Heathrow Immigration

[Neil1968]

Anyone cleared immigration at Heathrow, with their spouse recently?

The wife is a Thai passport holder, in previous visits we have gone through the different lanes, me through UK/EU passport holders and the wife through the other channel. I was recently told we could probably go through either channel together, rather than separate lanes, anyone know if this is true or has had recent experience?

This would make more sense to me and surely make the immigration offices decision easier, if they can see she is travelling with her husband. Though sometimes not sure if the UKBA knows what common sense is!

We land on April 1st at 1300hrs so hopefully it should not be to busy, though in a previous visit it took her over 2 hours to clear immigration.

[gmac]

When I went with my wife last year we both queued up in the foreigner lane, which was horrendous as it was just before the Olympics. When we finally got to the front the immigration officer informed us that it would have been quite in order for us to both go through the British passport holders line...........and saved ourselves about an hour and a half.

He told us that either queue is acceptable as they take the view that husbands and wives should not be split up when passing through immigration.

[markey1234]

Hi

I have been through heathrow a few times with my wife and she has always gone through the same lane (UK and EEA passport lane if you know what I mean) we do have a child so I don't know if that makes any difference I would have to say that immigration there have always been very good with us so just go togther and see what they say.

Best of luck

Edited March 27, 2013 by markey1234

[liveforever]

We have also gone through the uk lane on advise from a nearby UKBA official.

Regards

[Waterloo]

The Wife has just received her ILR but prior to that once we were married we always queued together in the UK que & never had a problem.

We did carry and present our UK marriage certificate.

Edited March 27, 2013 by Waterloo

[bifftastic]

Ditto, I've been through the UK/EU line with my wife who was on a Family Visit Visa.

Not only is the queue shorter, they also seem to mind their p's and q's and not speak to my wife like she was something they just stepped in, like they did when she arrived on her own (and had to use the non UK/EU line).

We even got a smile!

[gmac]

We have also gone through the uk lane on advise from a nearby UKBA official.

Regards

If only I could have found one on my last visit. It was wall to wall bodies, no room to swing a cat and we joined the foreigner line for fear of being rejected at the UK queue and having to queue again. Big mistake!!

[TCA]

Not only is the queue shorter, they also seem to mind their p's and q's and not speak to my wife like she was something they just stepped in, like they did when she arrived on her own (and had to use the non UK/EU line)!

Hadn't considered this. If successful in her settlement visa application, my partner would likely travel alone with me already in the UK making preparations for her arrival. Should I really be thinking about flying to Thailand to accompany her? She'd be flying to Glasgow if that makes any difference.

[theoldgit]

@ TCA if your wife will be confident enough to fly to the UK on her own, there's absolutely no need for you to travel with here.

To be safe just give her a mobile number, no doubt you will be waiting landside, if the IO has a question they will call you.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[TCA]

To be safe just give her a mobile number, no doubt you will be waiting landslide, if the IO has a question they will call you

Good advice oldgit. Thanks. Although I hope to be waiting "landside" as opposed to waiting "landslide"! I'm sure all will be fine in the event we're successful.

[bifftastic]

Not only is the queue shorter, they also seem to mind their p's and q's and not speak to my wife like she was something they just stepped in, like they did when she arrived on her own (and had to use the non UK/EU line)!

Hadn't considered this. If successful in her settlement visa application, my partner would likely travel alone with me already in the UK making preparations for her arrival. Should I really be thinking about flying to Thailand to accompany her? She'd be flying to Glasgow if that makes any difference.

She should be fine, my wife didn't say she felt treated badly, just a bit confused by some of the questions. If I had been there and they had spoken to her like that, there would have been some noise, but that's just my sensibilities, not hers.

I wouldn't say it was bad enough for me to travel to Thailand just to walk her through immigration, your wife will be fine, I'm sure

[7by7]

........If I had been there and they had spoken to her like that.......

Spoken to her like what? You do say she says she wasn't treated badly.

Remember that a valid visa does not by itself guarantee entry; immigration at the person's port of entry can ask questions about the person's intentions etc. to check that the reasons for issuing the visa are still valid etc..

TCA, as said make sure she has your mobile number with her so immigration can call you if required, and it's a good idea for her to have her TB certificate and other supporting documents in her hand baggage just in case.

However, I'm sure she'll be fine.

[TCA]

Thanks guys. I'm getting way ahead myself with this line of thinking but best to be prepared for any and all eventualities I think.

[UbonOz]

Always used the UK citizen lane for both of us over several years at LHR, never a problem.

Once at LGW early one Sunday morning a female border agent got her knickers in a knot over something, cannot remember what it was now, long time ago. She sent us off to another agent who couldn't have been more helpful.

[bifftastic]

........If I had been there and they had spoken to her like that.......

Spoken to her like what? You do say she says she wasn't treated badly.

Remember that a valid visa does not by itself guarantee entry; immigration at the person's port of entry can ask questions about the person's intentions etc. to check that the reasons for issuing the visa are still valid etc..

TCA, as said make sure she has your mobile number with her so immigration can call you if required, and it's a good idea for her to have her TB certificate and other supporting documents in her hand baggage just in case.

However, I'm sure she'll be fine.

Spoken to like she was a child, in a very condescending manner. When she said that she didn't understand what the IO had said. he just repeated the same question more loudly. When she was asked if she intended to work, and said "no" the IO raised his eyebrows, wagged his finger and said "are you sure? You people always say that!"

He looked at her passport repeatedly, umming and ahhing, asked her if it was really her in the photograph (he didn't seem to feel it necessary to check her fingerprints, which she had given as part of the visa application process) and finally let her through after warning her to "be a good girl".

She's 36.

She didn't feel that she had been treated badly, because that was her first experience of UK officialdom. She had nothing to compare it to.

I'm fully aware of the procedures at the border, what questions the IO is entitled to ask, and the terms of the visa. .

She was asked similar questions when we travelled together. The difference was that it was done politely.

She then understood how rude the first official had been, and thanked the second IO for being so polite.

[theoldgit]

@ bifftastic

There is no excuse for an IO to treat your wife in the circumstances you describe, they have a very difficult job to do, they are effectively the last barrier, and it can be very boring, but you just shouldn't speak to people like that, comments like "you people" are simply outrageous.

I would caution anybody who is spoken to like that in the future, to take a deep breath, smile sweetly and walk away, if you feel strongly enough, complain the the Chief Immigration Officer, at Heathrow they sit in the room with the dark glass behind the desks, the IO can be identified by the number on the stamp.

Most people are just anxious to go and get their luggage.

[bifftastic]

I've told her that if she gets spoken to like that again that she should forget how to speak English and just smile and say "solly, no understan yoo" (she doesn't speak like that usually) and then offer a piece of paper with my number on it.

After all, why should anyone coming here for a visit have to be able to speak or understand English?

As I said before, the last experience we had with immigration was fine. All very

polite and professional.

[theoldgit]

As I said before, the last experience we had with immigration was fine. All very polite and professional.

And the vast majority are, it's a very difficult and demanding job.

I've only once ever encountered one unprofessional IO on the job and that was boarding the Eurostar in Paris four years ago, he was rude to me and my partner, I really thought he was thinking about refusing to land her, though I doubt whether if he would have got it past his CIO.

I really should have complained at the time or even later, but despite the fact I would always advise people to do so, nothing would have come of it. Still annoys me though, I wonder if he will be on duty in September.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[Seekingasylum]

If anyone feels that they have been treated badly simply ask the officer to request the attendance of the chief immigration officer on duty because you wish to make a formal complaint. Obtain the name of the senior officer and the number of the offending immigration officer. Request that a note of your complaint is entered into whatever log they may have and ask to see it when the entry has been made. Then write a letter to their complaints section ASAP and copy it to the Chief inspector of the UKBA.

Keeps them on their toes and if there is a repetition then the existing record may well assist in drawing attention to deficiencies. It is quite likely that if one officer is rude on an occasion then it won't be for the first time. The more complaints that may be made could well identify such a person to management who have then grounds to act.

[bifftastic]

All very well if you can speak English to that level. They have, in my experience, been a lot better behaved when dealing with UK citizens. Perhaps because we know how to complain?