Chickendoodle Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Had a horrible day with my DD yesterday. She has become very friendly with a guy in the US over the last year - they started off playing a computer game and have in the last 6 months or so been communicating regularly through facebook and face to face via Skype (so that she knew he was a genuine 20 year old and not a seedy middle aged man!) DD is 22 so not a silly teenager - the guy in the US wanted to come over to England for a few months and it was all arranged. Wants to see historic sights and generally get a bit of English culture. He was going to stay in her flat - she shares with 2 guys - so wouldn't need a lot of money. He was basically going to hang out with her friends and do what a 20 year old does! His downfall was in not planning properly. He was to sell his car and computer to fund the trip. He sold his computer and a few bits but was still waiting a for a buyer for the car. As he had enough for a single ticket he decided to come anyway and his Dad was going to wire him the money for the return ticket when he was ready to come home. Got to the airport at 7am to collect him, flight landed ad 6.30 and by 8.30 still no sign. Went to check at enquiries and they suggested phoning immigration on their internal info phones. They confirmed that they did have him and that they would be seeing him shortly. All we could do was wait. At 10ish a guy phoned me from immigration and said he would be interviewing him shortly but wanted to get a bit of background info as he had been flagged due to only having a single ticket and not much money on him. I answered all his questions and then he also spoke to DD. A further 3 hours later he spoke to DD again and said that they would make a decision in half an hour. Decision was that they were sending him back on the next available flight the following day- he is not black listed or anything, he just has to plan his trip better next time. DD was really upset but they very kindly let her see him. He is due to fly back today and they found him a bed at the detention centre - she said it was a hostel about 5 mins from the airport and the staff were being really nice to him. (I had gone home by then and left her to it) They obviously realised that is was bad luck/bad planning and not an attempt at illegal immigration! She spent about 6 hours there even though it was outside visiting time. I must say that the people we spoke to from immigration were extremely nice, not officious at all but they obviously have a job to do. I have since found some info on the web that they particular attention to internet relationships involving young US citizens. Assume they must have had trouble in the past. So an extremely stressful day - I have never met or spoken to the guy but I felt sick at the stress he was going through. He is going back now to sell his car and plan his trip properly, including buying a return ticket! It also seems that he can apply for a Visa online before coming - I don't think I could stand waiting in airport arrivals for 6 hours a second time!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 oh dear what a shame HE will definately plan better in furture though, that is one tough lesson. I am glad they got some time to see each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Oh dear thats so sad. I do feel for him but I've watched enough programmes on tv (Nothing to Declare etc) to know that they really don't like visitors coming over with no return ticket or enough money. I hope it doesn't put him off returning. It must be so upsetting for everyone not to mention a waste of his money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 I know - I did say to DD to tell him that it wasn't wise to get a single before he came but young lads don't listen to an internet friend's mum! DD has just called in a panic - he is being sent back to North Carolina, which was his point of exit from the US. However, he came from Missouri to North Carolina and he has no money to get back. I have just called the immigration dept at Gatwick (can't believe how helpful they are) and they said that they are trying to arrange ongoing travel for him and they will let me know what they come up with. At least he is not on the plane on his own, there is another similarly impulsive teenager with him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Something similar happened to us a year or so ago... and believe me we had done ALL the possible planning and covered all eventualities... My friend (who was also an internet started friendship) came to visit, not from the States, and we had everything sorted, he had references, financial evidence of being able to manage, evidence of a job to go back to where he came from, and a visa! We were kept for 5 hours at the airport, and both got interrogated a few times. The lady who dealt with us for most of the time was lovely, and although I agree she was doing her job, at the same time someone who has been issued with a tourist visa and followed all the rules and advise shouldnt really have to be kept back for so long, interrogated a few times, especially as he had a return ticket and was only coming for one week!! The first officer we had dealt with on the day wasn't so nice... he questionned me on the phone about the nature of my friend's visit, and I had explained he was a friend, that we'd been in close touch on phone and internet for 5 years, and that he was coming to spend a week with us, in our home, with my husband and four daughters. The officer then had the cheek to ask me if I was planning to have an affair with my friend during his stay ! I was rather shocked and pointed I had just said he was coming to stay with me and my husband... with hindsight, a friend said to me I should have replied something ironic like 'yes, of course, but please don't tell my husband' . I'm glad I didn't do that, irony and sarcasm wouldn't have gone down well I think. Eventually, as they had no reason, evidence or anything to send him back, and as he had visa, return ticket and so on, they had to let him in. I had paced the arrival hall non stop for over 5 hours by then, feeling totally sick in my stomach at the thought that they wouldn't let him through. He was rather shaken too when he arrived, and it took us both a while to relax after that, and he isn't keen on coming back... Another thing that shocked me was on arrival in heathrow once, I noticed a sign by passport control, requesting people from all destinations to only fill in landing cards in English. I questioned that to my OH at the time, and he responded quite coldly 'well if they fill it in another language or script, how are people supposed to read it?', to which I coldly pointed that we were returning from Egypt, and that no one there had insisted we filled our landing card in Arabic... I realise and am sure that most people at immigration have a sometimes difficult job and do their best (again the lady my friend and I dealt with was respectful, polite and gentle at all times), but some cross the line of what is acceptable, and I find some of the rules or notices (like 'fill in english only') sends an odd, unwelcoming message... Preparation really makes a huge difference, as it means people can only question the integrity of the person, not question their ticket, finances and so on... I'm sure if my friend hadn't got all the documents, references, visas, tickets and so on, they'd have sent him back... I'm afraid a return ticket is a must, as is an address of a UK sponsor, and some spending money. I hope your daughter's friend gets to enjoy a smoother visit to the UK soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Oh what an experience Hope all goes well next time he comes to visit x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 What a stressful time for you all - hope it runs smoothly next time. It must just happen to younger people? - my relatives have never had a problem with coming over to stay with us for 3 weeks or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Poor thing! I do hope his visit goes well next time! I must admit I was surprised at how tightly controlled everything is - that is not the impression that you get when listening to the news! A few years ago I went with a bunch of friends on a day trip to France. One of our friends was american, but had been living in the UK for over 20 years, married to an englishman and had 3 children waiting at home for her. None of us gave it a second thought, she has been around longer than most of us! But she had a real time of it coming back to the UK on the ferry - stopped and detained for a couple of hours while they confirmed her 'story'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 (edited) I guess in a way all the honest, innocent, sincere people who get stopped and questioned, have it happen to them because less innocent, less sincere people have used a similar story to get in the country either illegally or with illegal intentions... Having been on the other side of things, being questioned, and not being british myself either, I find it a little over the top and unwelcoming in some aspects and from some people, but I can see it from the immigration people's view too, there must be people trying all kinds of things and telling all kinds of things to get in, and they have to check what is being said... kind of a filtering thing really, you have to stop a lot of people to have a chance to catch the ones you are supposed to stop... Edited to add : still a pity for this young chap who got sent back just because he didn't come fully prepared... feels like a waste of time, money, and an emotional thing to happen!! By the way, when someone gets sent back like that, who pays for their flight?? Edited November 13, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Nice lady from immigration has just called to say that they have arranged onward transport to St Louis Missouri which is a great relief. I had a chat with her and she said it is very common for young Americans to do this sort of thing without any planning and they invairably get sent back. I thought while I had her on the phone I would ask her what he would need to do next time to avoid potential problems. She said the best thing is to go to the nearest UK Consulate, explain that he has had a problem, tell them his travel plans and they should be able to arrange a visa. She did say though that even getting a visa from the British Consulate doesn't guarantee entry!!!!! DD has tickets to see Eddie Izzard on 30th November and I know he was going to try to get back for that. I advised her to impress on him that he needs to take his time and do it all properly and that maybe Christmas was a better aim. I fail to understand why we have an immigration problem when you can't get in!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 It must just happen to younger people? - my relatives have never had a problem with coming over to stay with us for 3 weeks or so. I think it would have been OK if he was comong to stay with relatives - he would have been staying with my DD who he had only met on the internet (mind you they have met now thanks to the visit at the holding centre!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Sorry to hear his experience, hope it goes better next time. It's good to hear that the immigration people were helpful, though. I've only been to the US once, but my recollection is that their immigration people were extremely brusque and unfriendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 By the way, when someone gets sent back like that, who pays for their flight?? I believe that if an airline brings a passenger in who is rejected they are obliged to take him back so ultimately the airline pays but only by filling up an empty seat. I could be wrong though. I don't know how many other countries would care enough to sort out a young lad's onward transport so in a strange way I feel quite proud. That's something to hold on to within a horrible experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Found this site http://londonelegance.com/transpondia/usuk/ which has some really useful info, particularly about travelling into the UK on the strength of an internet relationship. Hope this helps someone else out there not to fall into the same trap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Sorry to hear his experience, hope it goes better next time. It's good to hear that the immigration people were helpful, though. I've only been to the US once, but my recollection is that their immigration people were extremely brusque and unfriendly. Yes you are spot on with USA immigration. My OH is visibly foreign and we get stopped every time! Drives us nuts! Me and the kids its now a joke that dad is going to cause us to get pulled over! We are guaranteed every time. We have even been pulled out of the queue at Gatwick prior to boarding! We must look really bad or something! The difference is which is good to hear and I am so sorry your friend got sent back(I am amazed from the USA too ) its great to hear how helpful we are in the UK. But our experience of the USA immigration is they are very darned rude to you. Guilty immediately(we are innocent..we even say we dont want to live in the USA just a holiday is enough for us much prefer good old blighty). I have heard this before many times. At least our immigration treat you well, I know someone who worked at Heathrow Immigration and the ones that muttered two words(even if it was only two special words of english they learnt) the UK had to let them in. I was appalled. I suppose he will now need the visa as he will probably get picked up immediately next time its like his card is marked. Poor guy such a long flight, wow Good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 I'm just off to Australia and last time we went I was surprised how vigilent they were. You had to have an address to go to. Lots of youngsters stopped while us oldies let through fairly easily. Only people stopped were those with apples! I hope your DD's friend gets through next time - it's a learning experience for them anyway! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJuliet Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 We have to be very careful when we go to America on marshalling trips. By "we" I mean any and all of our non-American marshalling friends. Part of the problem stems from the fact that they are referred to as "corner workers" and may be described as "working" the race. This immediately causes suspicion, despite the fact that we are volunteers, are not paid and generally have a "life" outside America. Oh, and the "work" only lasts for one weekend. One of our Canadian friends was stopped going to one race (just after they had changed various rules) and had her bags searched. They found various documents relating to "working" the race so she was sent home (I think they did US Immigration before she left Canada) and had to go back the next day with proof that she had a job and a mortgage in Canada and wasn't planning to stay in America permanently. OH and I have never been stopped, but the safest thing is to have no documents in the case relating to the race (wonder what they'd say to overalls and boots though?) and, if asked, just say we are visiting "for the race". I must say that having, on occasion, spent over an hour in US immigration when there were no problems (just horrendous queues) you have my deepest sympathy and I hope your daughter's friend gets sorted and accepted next time he visits PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Ahhh the poor lad & your poor daughter! Not to mention poor you! It is hard when you are young, having these ambitions, friendships & not much money. Trust me I have been there. However, I worked my college holidays to fund my travels & planned it well. I hope everything goes better next time & that he hasn't been put off. Sounds like he needs a bit of looking after & guidance. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
