15.10.08
Humiliation, harassment and abuse – Welcome to UK Immigration
Imagine this – you work hard all year, you pay your taxes, your national insurance and your bills, when you can afford it you book a holiday and take off for a week with your family for some quality time. When you return you are detained by immigration officers and lectured on finding alternative work more suitable to your qualifications.
Hmm…when did immigration officers start giving out career advice?
That’s what happened to Pooja Tandon.
The Highly Skilled Migrant from India, along with her Husband, their 1½ year old child and parents were returning from holidays in Switzerland when they were detained at Heathrow airport.
The officer berated them on their personal life before telling them they might be better off finding somewhere else to work.
He then took their passports before being instructed by his superior to return them with a verbal warning. But what did they do wrong? They had all the necessary documents and were still treated like criminals…
You think that’s bad, it gets worse.
A doctor who has been in the UK for a decade was questioned by an immigration officer when he was returning with his family from a holiday to India. The charge against them was the use of NHS services during the delivery of their son!
The Officer further threatened him that migrants who have benefited by NHS care for delivery and other health needs will be investigated by the Anti-fraud agency for recovery of the money!!!
It is a fact that all foreign migrants are entitled to NHS treatment as they pay tax and National Insurance, and that as such, the Immigration Official had no legal position to threaten, abuse and intrusively demand information about the sensitive and private medical care of a legal migrant worker.
At the George Best airport in Belfast City a migrant was detained for couple of days and was about to be deported to his country of origin, charged for not working in his field of expertise. In reality Highly Skilled Migrant visas do not have any such restrictions. In the recent HSMP Forum’s High Court Judgment the court acknowledged the difficulties migrants face at times in finding employment in their field.
It is clear from these cases that Immigration Officers have tried to take the law into their own hands.
Campaign organization HSMP Forum has received various complaints from legal migrants about the humiliation, harassment and abuse suffered at the hands of immigration officials at some of the UK’s busiest airports like Heathrow, Manchester and Belfast.
Have you had similar experiences?
Published by Gareth McConnell Global Visas in UK immigration
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January 18th, 2009 at 11:44 am
My parents flew into UK on the 11th of Jan 09. They held valid visas and all the other necessary documentation including a $250,000 overseas mediacal insurance. Yet they were subjected to harassment at the UK border at Heathrow by an immigration offices.
The immigration officer threathened to deport them or ban them for 10 years. Not only was her conduct rude and uncalled for it was clearly unlawful.
My father is 67 and a heart patient and the incident had shocked him considerably as he is a law abilding citizen of India.
I intent to lodge a complaint with the UK border agency about the incident.I am not sure if it will bear any result as it is difficult to tell if this is a prejudice of an individual or symptomatic of a unstated government policy to deter people from entering the UK.
Has anybody else lodged a complaint? I will like to find out if such a complaint received proper attention from the authorities.
Also, can anybody suggest other means of redressal at our disposal.
January 19th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
The longer you leave it the more difficult it will be for your complaint to be taken serious. It’s already been a week so if you’re going to act on it you need to do it now.
There is no other means of redressal, if it was the UK Border Agency that done the injustice, it’s them you need to take it up with.
You can always go to the press once you get a decision!
February 4th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I just experience the same treatment from immigration officers at heathrow airport. My 62 year old sister and my two nieces came to visit me from South Africa. South Africans are non-visa nationals. We have planned the trip as my two children were to receive their first sacrament of reconciliation on 3rd of February. The women immigration officer interogated my family. The british istitutions are still stuck to aracist protocol. I am a british citizen and always abide by law, I had a right to invite my family. The immigration officers at heathrow airport are racist. I believe that if my sister was a 62 Years white women with two white children visiting their a member of their family and carrying £500 spending money with no need to pay for accommodation, she would have been let in. This is a sas situation where the White British people are still behind, while the world has changed. I hope in god’s grace one day people travelling from Africa to UK will not be judged by the colour of their skin. To answer your question I will be launching a complaint with whoever is willing to listern.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I find this ridiculous and disgusting, I can’t beleive this happens in england, if that happened in atlanta thier would be public demonstrations and someone held acountable, get justice! dont let them get away with, it. i hope your sister is ok x
February 8th, 2009 at 1:57 am
A similar situation occurred to me on 31st Oct 2008 and i have lodged a formal complaint. I was an Australian tourist requesting entry for two weeks (i don’t require a visa for 90 days), with a return flight booked through a travel agent + premium travel insurance.
I’m young, I was traveling alone, it was my second time overseas, and i had visited the UK once before and gave them the same address of the friend i stayed with before. I answered all of his questions but the entry clearance officer was angry and rude straight off the mark, he accused me of lying, showed he wasn’t happy with my answers so harassed me with the same questions again and again, threatened to deport me, and wouldn’t allow me to explain anything as he only wanted a “yes” or “no” answer.
I had a male friend waiting outside to pick me up at the airport so after the standard questions he began to ask me whether my friend outside was my boyfriend, his name, what he does, how often we spoke and, wait for it, asked me whether i loved him!! Mind you, he didn’t ask whether the female friend i was staying with was my girlfriend! It was 6am and he harassed me accusations until he got an answer that he could use against me, then told me i was being detained for further investigation. I was astonished at how he treated me but knew i was completely in the right so spent the next 6 hours being fully cooperative and open about the most personal details of my life. There was also a young New Zealand girl traveling alone who was detained and we were locked in a room with men who appeared to be from African and Asian backgrounds. No-one could access the phone as it required UK money or a phonecard (of which the travelex had sold out), and there was no internet access. Luckily i was able to be escorted to my luggage outside to use my mobile phone and call my friend to let him know what has happened to me (he had been waiting hours and no one from immigration tried contacting him). He made his way to the immigration phone at Terminal 4 and asked to speak to the Chief Immigration Officer.
The result was that i was ‘refused entry’ but granted ‘temporary admission’ for the two weeks i requested, and had paperwork telling me i was to be ‘removed to Australia’ (deported) on the exact return flight home which i had booked! To add to that, they confiscated my passport for the entire two weeks, so could not fulfill my travel to mainland Europe, effectively trapping me in the UK.
I left the UK traumatized and consulted an immigration lawyer on my return who recommended i lodge a complaint straight away. Two weeks after my return i had gathered 60+ pages of evidence to attach to my 3 page complaint, and sent it to the UK Border Control Customer Service Unit by post and also via email to Border_Control_CSU@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk. That was early December and i didn’t get a response till late Jan 09 when they confirmed receipt of my complaint via an email to me. Their standard investigation time of complaints is 4 weeks so they said they wont have full response for me until at the 24th Feb 09.
The above situation had more chance of not occurring, and if i had been standing in a different part of the queue i could’ve dealt with a professional entry clearance officer. Now i’m applying for a Tier 5 UK visa – good luck to me!
March 4th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I, too, was a victim of abuse and subjected to human rights violations by immigration officers at Heathrow Airport in London. Mel, what evidence did you use and I would be interested in knowing the outcome of your case.
June 7th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
You all live in a dream world. You are stopped for valid reasons but you wine about it! unless you hold a British passport, you are simply a guest here regardless of term or reasons. The majority of the British public feel this way and are proud of the job the UK Border Agency do, in-fact we wish they could do more!
June 9th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
The trick is:
The immigration officer asks you: “What’s the purpose of your visit to UK?”
You just have to answer: “What business is it of yours why I am in UK, friendo?”
He will then let you in without any issue!!!
June 27th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
mel…smethg like this happened to me when i ws back after my holiday…i ws holding psw visa. i ws asked the same questions several times…a friend of mine travelled with me and lady immigration officer wanted to knw if he ws my boy frnd…when i said no,she asked then wht relation u are sharing with him.she ws yarwning and said several times tht she forgot my answers and asked me to repeat it. also i got career advice. i m wrking in management post in post office bt still she said it wasnt the right one fr my mba qualification.i had to answer the questions tht came fr exam several times and their answers. eventhough i answered ….she asked if i really passed the exam. by then i lost my patience n answered tht my college doesnt issue fake ones….bt i m encouraging anyone to answer ths way….is there any place where we can complain…if wht john said is right….r they there to rag people who are legaly eligibl to b here rather tht checking if the documents are the right ones???????????
July 8th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Sorry guys the terrible treatment is leveled at all races including causian. I have a UK fiancee and the funds to travel back and forth.Ive been lectured and harassed everytime I enter the country. I do not need public funds or a job there. Ive been asked the most personal and rude questions. Im about to return to show my kids around the country and Im seriously worried that they will detain me or not let us in. I purchased expensive trip insurance just in case.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
John -Stop being obtuse. Clearly you have NO idea or perception of what it is like to be unfairly treated. Or you work at Heathrow in immigration, and are working off your own personal power trip. Plus your post has no real relevance -first none of these people have mentioned why they were stopped in the first place -you are just assuming that they were stopped for valid reasons. Hence your comment makes no sense in this context. In fact, immigration officers themselves state that they often stop people ‘at random’.
Second, not every British citizen is proud of the job the UK Border Agency do. Quite frankly, given that they have made so many changes in the last six months to the immigration policies -clearly changes had to be made.
Immigration officials in the United States do the same thing to certain people entering the country without valid reasons. A friend of mine was harrassed at the border because the immigration officers were not educated enough to know where PORTUGAL was. This is what happens with you give certain people power.
The treatment of individuals at the border has very much to do with an immigration officers perception. A friend of mine came to visit me in the UK and was held for two and a half hours -they even called me and asked me personal questions about myself and him. Many questions were highly ridiculous and inappropriate -it clearly shows a lack of education on this immigration officials part. He was only staying for two weeks and it was his first time in the UK. A student -who states that they are in the UK for the first time, and has to be back in school for August, hence why he was staying for the duration he did, is not a threat.
Being unfairly treated at the airport certainly does not make the UK look very good and casts a bad image. If you cared about the UK at all -this would mean something to you. I had to reassure my guest that the UK is in fact not a bad place to be. If this is the image that immigration officers are presenting to tourists about the United Kingdom, that the UK is hostile to visitors -I see no reason people would be inclined to visit once word gets back. And you better believe that there will be more than one individual that will complain to the press. Perhaps that is the way Border control wants to look -so as to discourage people from coming to the UK. If so, it is rather sad, because the UK is a brilliant place to be, and I hate to see that certain officers are leaving a bad impression.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I can’t believe immigration officers get away with so much, not this, they picked on the wrong family. I am a british citizen, a tax payer, my uncle who is 2 years younger than me arrived in the UK from new zealand only to be subjected to a 3 hour interview from the police straight after leaving the aircraft, reason, HE IS A MUSLIM, and then it gets better, they release him because they realised actually he is here for a holiday, only for immigration to interview him for a further 2 hours, and refuse him entry on the grounds that he may decide to not return to new zealand…. I mean he had been travelling for 27 hours, and they refused him to even speak to me, my family but they were so kind enough to pass the presents he had for my family to us…. These people are idiots! They should have a line that says, if you are white and rich, this line, if you are white and not rich, this line please, we might let you in into the country, but hey if you are muslim and dressed like one, they boy there is no way you are coming ine! Disgusting!!!!! And the funny thing is, my taxes pay for their wages…..
But I am complaining and getting the media involved….
July 24th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
well, i read all coments, somthing similar happend to me, i born in venezuela, my father is italian and my mother is venezuelan, i have venezuelan and italian passport, i travel from caracas to boston to visit a friend, the plane make a stop in puerto rico, i was detained by imigration, they take me to a room and i was eating a gum, i sit down and the first thing the officer tellsme was “TAKE OUT THAT SHIT OF YOUR MOUTH” i get in shock, i can belive was he was saying, then they start to makes me question of why i have an italian passport, he repites the question several times, then about one our later of stupid question the guy tellsme if i was liying i will go to jail, becouse liying to a imigration agent has this consequeations, so the guy tellsme several limes if i was liying i will go to jail with bad people, bla bla bla, then he makes me more question, like what is your job in venezuela, what are u doing for living, are u marry, etc, the guy tellsme, at your age (23) i was divorce and with a dougther, then they takes me to a room with a dominican guy who was been deported, this guy start talk to me about his live, of what he does, like selling drugs, or stealing, i get realy scary and start thinking, there is a posibiliti this stupid persons make a mistake and take me to jail, so i became really nervous, then they put me those thimgs on my had and put me in a car and takes me to a place to spend the night, in this place i meet a peruvian guy, this guy telssme that the police find him and take him to that place, and becouse he has no documentation america cant deport him becouse they are investigating, he tellsme that he spend there from monday to friday, and weekends they take him to prision, and he tellsme that is horrible there, so i get realy bad, americans jails looks very bad on movies and tv, then i was take back to the airport, and they put me in a room with a small window, and allways when a girl pass trogh te door i try to speak to her, finaly she came to me and tellsme whats wrong, and i explaind her that i dont want to go to jail, that i will buy a tiket now to any place out of this country, the girl, i think feel sorry for me, and ask for my fly tiket, so they takes me to another room were they put my bags, i take out the fligh tiket and give to her, and 2 hours later i was flying to panama.
in the past i been in usa for about 6 times, i have a visa in my venezuelan passport, and i have a italian passport who allready has a visa,
they made a big mistake, i lost 600 dolars of the flight tiket.
they tellsme, if u want to came to america, u need to go to the embasy in venezuela and get a visa, (the 2 visas in 2 diferents passports are not enough for me)
they tellsme i want to work illegaly in america,
what a joke
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:42 am
I hold a British passport and I’ve been singled out from the British citizens’ queue by the border officers to ask me why and how I hold a British passport. I have no problems with them contacting the Home Office if they really need that information but I don’t want to share some personal information with them and the other people in the queue.
August 10th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Hi All, I have been living in the UK for 7 years now. I rencently re-entered the UK from Barcelona, Spain (a trip i often do as my partner lives over there); the unfortunate abuse of the Border Control officers has been quite the same story throughout the lenght of my stay in this country.
The beginning of my most recents issues with the UK Border, go back to February 2009, when i applied for a Tier 1 Visa and was declined for a minor clerical error in one of the documents presented. Anyway, since after that every single time i have re-entered the UK, i have been asked to sit down so they can check my status. It is like that i ve been marked for life, because of this. After more or less a 15 minute wait every time, they ask me the same questions on and on again.
This last re-entry to the UK was particularly awckward, as the BC officer started the short interrogation: “Oh, your surname is very common in your country” (as a statement)and i said No, is not common as only my family and some other 5 families in my country hold it; she replied back saying: “No, it is really common, my computer is telling”…blablabla. With this start you think the interrogation is becoming friendly, but wait a second…she spats: When are you going back to your country?” I said (just to bother her, as i don’t really plan to stay for many more years): I will stay here until i retire”! and she began to nod several times, which i think pissed her off. She then said, “oh you had a personal problem (i thought to myself, yes i have many personal problems that only concern to me!), She then said, “you were rejected a Tier 1 Visa”, then i explain everything related to this. She said sit down and after a 20 minutes wait, she came back asking the common harrasing questions and trying to confuse you with awckward questions/comments, just waiting for you to answer unaccurately to create a huge issue about it, where there is not. I really wanted to spat her face, while she was constantly trying to tackle me with each question. In the end it ended peacefully and i kindly said Thank you (for your harrassment)
My only recommendation if you are subject of this kind harrassment is to keep calm and answer with simple statements, without going into much detail.
In my particular case, i just want to know if someone else has a similar situation and comment back and if this failed Tier 1 Visa application can affect a further application for a ILR.
Many Thanks
August 14th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Reading all the above accounts are not far fetched and I have been subjected to the same harassment. The question is, does anyone know what rights you have upon entering and at point does the immigration officer legally breach these rights?
August 18th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I’m telling you guys, If you want 2have a nice holiday, please don’t plan go to uk.Don’t say that i didn’t warn u, And specially if you are an african, asian or cme from a small island like me DON’T GO THERE!
Well i’m a Mauritian girl, I took 3weeks holiday and wanted to spend it in uk with my boyfriend.i gt there at 19:30, they got me detained since that time till 15.35 at the Heathrow airport itself (terminal 3). i have been locked up in a dull room with other men and women mostly african and asian and like Mel has said no1 could access the phone, bcoz u need uk money or phonecard,The chairs were so dirty and their was pictures of dogs on the wall…. in these deadly hours that i spent ther they called me outside 3times, 1st for taking pictures nad figerprints, 2nd asking me to take my suitcase from downstairs and bring it near where i have been detained and the 3rd one was for interviewing me like i was some kinda criminal! She asked me around 45 silly questions, i gave them all my document and even my boy friend’s doc too but of course it wasn’t enough, They wanted more mayB my blood, Freaky vampires .i replied all her question calmly but then she asked what is the purpose of my visit? again i replies the same thing that was already written on the letters that i gave them.. im here to visit my boyfriend(he is british and had waited for me for the whole night) then she asked again like a fool, what you plan to do here? I replied stay with my boyfriend, doing som shopping and if i can i’ll go to old trafford watching and getting some pictures of that magnificent football stadium that nearly all my favorite football players have been on action there, then she asked all the palyers name, i gave her all the names, then she made me open my suitcase check all in it, then asked for my certificates, she said where is your certificate?
i replied, i’m here for vacation so y need certificate? she look at me in a disgusting way , it’s normal u know bcoz i’m not white.
then took me inside again waited, that time i cried lots, ther’s was 3 mauritians along with me, an 65years old lady who came to visit her daughter, a 38years old man who came visit his brother and the last1 too same reason visiting some families only for a few week and others who have been detained came from countries like, china, taiwan, india, bangladesh, pakistan, mexico, nigeria and even usa. i needed2 have some water too much crying thats y but i was scared to asked them bcoz each time u knock on the door and asked them somthing to drink or eat, they look at you like u was disturbing them lots, i desperately needed water i knock and asked the blond, tall around 45years old lady officer” Can i have some water plz?”
She replied yeah then i asked her why are you treating us like that, like we were som kinda criminal and detained us here?
and i said i went to other countries too but none treated me like that she said SHUT UP, YOU ARE IN MY COUNTRY HERE SO SHUT UP AND GO CRY INSIDE!
Yes i went inside again that frightening room, where nearly all ladies were crying and sufocating.
After that the (…) lady officer who interviewed me came with the reply and refusal letter of my entry in uk, i was shocked to see the reason is that i said that i love Man United then why i didn’t buy their football ticket! On this basics they are refusing me entry in the uk and that i’ll be removed soon.
No need tell you guys about the other nightmares i spent in detention center like Yarl’s woodi spent 7days ther, they took me 3times to the airport, make me life my big suitcase myself and when a male officer said let me help you ,the Indian lady officer ther say NO, let her lift it herself, i begged my boyfriend to get me out from there, he said i need waited a few days more, he was preparing to gt me a JR and bailed me out but after spending 7days in 2detention center and yarl’s wood was worst of it, i said to my boyfriend if you don’t get me back to my country i’ll kill myself so he cancelled my JR and thank God i returned to my paradise island pfeww.
What a nightmare , i wont ever 4gt that 1week in hell and i made a promise to myself not to go in that racist country again, nothing on earth i’ll go ther not even for my boyfriend i swear it, i don’t need neither their money nor their job, i don’t care about all these, i went only to see my boyfriend and thats the way they welcome me.i Won’t forget that easily not forgive either. It’s not good to harassed people just for fun, when you don’t like black people or some kind of religion to enter your country, then announce it please, don’t make us waste our money come to your country and with our own money you humilated us so badly, That’s not fair
God is great, He sees all. May he protected us from these racist people.
P.S I’m warning you don’t go there again, they don’t want you so they ‘ll give any stupid reason to remove u from their country… There are so many beautiful countries around the world to visit, please don’t go.
August 26th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Nasha you have officially scared me! I already booked my ticket to go to the UK. I’m going for less than 2 weeks. Just to visit / tour. I’m a college student and I work. I have everything that I’m sure will be asked of me. But yeah. I’ll be in Terminal 3. I’m multi-racial and I’m from the US. Christian. Scared. My flight isn’t for 3 weeks but I seriously cannot get any sleep I am THAT scared. *sigh*
August 26th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Hey don’t be scared. Many of my friends work in Terminal 3 and they are all lovely and do the job to help people not bully them. If you have everything in order they can see that and will welcome you into the UK. If however you have items that suggest you are not a genuine visitor like CV’s and job offers then they will have to do their job and block your entry to the UK.
You seem like a lovely person who if I was still an Immigration Officer I would be happy to allow in to the UK for a holiday. The UK is a FANTASTIC place to visit – you will love it.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:46 am
Nasha, I am Mauritian too and will be in London first time in December, flying by MK reaching there 19.15. Your comments are really scaring me. Did you take an entry clearance in Mauritius? Although Mauritians are non-visa nationals for UK, people suggest it’s better taking a UK Entry Clearance in Mauritius itself so that you won’t get any issue when entering the UK (you have to pay 60gbp).
Nasha, I think you should tell your experience in the press and make some noise about it. I’ve heard around 300 Mauritians (all tourists/visitors) were deported this year. That’s worrying for any propective visitor.
I’ve also noticed that the majority of visitors who get harrased/deported are the ones visiting families/girlfriends/boyfriends. I think it’s better just saying you are purely on vacation and will be staying in a hotel and won’t be visiting anyone. You should of course present your hotel booking confirmation documents.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Hey Guys, I’m not scaring any1, I told you all about the bitter truth that i spent there and that’ll stuck with me till i die, Trisha dear i can’t say anything to you,U knw i’m working too i’m a data entry operator since 2006 to now, i have been to other country like Dubai,France (i went visit my aunty same for 2weeks last year and lately to forget my bad experienced i went to Reunion island (all were white french Immigration officers) They welcome me with a big smile and even crack some jokes 2made me laugh ha haha..
well all nice places and nice immigration officers!
When u talk in ur original language, ther’s u’ll see them (U..immigration officers) laughing between them making noise like birds!
First time i went to the airport wher i was to be removed, there was one like u said Gareth a lovely lady officer, the one who escorted me(in that white caged van like i was a famous criminal) to the airport,
she said “i gt a daughter same age as u, i treat u like 1 so if you want apply then plz better you go to ur country and apply there, don’t stay here bcoz they’ll put u in a detention center and it’s not good darling”, Badluck to me, my boyfriend’ lawyer already cancelled my flight!
And yes Rabin Mauritians are non visa nationals and the travel agency said the same things, no need visa all ur documents like invitation letters, leave letter, bank statement,my home papers bcoz im the owner, my fiance bank statement,even return ticket, his working place papers and lots more!(except CV’s and JOB OFFERS)he said all were lawfully perfect!
And Ur talking about a UK Entry Clearance ok i don’t have a Uk Clearance entry so im bad then tell me dear,
Why did that old Mauritian lady who gt a visit visa to see her daughter (she visit 4times before) been removed on the next day??
And for that indian young lady Y her multiple visa entry been cancelled, she’s been in uk 2times b4 even she dont understand anything and kept crying like rivers talking with her british fiance on the phone?
And what about the Taiwanese girl who apply a student visa in her country and once here they gt it cancelled bcoz she took time in replying their S..questions bcoz she cant talk english properly, they said she think too much, thats mean not good sign so out!
That sweet mexican girl (Carla) whose ther only for 2weeks just for touring and shopping?
That turkish student, (Amel)?
That malaysian girl (Revathi) she said they are detaining her bcoz she gt USA currency with her instead of pounds and of course will be remove, thse nigerians girls, that indian boy, chinese couples, Zambia ladies, pakistanis student…My God so many of them. I wish i had my camera with me, then u’ll knw what im talking about bt unfortunately they didn’t let me take my phone.
It’s not a war on terror, it’s a war on something else.
Muslim, Christian, Hindu or any religion that doesn’t matter to them, they only want 2hav som fun.
Go and see for yourself then u’ll Understand what i mean.
Actor S.R Khan said he has been harassed and humiliated for 2hours in one of USA airport, 2HOURS man and me after 12hours of travelling i hv been detained for hmmm..let me count now 1, 2, 3… for 8HOURS in one room. World record!!!
I need to write a book on it and name it “My days in H… Ooops i means “My days in LOVELY UK”.
P.s: Thank God my fiance is coming here next month and we’ll get married and he will stay here forever!
ADIEU Manchester United
ADIEU UK!
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
A big mistakes i made i said they detained me for 8hours in that room noooo let’s count it plz,
from 19:30 till 15.35 the next day so if 3 o’oclock in the morning that will do 8hours but it’s 15.35pm means from 19.30 evening to next day 03.35pm (afternoon),
I have been detained in that room for 20 HOURS!
No need ur pity ok
September 4th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Ok Nasha, Mauritians should be aware of these injustices at Heathrow. The press has not talked enough about these deportations. We’ve only been told that around 400 mauritians have been deported as at July 2009, and the only advice we are getting since is “when you face the border control, make sure you are dressed well, you answer all questions, you have all documents”. It looks that this piece of advice is not helpful at all. It’s good you write your experience in Le Mauricen forum and keep anonymous.
The fact is UK has to deport a certain quantity of people every day just to show that they have “strict” border control in place. Even if the immigration officers don’t find anything wrong with you but they have not deported enough people for the day then they’ll get out of boredom and have fun interrogate you for some time and deport you later.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:26 am
My partner is Brazilian, we lived together overseas for several years, when coming into Heathrow she was stopped and detained. I was interviewed by immigration staff separately to her. We were coming to the UK for a two week family holiday (I am british).
The immigration staff refused her entry and put her on a plane out a few hours later.
Not only this, the immigration woman was rude, accused me of being a liar (over an unrelated fact I told her which was true, but which her ignorance of the country i lived in convinced her was not true). She also said that my relationship was a sham, that my girlfriend was just using me. That was 3 years ago, we are still together and about to get married.
Immigration staff in my experience are rude, arrogant, under-achievers who revel in the power they have been given to ruin people’s lives. They are not interested in making a genuine decision on whether you intend to leave at the end of your stay, they are only interested in using what rules they have and it has only got easier as there is no right of appeal other than for human rights. And that still does not give you the right to bring your partner/spouse to your own country to visit.
Most perversely, as partner of an EU citizen, she has automatic right of entry while travelling with me to EVERY OTHER EU STATE except the UK which is my own country.
The immigration system is rotten, it lets murderers in and pays for their legal costs through legal aid, while anyone decent with a job who simply wants to visit family will face 30-40K of bills if they wish to pursue legal action to review the decisions.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
You are clearly upset by this and I feel your pain. You are right you can get a few bad eggs in the job who just want to bully other people but they generally don’t last long. They are also in the minority. Immigration officers are more like Police Officers – they have to enforce the rules even though they might be the wrong rules.
The arguement was intention to return home and they must of had a reason to bounce your girlfriend. They do not take these actions without reason (even if that is incorrect).
Rise above it and get help to resolve this. It can be corrected.
September 15th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
If you want to get the worst headache of your life, simple just get yourself interview by a UK border immigration officer. They will turn the truth into a lie whenever they want to because it’s their job, They are paranoids people they think the whole world is dying to stay in UK and steal their pounds!
They keep testing U with silly questions and for my case she asked about my fiancé, if i still in love with him, Y i’m here now and even why we didn’t get married yet! I replied and explained to her, it’s nearly 3yrs we known each other and he came to my country only 2times and this year he couldn’t bcoz of some health problem so thats y I’m here, we are not married yet the simple reason is that i didn’t want to live in Uk after my marriage and of course my fiancé doesn’t agree about this,He is British so he has everything there.
After not buying Manchester United’ ticket now this was another reason of my refusal entry in the UK, she said that i was acting, she don’t believe that i am still in love with my fiancé, even i gave her all our emails, love letters, pictures of our engagement and chat copy since 2006.
He waited outside whole night and even called them to inquired about me and the reason of my detention instead of explaining him they insulted him badly, Because of all my problems, he got sick again and fell down on the stairs and broke his hand, even all this he took the service of a immigration lawyer his fees was £5800 to get a JR and make me stay for 2months more.
I said THANK YOU so much for ur warm welcome, y need 2months? I don’t want even to stay here for 2mins more. Last thing i did b4 getting to the airplane, I called my fiancé and told him that we need stop all now, just break off and forget me. Few hours after i came to Mauritius, he called me and said he’ll leave UK and come here then get marry.
Thanks a lot UK Border Agency, NO body can feel this pain only those who have experienced this nightmare know what I’m taking about others can say what they want.
September 15th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I told you b4 about an American Caucasian been in the detention room with all of us,
the reason, his been in prison for selling drugs!
he narrated to us how he used selling drugs in USA and even to other country too, he said don’t like hard drugs only like marijuana and even asked me how we called each drug’s names in Mauritius, he was so funny.
He stayed in that room only for 9mins not more and guessed he gt the visa entry too!
Interesting isn’t it?
September 17th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Hi Nasha
I am offering you a free first class return Air Ticket Mauritius-London by Air Maurtius, do you accept the offer? Think about it, it’s first class, not economy, you’ll get access to VIP lounges in both SSR and Heathrow. Youl’ll be treated like a VIP, even if they deport you.
Call me if you accept the offer.
Navin
September 25th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Thank God i saw this website..
I’m so sorry for you Nasha, i can’t imagine myself living all this and thanks a lot for sharing, i know some who just kept quiet and let others live that awful experience,
that’s really sad, Have courage.
October 18th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
hi.Every one,can any one give me tips how to face immigration officer,at heathrow airport,Iam coming by student visa, From INDIA,I have a valid passport,visa stamped,acceptance letter from college,Travel- insurace,All my educational certificates,and caring 300 pounds,in cash for expences..And iam staying in hostel,provided by college,plz give me better suggestions,i will be very thank full to u All,I will be leaving on 24th of octomber 2009,to london,
NOTE:RECENTLY STUDENTS FROM INDIA WENT TO LONDON FACED WITH IMIGRATION OFFICER,GIVE ME SUGGESTIOONS,WAT SHUD WE TELL,WTHAT SHUD WE NOT DO,
PLZ REPLY SOON
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:37 pm
got g
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Be yourself and come in – you should be fine. If not call us.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Gareth Sir,
I am waiting for yr reply since 10 days. Once again i am telling u about the problem my son is in U.K he isdoing his M.S. in U.K. He lost his visa paper from his passport when he is taking some xeroxes. He is having his original passport and U.K. visa photostat copy. Immediately he gave a police complaint and he went to the U.K. border Agency in Liverpool. They said that they consider the passport as damaged passport and ask him to get new passport to enodrse visa. He went to Indian Embassy they want a prrof of letter reg his visa from U.K. border agency. Again he contact liverpool U.K. border agency they said his visa was given in Chennai U.K. embassy in India so he will get the letter from them only. He send an email to U.k. Embassy in chennai, India. BUT THEY said that he will establish his identity with U.K.border Agency in U.K. they only give the letter to him. Now we cant understand what he will do exactly to get his U.K. visa. He is having his student visa upto September 30th 2011 . Please help us and guide us what he will do exactly.
Waiting for yr reply eagerly
REgards
Parvathi