12
  1. I am Turkish citizen.
  2. I have Turkish Passport.
  3. I live in Germany.
  4. I have 2 years valid UK visa.
  5. I frequently fly from Germany to London.

And each time, the UK Border Police checks my documents, then takes my passport and German card then ask me to sit in a place guarded by a police. (I think it's not detention, but still a place they put truly suspicious people.) There they also gave me a paper which states which documents they held.

The last time, the border officer asked "In your earlier travels, did we took your documents and asked you to sit somewhere before?" I said "Yes, every time." Then he said "Well, I am about to do it again."

So now, I am curious. Why this keep happening to me? Is there any rule that applies to me?

Improve this question
22
  • Hi, this question may be related. We won't know exactly why though - only an officer at the border can tell you if you ask.
    – B.Liu
    Commented Nov 16, 2018 at 12:50
  • Like they have been doing to me three times in a row? I don’t know if in your case it will be helpful however you can follow my solution and hope.
    – Augustine of Hippo
    Commented Nov 16, 2018 at 12:50
  • 2
    @ForlornLancer Do they record your landing every time? You can tell by the entry stamp - if they do, there's a bigger rectangular stamp with the landing card code handwritten. If this is there every single time (which is not normal for a resident of Western Europe only visiting for a few days per month), either there is a name match between you and a criminal, or some officer really didn't like your vibes and decided to try and make your life difficult, or there's something you aren't telling us.
    – Crazydre
    Commented Nov 16, 2018 at 13:39
  • 1
    I don't know about the finer technical distinctions in UK law, but in US law the circumstances you describe are indeed "detention" (even if the place where you're being kept isn't a dedicated detention facility).
    – phoog
    Commented Nov 16, 2018 at 15:26
  • 2
    @ForlornLancer The thing is, at passport control, they can see on the screen if there is a problem with you, but not what the problem is. For that, they have to go into the back offices and check
    – Crazydre
    Commented Nov 16, 2018 at 16:13

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
8

Why this keep happening to me?

Below is the verbatim response I got from Border Force Correspondence Team to my complaint. You will never find out exactly why

  • When you arrived in the UK and presented your passport it was necessary for the officer to make some enquiries in addition to considering your application for entry/admission to the UK. I am unable to comment on the nature of these additional enquiries as it is not in the public interest to disclose the specific reasons why passengers are subject to checks.

Is there any rule that applies to me?

  • The same rules that apply to everyone and the conclusion that there is a flag against your name that requires the immigration officer to go to the secondary control point to ascertain exactly why there is a flag against your name at the primary control terminal.
Improve this answer
1
  • 3
    Thanks to your post, I was able to remove the flag. Thank!
    – Forlorn Lancer
    Commented Dec 27, 2018 at 21:56
1

Hassle at Border Control is something that many of us experience at some time or other.

On the basis of the information you've provided, the question I would have would relate to why those frequent trips to the UK? The frequency of your trips marks you out as not following usual patterns of behaviour for travellers from the country of your passport and the country of your usual residence. Border control staff are on the alert for unusual patterns of behaviour. That alone is enough to have your file marked as suspicious.

Improve this answer
1
  • Sorry, but there's nothing inherently suspicious about a Turkish citizen living in Germany and making frequent trips to the UK.
    – David Richerby
    Commented Feb 7, 2019 at 15:59

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .