How does UK Border Force decide which travelers get extra scrutiny?

How does UK Border Force decide which travelers get extra scrutiny? - Aerial View of City Buildings

Both times I entered the UK, I was asked lots of questions while others breezed through. The second time, my anxious bus driver and many passengers had to wait a long time. Do I just look like a bum? Or does their computer tell them something when they scan my passport? Or do they mistrust Americans?

Spain, Iceland, Netherlands, Canada, Peru, Mexico, Turkey—all just put in their stamp and waved me on. UK is the only place that gave me the third degree.

The second time, it was only me and a Columbian guy out of a whole bus load. The Columbian guy bought his bus ticket AT the ferry entrance, but so did his friend who was not only waved through, but wasn't asked to fill out a "landing card" like the two of us were.



Best Answer

It can be random, it can be being American, it can be your look, it can be your attitude. Often, the way you answer the first question defines how picky they get, but not always.

There is no hard rule; although they get trained for certain signs, each officer has his own way to pick out people he thinks need further questioning.




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Can UK border control See travel history?

Theresa May's long-promised system of \u201c100% exit checks\u201d at Britain's borders is so unreliable that it contains no departure records for more than 600,000 people who should have left the country in the past two years, a watchdog has revealed.

What happens at UK border control?

You'll need to show your identity document, such as your passport or national identity card. You do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a passenger locator form, whether you are fully vaccinated or not.

Can immigration officer check my phone UK?

Immigration officers can already search people's phones in strict connection with an offence, but would now be able to act on a consent-basis. \u201cThis condition of consent fails to acknowledge the power imbalance between immigration officers and individuals,\u201d warned Ms Wood.

Who can use eGates in UK?

Use the eGates for quicker entry are either: a British citizen. a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA. a member of the Registered Traveller Service.



UK Border Force - Season 1, Episode 1: Legitimate Business or Not?




More answers regarding how does UK Border Force decide which travelers get extra scrutiny?

Answer 2

Be honest, do you look like a bum?

I got singled out once, but not really. I was just the only non-EU citizen on an incoming flight. Everyone else was just waved through and I think they were just annoyed that had to do the full procedure for just one pax.

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