Clearing Immigration Control
The vast majority of people arriving in the UK do so at Heathrow International Airport. This is one of the world’s biggest and busiest airports and never fails to impress the first-time visitor with its size. Just about everything is well signposted and finding your way around isn’t too difficult. If you are overawed or feel lost, just follow the crowd.
The procedure involves clearing Immigration Control first, then on to collect your luggage with the finale being a walk through a corridor of Customs officials. If your papers are in order, you’re visibly in good health, not carrying anything illegal in your luggage and don’t look like you’re hiding something, then you have nothing to fear. This process should be a formality taking just under an hour to complete.
As you get off the plane, look up toward the ceiling to spot the yellow and black signs leading to Immigration Control. Once you get there you will see three options – one marked “British and European Union passport”, “British Visa” and the other marked “Foreign passport”. If you have a British, European Union or EEA passport you can pass through the first one which rarely has a queue and usually just one or two officials who just want to see the passport cover. If you have a British visa stamped (or pasted) in your passport already, then join “British Visa”. All other passports (even American and Canadian) need to join the normally lengthy queue under “Foreign passports”. When its your turn at the counter of an Immigration Control official you will need to only initially present your passport. Depending on your visa and accompanying story, you may be asked for further information such as proof of funds, return ticket, accommodation details, work arrangements, all of which will be related to your visa stipulations. For the vast majority of people this encounter is a mere formality.
Some people find the process of clearing Immigration Control very daunting. So for their benefit here is some details of a proven successful technique to calmly clear Immigration. When you go up the counter to present your passport, don’t be over-friendly or talkative. Just greet them politely as you hand over your passport. The official will first want to determine your nationality, perhaps browse through your passport and then find the relevant visa. Only then will they want to start talking to you. They will ask for the reason of your visit and your intentions depending on your visa. Don’t be too elaborate in any of your explanations. You may give them reason to ask further questions. They may not even make eye contact with you as they busily deal with forms. Any questions that they may ask will usually be derived from your visa and what you answered to their initial questions. Make sure that your answers are related to and in accordance with your visa stipulations. Try and keep your answers short and courteous. It is common for them to ask to see a return ticket and finances for new arrivals in the UK travelling on short-term visas. They do have the power to deny you entry if your story/explanations/answers are not in accordance with your visa.