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Thanks for all the answers.
But I think we should limit the focus to being questioned when one enters their own country.
Particularly the travel history.
…
This makes me think the “hostile environment” policy seems to have got out of hand sometimes.
So it is political.
And it is odd that people tend to confuse the true legal practice with its traditional/historical way of practical interpretation.Obviously I don’t know anything about your ethnicity or appearance so am now jumping to (possibly wrong) conclusions. But you did bring up the “hostile environment”, are you suggesting that such questioning is focussed or targetted at certain groups?
I obviously have no idea whether this is a thing – it may be, but I’ve definitely been asked this question several times in the last couple of years (usually travel with children so usually at manual gates), and I’m white, so from my pathetic data set of one, I’d say it’s not, although it could be targetted at those travelling with minors?
“It flips me when law enforcement crosses the legal and moral line and abuse their power”
That’s heading towards wacky “Sovereign Citizen” territory. I don’t think you’re going to get far in this debate until you accept that human officers are not simply e-gates that talk, or some sort of welcone-home greeting service. In asking this question they have not crossed, or even gone close to, any such line. You’ve already been offered several valid reasons why it’s an entirely reasonable thing to do and very much within a border officer’s role; you just seem to have disregarded them.
Just to say that most of the times that I’ve returned back to the UK with a toddler in tow, I’ve been asked where I’ve come from, what’s my child’s birthday, and things like that, all during the process of putting three UK passports of the same family in the scanner. As it doesn’t take any more time than it would had he been a deaf/mute scanning three passports in, I can’t say I’m upset about anyone asking.
Just last month I was coming back from Geneva as a solo traveller, and my passport failed at the egates so had to go over to the quequeless manned desk. As soon as I gave my passport, I was asked where I had just flow in from and… I drew a blank! “Ummmmmmmmmm….eeeeuuurgghhh… where did I just come from… I should know this… Yes! I’ve got it! Geneva!” A couple more questions ensued (business or pleasure, what kind of business, etc) and off I was.
As an EU passport holder the number of questions declined massively now that I have a UK passport holder with me most of the times (my kid).
Before they always asked where I came from, where I lived, what I was doing in the UK and more. This was to ascertain where I lived here or just visiting, I imagine.
Now it’s just “hello”, “welcome back” and not much less.We flew to America after a hiatus of over 6 years. The immigration guy asked me what date I last entered the United States! I took a guess at our family trip to Orland in April 2012 and fortunately it was correct, though I couldn’t tell him the specific arrival date as he was holding my passport at the time, presumably looking at that particular entry stamp. I’m not sure if he was asking out of interest or some sort of suspicion of wrongdoing!
As an Asian passport holder travelling with indefinite leave for the last 15 years, I’ve had a range of questions and some cranky moments.
What is the purpose of your visit to the UK.
Pay taxes.Do you cook ?
What is the relevance of this question.Is this your family ?
Sometimes.Welcome home – was genuinely taken aback and thanked him.
I’d like to think they’re trained to pick up cues if something is off to warrant further questioning / investigation.
I have always viewed as the border officers have got an objective to achieve (to secure the border) and I welcome whatever they want to ask, but I may choose to only answer relevant questions for the purposes of border entry.I used to find it highly amusing to answer the question “Where have you been?” with “Nowhere”, when ‘returning’ to Dover ferry port, after having spent a number of hours on the same ferry to and from Calais on a Car Park Shopper ticket…
You get on, do some shopping, move the car to the front of the ferry after everyone else gets off at Calais, then eat at the Brasserie on the return journey.
All stopped at the pandemic, though, sadly
OH has ILR via Portuguese passport. Passport hasn’t worked in e-gates for 18 months, and he is clearly on some watch list somewhere as has great trouble entering the USA as he does regularly for work (even got taken aside at a boarding gate at LHR recently). Watch lists must be an interesting one for PT nationals, given they tend to have 2 first names and 2 surnames, and his are unique, but hey ho.
He is sad his passport won’t work at the gates, especially whilst we don’t have kids, and I am not happy as it means I have to wait and listen to the perplexing stories of what he gets asked every time.
Though, in the spirit of “laughs/ridiculousness”… recent experiences with officers on returning to UK…
1. “Where have you come from?”
“Papeete”
“Where is that, Africa?”He did feel sorry for the officer (very similar to being asked by a CBP officer if they can speak Spanish to eachother, or another CBP interaction of “Portugal… lovely… I have always wanted to go to South America”)
2. Very delayed flight in from Rome. Shutters coming down all over T5 as it was the last flight to arrive in and we were in a rush for the last Lizzy line. OH tries e-gates (as he should – even knowing he will be declined), gets declined then heads to manned desk. I am waiting patiently as I do on the other side, and hear an argument break out…
“You haven’t tried the e gates, why are you here, go back to the gates”
“I have and no, I won’t…”
“No you haven’t, I didn’t see you”
“I did…”
“No you didn’t, give me your passport……. oh you did… (no apology!!!!!)… [followed by the standard 10 questions]Whilst happy OH showed some guts to stand up to the bully (v out of character), I was fuming. Yes, he doesn’t have a UK passport (but does have ILR), but come on… what a way to treat someone returning home (lived here 7 years) who just wants to go home to bed, to wake up, to go to work and pay a hot load of taxes.
OH has ILR via Portuguese passport. Passport hasn’t worked in e-gates for 18 months, and he is clearly on some watch list somewhere as has great trouble entering the USA as he does regularly for work
Get him to apply for a Redress number and add it to all his US bookings. I (touch wood) haven’t been hassled once since I got mine, no more SSSS on the boarding passes either.
Someone above mentioned they scan the passport to check the biometrics. I had always assumed the airlines passes passenger lists to border force and from that they could see your travel history after scanning your passport. Am I ascribing the system too much competence?
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