UK Customs checks
Discussion
Just returned from my first European Motorcycle journey (solo). Didn't have any issues outbound last Friday and everyone was fine.
On the way back at Calais I get a snotty UK passport guy dealing with me when a woman over his shoulder tells me to go to a booth for checks.
Here they take my luggage all apart. I'm asked when I left, if I have proof of the outbound journey, what date the outbound ticket was issued, proof of where I stayed, where I work, who I met, what I bought, that I know importation of drugs and guns is illegal etc etc etc. Whilst I was polite to begin with I admit to getting pretty bloody angry at this point considering I'd rushed to get there on time yet had to put up with this.
Is this really what you have to go through now? I've been all over and even USA customs/border isn't this invasive. Do these questions really need to be answered?
For clarity here I was travelling on my Irish passport but also have a UK one (born in the UK to British Father and British/Irish Mother).
What's the actual process if you declined to say what you did - considering I'm a British citizen.
This is as much curiosity as it is being treated like a bloody criminal trying to reenter my own country. They also had several other cars they were pulling apart Inc an old guy having his range rover stripped.
On the way back at Calais I get a snotty UK passport guy dealing with me when a woman over his shoulder tells me to go to a booth for checks.
Here they take my luggage all apart. I'm asked when I left, if I have proof of the outbound journey, what date the outbound ticket was issued, proof of where I stayed, where I work, who I met, what I bought, that I know importation of drugs and guns is illegal etc etc etc. Whilst I was polite to begin with I admit to getting pretty bloody angry at this point considering I'd rushed to get there on time yet had to put up with this.
Is this really what you have to go through now? I've been all over and even USA customs/border isn't this invasive. Do these questions really need to be answered?
For clarity here I was travelling on my Irish passport but also have a UK one (born in the UK to British Father and British/Irish Mother).
What's the actual process if you declined to say what you did - considering I'm a British citizen.
This is as much curiosity as it is being treated like a bloody criminal trying to reenter my own country. They also had several other cars they were pulling apart Inc an old guy having his range rover stripped.
Most detailed searches are intelligence led, so there was probably information that led them to target your arrival.
The questions might seem obtuse but often quickly trip up people who haven't got their story straight.
It can be frustrating but there is nothing to be gained by showing that. I have seen cars physically disassembled at Dover.
You will not win an argument with Customs.
The questions might seem obtuse but often quickly trip up people who haven't got their story straight.
It can be frustrating but there is nothing to be gained by showing that. I have seen cars physically disassembled at Dover.
You will not win an argument with Customs.
M11rph said:
It can be frustrating but there is nothing to be gained by showing that. I have seen cars physically disassembled at Dover.
You will not win an argument with Customs.
Being an arse with Customs or BF will never get you anywhere you want to be quickly. Be polite answer their questions is the easiest way. You will not win an argument with Customs.
If you have a UK passport why you'd not enter on it is beyond me though.
GT03ROB said:
Being an arse with Customs or BF will never get you anywhere you want to be quickly. Be polite answer their questions is the easiest way.
If you have a UK passport why you'd not enter on it is beyond me though.
Probably because he’s the type of person that knows best. Good to see custom officials can also spot this type a mile offIf you have a UK passport why you'd not enter on it is beyond me though.
Biker9090 said:
Just returned from my first European Motorcycle journey (solo). Didn't have any issues outbound last Friday and everyone was fine.
On the way back at Calais I get a snotty UK passport guy dealing with me when a woman over his shoulder tells me to go to a booth for checks.
Here they take my luggage all apart. I'm asked when I left, if I have proof of the outbound journey, what date the outbound ticket was issued, proof of where I stayed, where I work, who I met, what I bought, that I know importation of drugs and guns is illegal etc etc etc. Whilst I was polite to begin with I admit to getting pretty bloody angry at this point considering I'd rushed to get there on time yet had to put up with this.
Is this really what you have to go through now? I've been all over and even USA customs/border isn't this invasive. Do these questions really need to be answered?
For clarity here I was travelling on my Irish passport but also have a UK one (born in the UK to British Father and British/Irish Mother).
What's the actual process if you declined to say what you did - considering I'm a British citizen.
This is as much curiosity as it is being treated like a bloody criminal trying to reenter my own country. They also had several other cars they were pulling apart Inc an old guy having his range rover stripped.
Annoying as it may be, surely it is good they are tightening down on checks?On the way back at Calais I get a snotty UK passport guy dealing with me when a woman over his shoulder tells me to go to a booth for checks.
Here they take my luggage all apart. I'm asked when I left, if I have proof of the outbound journey, what date the outbound ticket was issued, proof of where I stayed, where I work, who I met, what I bought, that I know importation of drugs and guns is illegal etc etc etc. Whilst I was polite to begin with I admit to getting pretty bloody angry at this point considering I'd rushed to get there on time yet had to put up with this.
Is this really what you have to go through now? I've been all over and even USA customs/border isn't this invasive. Do these questions really need to be answered?
For clarity here I was travelling on my Irish passport but also have a UK one (born in the UK to British Father and British/Irish Mother).
What's the actual process if you declined to say what you did - considering I'm a British citizen.
This is as much curiosity as it is being treated like a bloody criminal trying to reenter my own country. They also had several other cars they were pulling apart Inc an old guy having his range rover stripped.
As an aside, glad i am not travelling further than my front door this weekend.
Biker9090 said:
Just returned from my first European Motorcycle journey (solo). Didn't have any issues outbound last Friday and everyone was fine.
On the way back at Calais I get a snotty UK passport guy dealing with me when a woman over his shoulder tells me to go to a booth for checks.
Here they take my luggage all apart. I'm asked when I left, if I have proof of the outbound journey, what date the outbound ticket was issued, proof of where I stayed, where I work, who I met, what I bought, that I know importation of drugs and guns is illegal etc etc etc. Whilst I was polite to begin with I admit to getting pretty bloody angry at this point considering I'd rushed to get there on time yet had to put up with this.
Is this really what you have to go through now? I've been all over and even USA customs/border isn't this invasive. Do these questions really need to be answered?
For clarity here I was travelling on my Irish passport but also have a UK one (born in the UK to British Father and British/Irish Mother).
What's the actual process if you declined to say what you did - considering I'm a British citizen.
This is as much curiosity as it is being treated like a bloody criminal trying to reenter my own country. They also had several other cars they were pulling apart Inc an old guy having his range rover stripped.
Sadly you won’t get any sympathy here, you have to be a good little drone and not express your frustration On the way back at Calais I get a snotty UK passport guy dealing with me when a woman over his shoulder tells me to go to a booth for checks.
Here they take my luggage all apart. I'm asked when I left, if I have proof of the outbound journey, what date the outbound ticket was issued, proof of where I stayed, where I work, who I met, what I bought, that I know importation of drugs and guns is illegal etc etc etc. Whilst I was polite to begin with I admit to getting pretty bloody angry at this point considering I'd rushed to get there on time yet had to put up with this.
Is this really what you have to go through now? I've been all over and even USA customs/border isn't this invasive. Do these questions really need to be answered?
For clarity here I was travelling on my Irish passport but also have a UK one (born in the UK to British Father and British/Irish Mother).
What's the actual process if you declined to say what you did - considering I'm a British citizen.
This is as much curiosity as it is being treated like a bloody criminal trying to reenter my own country. They also had several other cars they were pulling apart Inc an old guy having his range rover stripped.
Let's speculate shall we
One of those people who, being eligible, expressed their displeasure at failing to win a democratic vote in 2016 by taking out an Irish passport maybe?
Used said passport to travel around the EU maybe?
Used said passport re-entering the UK to make a point maybe?
Whinge on here when said passport identifies you as a non-UK citizen maybe?
Thing is many UK and non-UK passport holders attempting to enter the UK are stopped, questioned and their luggage examined every day at ports of entry. I'm a UK citizen and have always held a UK passport. It's happened to me loads of times before and after the B word that I assume this post is a veiled whinge about. Deal with it.
One of those people who, being eligible, expressed their displeasure at failing to win a democratic vote in 2016 by taking out an Irish passport maybe?
Used said passport to travel around the EU maybe?
Used said passport re-entering the UK to make a point maybe?
Whinge on here when said passport identifies you as a non-UK citizen maybe?
Thing is many UK and non-UK passport holders attempting to enter the UK are stopped, questioned and their luggage examined every day at ports of entry. I'm a UK citizen and have always held a UK passport. It's happened to me loads of times before and after the B word that I assume this post is a veiled whinge about. Deal with it.
Forester1965 said:
Jordie Barretts sock said:
If you don't want to be treated as a foreign national at UK Immigration, don't travel on a foreign passport.
You were an Irish citizen travelling alone attempting to enter the UK.
He said in his post he's a UK citizen. You were an Irish citizen travelling alone attempting to enter the UK.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
If you don't want to be treated as a foreign national at UK Immigration, don't travel on a foreign passport.
You were an Irish citizen travelling alone attempting to enter the UK.
And.. that isn’t just automatically an anti Irish vibe, it’s more likely be cause the OP fit the approximate description of an alert subject that day.You were an Irish citizen travelling alone attempting to enter the UK.
There’s many a time that I have walked into the customs area of an airport to see the staff immediately look over my shoulder, because I don’t match the person(s) they are looking for.
Forester1965 said:
Jordie Barretts sock said:
If you don't want to be treated as a foreign national at UK Immigration, don't travel on a foreign passport.
You were an Irish citizen travelling alone attempting to enter the UK.
He said in his post he's a UK citizen. You were an Irish citizen travelling alone attempting to enter the UK.
OP there was obviously some intel that you got caught up in and unfortunately you failed the attitude test that’s pretty much it
Hol said:
And.. that isn’t just automatically an anti Irish vibe, it’s more likely be cause the OP fit the approximate description of an alert subject that day.
There’s many a time that I have walked into the customs area of an airport to see the staff immediately look over my shoulder, because I don’t match the person(s) they are looking for.
It's probably also that drug smuggling parrot you take with you :P.There’s many a time that I have walked into the customs area of an airport to see the staff immediately look over my shoulder, because I don’t match the person(s) they are looking for.
Two bikey friends and I were invited to the customs area on our way out of the UK last year - all UK passports :P. We had a nice chat with them as they swabbed the bikes for cat lips or whatever the cool kids are exporting these days. They had a look in a couple of easy to access bags and that was that. Reassuring and I assume our eagerness to jabber about the upcoming trip helped us look like non cat lip exporting decent people.
Edit: On my way back 4 weeks later, on my own and with many Balkans stamps... all good
. I have always encountered nice people at the tunnel check bits.Hol said:
There’s many a time that I have walked into the customs area of an airport to see the staff immediately look over my shoulder, because I don’t match the person(s) they are looking for.
To be frank most of the time I walk into the customs area of airports there's nobody to be seen. On the odd occasion you will see what must be the whole of the airports customs people standing at the entrance to the green channel! Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff