What does the immigration officer check at the counter when you arrive to a European non-Schengen airport? [closed]

What does the immigration officer check at the counter when you arrive to a European non-Schengen airport? [closed] - Worried young businesswoman with suitcase hurrying on flight on urban background

When you arrive to a country by airplane and you go through the border control, what the immigration officer really does behind the counter? In Asia, I assume they firstly check if your passport needs a visa or not, secondly they check your passport data and I have noticed they also scan it for record purposes and lastly they take a photo of you by asking you to look at their camera. What else would they do? Would there be a passport authenticity check by placing it under a specific machine or it's just the scanner? Would they check your data against a possible flight list?



Best Answer

that depends very much on the country in question, and also on the nationality of the passenger.

  • Some nations see the visa merely as a first step to be allowed to talk to an immigration official, who makes the final decision. In other cases the official just determines if the visa is genuine and if there is a reason to revoke it on the spot. In the first case, the "real" immigration interview is at the airport; in the second case, what happens at the airport is merely a double-check.
  • Sometimes there is a visa on arrival. Sometimes visa-free visitors get a stamp.
  • And of course there is also a check if the documents are genuine and belong to the applicant, and if the applicant is on some wanted list.

There are also attempts to identify visitors before they even get into the aircraft towards the destination. The airlines submit lists of names and other data, and intelligence agencies make a threat assessment. Just what is in this data and what is done with it has been controversial, e.g. between the EU and US.




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Is there passport control between Schengen countries?

The Schengen area comprises 26 European countries. There is normally no passport control on the borders between these countries. If you have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit the other Schengen countries.

What happens at border control?

Border control refers to measures taken by governments to monitor and regulate the movement of people, animals, and goods across land, air, and maritime borders. While border control is typically associated with international borders, it also encompasses controls imposed on internal borders within a single state.

Do Schengen countries share visa information?

All Schengen countries share visa information through VIS. Denmark has also chosen to implement VIS. The central VIS system is linked to national systems, allowing Schengen states to exchange data. Sharing information regarding application decisions is particularly useful for preventing 'visa shopping'.

What documents do I need to travel to Europe?

Travel documents within Europe You will need an ID card or passport if you are travelling within the European Union. And not just when you cross a border (for example, via an airport). You must also be able to show an ID card or passport if you are staying in a European country. Some countries also require a visa.



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