Detained in UK and almost sent away in Dublin, will I always be stopped at every airport now?
I'm a US citizen that traveled to the UK a long time ago and was detained and sent back right away because I didn't have a round trip ticket, I had no travel insurance, and low funds in my account. They stamped my passport with a stamp that has a horizontal line, then a vertical line overlaying the middle of the horizontal. They gave me a ton of paper work listing the reasons why I got sent back.
Six months later I tried flying to Dublin, Ireland. This time traveling I came more than prepared. I went there with the papers the Heathrow airport gave me, travel insurance, a round trip ticket, and proof of funds. But they saw that stamp in my passport and from then on I was sent to the detained section of the airport while they looked over everything. After about an hour they came back and they said they will allow me to stay. But they said I MUST leave on the date I said I will, and I can't fly out to the UK from there or I will be banned from Ireland and the UK. I had to send them proof of me leaving on the date I said I would and that was that.
My question is, will this be a reoccurring issue wherever I travel to or is this something that I'll only have an issue with the UK and Ireland? I'm planning on traveling from Washington DC on a non-stop flight to Dubai and I'm kind of nervous to fly 13 hours to be sent straight back on another 13 hour flight.
I'm going to be bringing proof of everything when I go. Proof of insurance, finances, round trip tickets, accommodation. I just wanted to see what you all had any knowledge on this topic. I appreciate any help. Thank you!
Best Answer
So yes, first and foremost, if you have ever been turned away or sent home from any country, you can expect more scrutiny at borders for a significant length of time after that. But second and probably just as important, "more scrutiny" is not "turned away." You report that the UK sent you back (it might be good to know if that was "we allow you to with draw your request to enter and go home" vs "we are excluding you", but whatever) and then you describe your experience entering Ireland as somehow the same.
This is important: it was not the same. You were allowed in. Yes, you had to promise not to try to sneak into the UK through the undefended and uncontrolled border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, or to fly across the Irish Sea which is also pretty uncontrolled. Yes, you had to promise to leave on the day you had always planned to leave. And you kept both those promises. They weren't even a burden to you. The few extra hours in the airport might have been a burden, but the experience as a whole was nothing like being sent back and not allowed in.
So, possibly, when you try to enter an unrelated country, they will know (from looking in your passport or their computer systems) about the long ago UK problem. But they will also then know about Ireland and how you kept your promises. Chances are, they will let you in, possibly after asking for similar promises from you again. The more you travel, the less important that long-ago UK interaction will be.
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How long can UK customs detain you?
There is no time-limit on long you can be detained (if you are an adult) in the UK \u2013 you can be detained indefinitely. The exception to this is pregnant women, who can only be detained for up to 72 hour, unless extended by ministerial approval.What happens when you are detained at an airport?
If you are placed in removal proceedings, then the officer will either take you to a detention facility or give you a notice to appear to court. In either of these circumstances, you will need to hire an immigration attorney immediately as these cases carry very serious immigration consequences.What happens when someone is detained by immigration?
You have the right to call an attorney or your family if you are detained. You have the right to be visited by an attorney in detention (Immigration jail). You have the right to a lawyer, but the government will not pay for or provide that lawyer. You must hire one or find someone who will represent you for free.Is UK to Dublin classed as a domestic flight?
Dublin will be classed as an international flight whilst Belfast is classed as a UK domestic flight - you could fly to Belfast with a photo driving licence as acceptable ID with Easyjet but not Dublin.Border Force Try to Stop a Potential Sex Trafficking Situation | Heathrow: Britain's Busiest Airport
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