Washington DC once a year and after immigration, that's it! No customs ever.

[@Chris_GY1]

British people go in a different direction to foreigners. I have always got my luggage before seeing Customs and Excise or Border Agency/Force or another countries customs.

[@rayjennings3637]

Not with me. I can't think of any time at any of the 43 different airports that I've flown into that I've not gone through Immigration before Customs.

[@kayflip2233]

@@rayjennings3637 Yeah, I think it's pretty standard to go through immigration, get your declaration form stamped, collect your luggage, then hand over the declaration form to an agent before you leave the luggage collection area. Some countries don't have that second step to hand over your form before leaving the luggage area though.

[@joshsheff7189]

If you came from the EU, yeah that used to be the case. Not any more.

[@vkdrk]

I actually like the US border checks, your officers are always very friendly, especially in Florida :). When I travel to Slovakia from the UK, I always fly to Vienna (airport is close to Slovak border) and when I give them my ID card instead of my passport, they just scan it, smile and say ''welcome home'' (even though I am not an Austrian citizen) but when I gave them my passport, they looked at me like I did something suspicious, they went through every single page of my passport and asked weird questions about my travel history so now I only use my passport in the UK and my ID on the continent lol. Most Europeans travel internationally (Schengen area) without a passport that's why those officers found it suspicious hahha When I flew from Spain to Austria, we didn't even go through security checks, went from the plane straight to a bus station. International flights in Schengen are like domestic flights. Traveling in Europe is so easy

[@keith6400]

The Luggage Pick Up Point is often referred to as The Carousel

[@paulgreen758]

could you do a more in depth reverse trip, ie, UK to America, I hope to go next year, and I must look into it more but could I get a 3 month visa to the States, I plan a road trip after a few days in New York, would I need to know where im going ie hotels or air BNB, in case I was stopped by the police, I might be asking to much, if so ignore this

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Hi Paul! I can definitely do videos like this, that sounds like a great trip!

[@paulgreen758]

@@GirlGoneLondonofficial start New York of to Michigan, then the national parks, im a photographer, and have many virtual friends I want to meet in the States, I hope 1 or 2 might make it to Scotland, but with the limited holidays they get I doubt it, but I live in hope

[@aoifee123]

Their main questions are about if you have ties to the us, if you have been before, what you work as at home, basically checking that you are planning on leaving again and don’t plan on working illegally. They will ask about accommodation so have some information about that

[@paulgreen758]

@@aoifee123 I’m retired, so have a income, but not sure where I will stay day to day in my trip, I think I need to do a lot of research, my biggest problem will be driving on the other side of the road, and when to stop and yield? On the right turns, thank you very much fir the reply

[@paulgreen758]

@Nicky L I’m a pro photographer, but only wanting to meet people I know from the States, some of my images will be used I hope, but I have funds, I’ve never been before, I also have a step aunt in Maryland that I would like to visit, thank you for the reply, I’m older and I have a wee bit time to work out my plans

[@darylnorman5861]

The luggage carousel is it's name

[@jackybraun2705]

In the UK it's called Border Control not "immigration"." Immigration" is a whole nother thing.

[@itscliffvtr]

Always go to the toilet on the plane just before landing. Then run off the plane like its the Olympics to get past as many people as possible.

[@dogstar5572]

Because a friend of mine is Icelandic he had ð in his name on his passport. Detained for 4 hours; he’s a policeman.

[@deanguiri3058]

One of the safest countries on Earth, and they still gave him an interrogation? 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@dogstar5572]

@@deanguiri3058 yep, his English at the time wasn’t great either which made it more stressful. Another friend was deported back to Iceland for having 1 sleeping tablet in his pocket. The prime minister of Iceland had to call the US consulate to allow him back in to begin his music tour of the states. He was arrested at the airport again, and let go after another call was made.

[@fleshen]

Are you still an American citizen? My wife gave heres up for ease of travel