People who go very frequently- any issues with immigration?

[sky13]

Luck of the draw - I've had experiences with US immigration where they let me through with minimal questions, and also experiences when they ask a few more questions (nothing too bad though).

One time a few years ago when I was still studying, the immigration officer asked me what work I did, I told him I was a student, and he asked to see my visa... cue mild confusion before he realised that I wasn't studying in the US (so clearly didn't have or need a student visa for the US!).

Originally Posted by Welshjim22

Sounds like normal immigration questions to establish if your a genuine visitor. Be assured many Americans get those very questions on arrival in UK.

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Not American, but am non-UK/EU, and can confirm that UK immigration officers ask me as many questions as US immigration officers! Again ranging from absolutely minimal to slightly more.

Possibly the worst I've had was when I was trying to enter the UK for something like 6 hours so I could transit from Heathrow to Gatwick, and the immigration officer got annoyed that I didn't immediately show him my onward boarding pass or ticket out of Gatwick - easily resolved though once I found the boarding pass in question!

While waiting in line I've also seen UK immigration officers absolutely grill some people too...

[Tinkerbell]

I was once grilled at MCO. When I was younger I lived just off of Bakers Street , London. The guy kept asking me did I ever live in Bakers Street it was surreal. I kept saying no, he’d start tapping on the keyboards ask me another question and then say again are you sure you’ve never lived on Bakers Street. Eventually let me through. Over twenty visits to USA only time I’ve been grilled

[mattyped]

Nope no probs

[RickT]

No grilling as such, however when just me and the Mrs went to Vegas a few months ago, (normally we have our kids with us to Florida son age 9 and DD 6) the officer was polite and asked what the reason for our trip was and why we was only here for 5 days? (we had only flown back from Florida as a family 5 weeks before)

My reply was, these 5 days are kid free so me and the mrs can enjoy Las Vegas rather than our last Disney trip for the kids! of which his reply was, "aww, did <my sons name> not fancy the High Roller wheel or roller coaster at New York New York or even the zip line down freemont street then ? to i replied something like, "he would of loved them but he can go on them in about 13 years and then the officer asked where my princess (my DD) was staying while we were away to which i told him both are keeping their grandparents on their toes ! Asked which hotel we was staying at and then was wished a pleasant stay in Vegas and have a nice time.. !

Stamp and off we went -


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While i remember too, in PHL last year, we declared no food items... genuinely believed we had no food on us, but then a Beagle dog started showing interest in my sons ruck sac he was carrying. Got asked to go to one side, was asked if any food items where in the bag to which i replied no, not to my knowledge and my wife echoed my comment.

Lady officer then inspects son ruck sac and pulls out this half eaten sandwich from boots! I look at her, look at the wife, look at my son (age 9) and i say whys that back in your bag ? I told you to put it in the rubbish bin!, then my son bless him replies and says, yeah dad, I was going to put it in the bin but then thought i maybe hungry later so i might eat it with my prawn cocktail crisps ! to which i reply, have you got crisps in your bag too? he replies, yeah <sisters name> didnt eat all of hers so i took them too as i ate all of mine - DD then says those were my crisps !

I just said to the officer... sorry... what more can i say ! to which she laughs and says dont worry dude to my son, this is why im here... scans bag, removes item, asks my kids if they would like some Beagle Dog stickers and gives them a postcard picture each of some dogs

She then just says to me and the wife, just double check his bag please in future and off we went...

Me and the wife just wander off looking at each other when my DD just pipes up and says, Daddy, i didnt know dog's likes sandwiches...

[discostu]

Last year in Shannon we went to get our boarding passes from the Americ.an Airlines desk I have 3 adult children one is autistic. One son aged 22 and in college got a lot of questions at the ticket desk. Where are you in college have you family in the states what course are you doing in college can you name two of your lecturers We got to immigration and were told that our autistic daughter had been selected for some further investigations. We explaned and had a note from her Doctor and they said no problem

[Andybear]

I went on a solo trip last year and got a grilling. It was my first visit there since 1997 though so she was just doing her job, no matter how unpleasant it was for me. At one point though I seriously thought she'd say I wasn't allowed in the country. Thankfully she let me through. When I went to baggage claim a couple I'd got talking to on the flight were concerned about the length of time she'd kept me there.

[mrs rcch]

We travelled with AA at Christmas, as we checked in using the machines, a lady sidled up, checked our passports, and started asking us random questions about our final destination, the villa, then she asked if I had any hobbies. Big smile and handed us our documents back... very odd... when we got to the boarding gate, there must have been about 50 people who had been pulled to one side, and were being swabbed and questions asked. Didn’t bother us, we just smiled and answered all the questions. Rather be safe than sorry

[Charl_bb]

We got grilled when we went to Florida and then New York a few months later... Until my husband got asked his job. He's police and when he said this they just waved us through!

[McSleepy]

Your names may have matched up with someone under their radar.

A friend of mine a few years ago had the same name as someone who had overstayed their visa and got quizzed at immigration also.

I think the fact that he had also been several times didn't help.

[NewtoOrlando]

Originally Posted by Charl_bb

We got grilled when we went to Florida and then New York a few months later... Until my husband got asked his job. He's police and when he said this they just waved us through!

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We had a similar experience this year, went Florida in August no questions asked at all, then DH and I went to NYC in November on our own. The officer asked ya what brought us back to the US so soon and what we did for a living, my dh is police aswell so he told them, dh also had his veterans badge on his coat so he was asking him where he served and the officer said was an ex marine, and he stamped our passports and wished us a nice kid free trip. Never had a bad experience.