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The Worst 48 hours of my life.
12 years ago
If you want, you may call me Mangy, but pronounce the 'G'!
This was going to be a journal about how we had safely landed and I was going to go on about watching a movie called Seven Psychopaths on the plane and it was really awesome....
But nope.
The visa inspector got suspicious when I said I was staying for the allowed 6 months with my partner. (this sort of thing they assume I'll overstay my visit and try to live illegally.) So I was escorted to pick up my baggage and have it hand checked. Everything was alright until they saw my folder of important documents which I wanted to keep safe with me. This is pretty much what terminated me.
So at 7am I was escorted up to a holding room which was the last I got to see of my boyfriend.
Had my picture taken, my finger prints rolled then told I would be seen soon, got patted down well and left in the sound proof holding room.
Hours passed by, I'm still mostly calm but very concerned... surely once they hear my story they couldn't possibly think I was up to anything illegal.
More and more hours going by, remember I'm exhausted from an overnight flight I didn't get much rest on. Theres a few old newspapers and magazines but they got old quickly. Can't listen to music since I can't have my phone.
Finally I'm interrogated, I'm asked many of the same questions again and again. the interrogator has no sign of sympathy nor reasoning with me. He only notes that these flags in my case all point to negative. Theres no room for special cases. I am only a statistic. I finish my interrogation in tears while he just reads the questions typed up for him. "Are you fit, well, and happy?" I cry out no and that I needed to see my boyfriend, I had been in holding for 5 hours by now (there were only 2 detainees in holding at this point) and awake for over 24. Interrogators says he'll see about getting my friend in and that he should have a follow up soon.
Soon, in a bit, not long now.
Kept getting these words. Soon usually turned into 2 more hours, in a bit was close to 3, not long now was 40minutes.
At this point I was pacing frantically in that little room. I think I may have started to frighten the Indian and South African in there a bit. I was given a 5pound calling card which I used to contact my father for 1 minute and a sobbing I love you to Cameron. It was enough at least for them to STAR60 back the pay phone. I had access to food but was too upset to intake anything besides water. I remember at least 4 escapes to the provided bathroom where I held onto the sink and sobbed loudly.
got the final notice in. Officially refused entry and would be sent back ASAP. next flight was in the morning.
by this time the staff that was watching the cell already had their shift end a while ago.
More fake "Soon"s and "in-a-bit"s I try a sandwich, can only swallow 1/4 of it... its alright i don't feel hungry but I only logically think it had been 13 hours since my last meal.
I figure I can at least ask the security to let me be productive. The security is honestly nice but wont do too much without clearance and many repeated requests. I manage to sort out my mixed luggage and squeeze dash's suit in one and mine in another to take back.
It wasn't till 7pm that I was escorted out (patted down again) and put in a van with this detained guy from Trinidad who thinks he's speaking english but isn't....
You know, theres some foreigners that know they can't speak well so they struggle to put words together for you.
Then theres foreigners that think their english is the same as anyone elses and just keep talking no matter how many times you ask them to repeat it. It was like he was unable to sound consonants.
Oh yeah, everyone that I came across was pretty shocked I was American.
So escorted to this illegal aliens detention center. Patted down again. Very much assembled an insane asylum. So a step up from actual prison. the staff there were very nice to me... still tons of waiting on old awful furniture but staff was sincerely interested in my case and talked kindly with me. Most of them were LGBT anyways so they kinda had a biased to a guy just trying to be with his boyfriend. Since I got there so late it was well pass visiting hours which immigration said I'd get to see Cameron then. Nope.
Finally walked to my holding chambers and its 10 minutes till lock down curfew time. Still denied most of my belongings except a change of clothes. Within this time I had to use the open showers then go directly to my shared room with a Uzbekistani fella. He was nice too. The bed was awful, it was like one of those mats preschoolers use for nap time and put on top of a hard wood case. Good thing I'm not tall. Went straight to bed finally.
Uneasy sleep, uncomfortable, several dreams involving cameron.
next morning escorted back into van, Trinidad guy and Vietnamese fella too. 4 more pat downs. We're held for maybe 4 more hours back at the room in Gatwick airport. My dominoe pagoda was still standing from the day before. Apparently I was paid .70 pence for staying at immigration holding asylum. I use it on a last call to cameron. Vietnamese kid gives me his spare change as well. Tells me he'll try to go to America next time. Have a long chat with Dash and I feel better knowing he's alright and being able to tell him how I was. Appetite is back. Escorted to plane, more sympathy from security crew and they tell me how upsetting the immigration officers are. Queues and statistics and such. They send me off and wish me luck.
Now I'm back here.
The good news is that I can reapply for a visa and try again in a few weeks.
We wont get refunded for the plane tickets however.
If you'd like a badge or commission from me please send a note or catch me on skype, I'll get working on it right away.
But nope.
The visa inspector got suspicious when I said I was staying for the allowed 6 months with my partner. (this sort of thing they assume I'll overstay my visit and try to live illegally.) So I was escorted to pick up my baggage and have it hand checked. Everything was alright until they saw my folder of important documents which I wanted to keep safe with me. This is pretty much what terminated me.
So at 7am I was escorted up to a holding room which was the last I got to see of my boyfriend.
Had my picture taken, my finger prints rolled then told I would be seen soon, got patted down well and left in the sound proof holding room.
Hours passed by, I'm still mostly calm but very concerned... surely once they hear my story they couldn't possibly think I was up to anything illegal.
More and more hours going by, remember I'm exhausted from an overnight flight I didn't get much rest on. Theres a few old newspapers and magazines but they got old quickly. Can't listen to music since I can't have my phone.
Finally I'm interrogated, I'm asked many of the same questions again and again. the interrogator has no sign of sympathy nor reasoning with me. He only notes that these flags in my case all point to negative. Theres no room for special cases. I am only a statistic. I finish my interrogation in tears while he just reads the questions typed up for him. "Are you fit, well, and happy?" I cry out no and that I needed to see my boyfriend, I had been in holding for 5 hours by now (there were only 2 detainees in holding at this point) and awake for over 24. Interrogators says he'll see about getting my friend in and that he should have a follow up soon.
Soon, in a bit, not long now.
Kept getting these words. Soon usually turned into 2 more hours, in a bit was close to 3, not long now was 40minutes.
At this point I was pacing frantically in that little room. I think I may have started to frighten the Indian and South African in there a bit. I was given a 5pound calling card which I used to contact my father for 1 minute and a sobbing I love you to Cameron. It was enough at least for them to STAR60 back the pay phone. I had access to food but was too upset to intake anything besides water. I remember at least 4 escapes to the provided bathroom where I held onto the sink and sobbed loudly.
got the final notice in. Officially refused entry and would be sent back ASAP. next flight was in the morning.
by this time the staff that was watching the cell already had their shift end a while ago.
More fake "Soon"s and "in-a-bit"s I try a sandwich, can only swallow 1/4 of it... its alright i don't feel hungry but I only logically think it had been 13 hours since my last meal.
I figure I can at least ask the security to let me be productive. The security is honestly nice but wont do too much without clearance and many repeated requests. I manage to sort out my mixed luggage and squeeze dash's suit in one and mine in another to take back.
It wasn't till 7pm that I was escorted out (patted down again) and put in a van with this detained guy from Trinidad who thinks he's speaking english but isn't....
You know, theres some foreigners that know they can't speak well so they struggle to put words together for you.
Then theres foreigners that think their english is the same as anyone elses and just keep talking no matter how many times you ask them to repeat it. It was like he was unable to sound consonants.
Oh yeah, everyone that I came across was pretty shocked I was American.
So escorted to this illegal aliens detention center. Patted down again. Very much assembled an insane asylum. So a step up from actual prison. the staff there were very nice to me... still tons of waiting on old awful furniture but staff was sincerely interested in my case and talked kindly with me. Most of them were LGBT anyways so they kinda had a biased to a guy just trying to be with his boyfriend. Since I got there so late it was well pass visiting hours which immigration said I'd get to see Cameron then. Nope.
Finally walked to my holding chambers and its 10 minutes till lock down curfew time. Still denied most of my belongings except a change of clothes. Within this time I had to use the open showers then go directly to my shared room with a Uzbekistani fella. He was nice too. The bed was awful, it was like one of those mats preschoolers use for nap time and put on top of a hard wood case. Good thing I'm not tall. Went straight to bed finally.
Uneasy sleep, uncomfortable, several dreams involving cameron.
next morning escorted back into van, Trinidad guy and Vietnamese fella too. 4 more pat downs. We're held for maybe 4 more hours back at the room in Gatwick airport. My dominoe pagoda was still standing from the day before. Apparently I was paid .70 pence for staying at immigration holding asylum. I use it on a last call to cameron. Vietnamese kid gives me his spare change as well. Tells me he'll try to go to America next time. Have a long chat with Dash and I feel better knowing he's alright and being able to tell him how I was. Appetite is back. Escorted to plane, more sympathy from security crew and they tell me how upsetting the immigration officers are. Queues and statistics and such. They send me off and wish me luck.
Now I'm back here.
The good news is that I can reapply for a visa and try again in a few weeks.
We wont get refunded for the plane tickets however.
If you'd like a badge or commission from me please send a note or catch me on skype, I'll get working on it right away.
i've honestly never heard of that kinda shit happening at all, so that makes me kinda worried with it all. :(
Also that's crazy man for what you had to go through, that's not cool of them. I would suggest maybe carrying important documents on a external hard drive or keep them on something like dropbox then access them later on as to not arouse suspicion.
Things with visas and that kind of stuff is getting stupid these days, I feel for you a lot for having to go through all this crap. *hug*
Really and truly, I'm sorry for such troubles to fall upon you but I want you to keep that chin up and keep pressing forward, okay? You'll get there, I'm sure of it. It may take longer than you had anticipated but I believe you'll get there and this nightmare will become just some wild, crazy story you tell at any conventions you get to go to.
It'll be alright. Don't you lose sight of that. *hugs and hugs and lots more hugs*
What was the specific thing in your important documents folder that got you declined?
*awkward*
Regardless, it sucks, i am sorry to hear you had this happen
I'm incredibly angry for you. I can't imagine that situation, but it had to be horrible :(
Get some sleep. We'll be here for you when you wake up.
It will all be resolved soon.
Next time I would not mention I have a significant other in country. As it seems to be a good reason to stick around longer than you should (and rightly so, I might add). Next time you should wear a big ugly camera around your neck, and ask where "them guys with the big old hats that ain't allowed to move" are. Then ask if the have a McDonnalds nearby, as you "don't want to get sick eating that England food".
I know you are not in the mood to hear that, but it was the advice given to me by my friend Mike when he returned the second time. They rushed him right through. Later he was able to get dual citizenship.. He just had to actually get in country first. The officials passed the airport are infinitely more reasonable from what I am told.
I was actually joking a bit about appearing so Patriotic it was obvious I didn't want to stay.
Theres also the fact that I'm clearly not Caucasian probably winded up their racial profiling.
I say play into it, give them what they want. Let them make fun of your cowboy hat, NRA t-shirt, and overalls. And tell them that you are sad you had to leave your hound dog, moonshine, shotgun, and rocking chair back in the Good ol' USA. Extra credit if you mention bailing out the British during WWII.
Tell them you would love to stay, but it's deer season soon, and there is no way you are going to miss that.
Basically, be Ted Nugent for an hour.
That's pretty darn close to the stereotype upstate new yorkers have from our oh-so-wonderful neighbors in NYC, too.
it's all 100% true though for us down in the "'sip"
Next up, there was my 8am arrival into Heathrow where the immigration line spread all the way to the gate area due to being understaffed, but that's another story.
Try to stay strong and I'll give Dash a hug the next time I see him at LF.
i'd have been kicking or punching some fucking walls if i were in your spot. :I
Take care!
much love and sympathy <3
Have you need seen any airport or immigration program's before?.
The absolute worst thing you can do is carry your important documents, its all you need to apply for a job illegally so that's what they assume.
You should have known better dude :(.
We really were doing things the right way, and were punished for it. Sure having the documents was stupid, but we just did it without thinking. Surely other innocent travellers have fallen into this trap.
That's why they were asking you the same questions, over and over and over again. To make sure you weren't lying. They were recording you the whole time and comparing what you'd been saying before to what you're saying now. They were also doing all those things to stress you out and see if you break down, change your story, show discomfort from any drug-filled condoms you've swallowed, you name it.
The other important thing to remember, is that with the new passports, they can verify almost everything you tell them. So don't *EVER* lie. If you lie, they will catch you, and then you'll be banned from entering for five years, or more. Or worse, thrown in jail.
I went to live with my boyfriend in Scotland for five months, and I ran into something close to this, but nowhere near as bad.
I had my luggage, of course, and my passport, but I also had the "important documents" with me. Namely my medical and dental record, as well as several "emergency information" packets for my boyfriend and his mum, should anything happen to me. As for my reason there, I honestly told them that I was there for a mix of business and leisure, and that I was "scouting" to see if I might like living there. They asked more about that, and I explained this visit was a "trial run". If I liked it, and found employers willing to hire me, I'd be heading back to the US to start the official process, and get a proper visa.
They did like hearing that, believe it or not? But they also warned me not to try and find work without it. Despite all that, there were four critical things that they wanted, one of which I didn't have.
1. Return tickets - check.
2. Traveler's insurance - check. (They don't like it if you get hurt/sick and use their funds when you're not a citizen.)
3. Staying less than six months.
4. Proof of funds. (A bank statement is what they were looking for.)
That last one almost sank me. I had plenty of money in my bank account, close to $8k, more than enough for a five month stay. But they didn't believe me, and were starting to gear things up for me to go through what you did. I pulled out my ATM card and asked if I could be escorted to an ATM to pull a balance slip.
That did it. They grumbled and huffed, but I'd called their bluff. They let me pass on to Glasgow.
The return tickets and traveler's insurance saved my butt, and staying only 5 months eased some of their concerns. If I'd had the bank statement too, I'd have been sent on my way without even the slightest trouble.
So please, please, please don't ever lie to immigration. Because not only will your boyfriend be barred from coming back to England, YOU will get in trouble as well.
Instead, once you've grieved and had a chance to recover, talk to some people who do a lot of business travel. Check out some expat forums and websites, and share your experience to see what advice they can offer. Something set off their alarms, and you need to find out what it was, so the next time he comes over, those alarms don't go off again.
The most important things are that he's back home safe, and not barred from trying again.
Everything else can be rebuilt with time.
*huggles*
~AliZar
This really opened my eyes to how stressful its going to be to get over there. It seems so ridiculous that they treat people as shitty as they treated you. God... That's just a nightmare! D: I probably would have totally cracked about halfway through the first holding and just told those people that I'd rather go home and try again some other time than be treated like shit.
I hope that next time you get through with no troubles!
that's exactly what I'm always afraid of when going to the US.
The tiniest thing you say wrong and they suspect you big times and overquestion you.
It never went as far as what you had to go through,
but I think I was darn close a couple of times.
Once when I had the bad idea to keep a burnt cd in my documents,
it was just a linux install cd I had, but they got all suspicious, thought I was a pirate blabla..
Another time when I said I was going to see 'a friend' they immediately thought I was going to stay to see a boy friend.
It's really in the hands of the one(s) examining you basically.
They can just deny you entry and you can't really do anything.
So yeah I feel for you :/
Hopefully it never happens again.
One thing you might want to try if you ever get denied again in UK for the visa, is to go through France.
It's quite easy to go through usually, TOS has been through a few time and they usually really don't ask much and let you through .
Once you're in France, just take a train ticket to the UK, just say you're visiting London or something, they're not really going to question that much for a train, and can't really know if you're staying longer or not in that case.
*hugs*
It might be therapeutic, and also very helpful to others as our community becomes more and more international, to document your experiences as a source of helpful information for others who are considering a move. Mostly, you are both strong people and clearly very much in love, and love WILL out. There is nothing stronger than that. I'll note you separately about a commission.
That's is so horrible to hear...
I am very sorry that this happened to you...
Nobody will ever treated you like that!
You have a couple of minutes in front of an immigration officer to prove to them:
1. That you have strong ties to your home country and intend to return home.
2. That you do not intend to seek employment, or intend to work without authorisation.
3. That you have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of stay.
Looking at your story.. the following are probable reasons for you being denied entry, however stupid, silly or unfair they might seem:
1. You said you were visiting your boyfriend, did you tell the official that? If you did, that's a red flag.
2. You planned to stay for the maximum period of time, six months, this raises the question of money to support yourself. I believe you have to show that you can be entirely self-sufficient for the duration of your stay so that may have raised a question or two.
3. You brought "important documents" the only documents you need with you would be your passport and flight details or itinerary, if you brought documents that they would view as good as job applications or evidence of that you may be seeking to work in the UK they can refuse you entry.
For what it's worth, I think the UK has just grown shockingly bad
People who travel oversea more frequent may find certain pattern to avoid unnecessary troubles like this (as some "now" mentioned above), this time it's a really big life lesson for you and everyone else to learn from, hope your next try is a lot smoother Manggy.
Will see if I can help any soon.
Reading this made me cry. I'm sorry that happend to you.
Wishing for the best the next time~
Just know that you've got TONS of love and support from all of us in the community, wishing only the best for you. Things will work out in the end, and this'll eventually just be another icky memory sitting in the back of your mind.
If I wasn't all the way down in Homestead, I'd help keep you occupied and entertained once you got back to Florida. Far bearwolf is faaaaar. =< But I can at least give ya this. *hugs*
I was just all like http://www.vgmemes.com/wp-content/u.....r-this-one.jpg
I'm so sorry. Good luck for next time :)
*Hugs to you and Dash*
I hope you are able to sort it all out and get back together soon :3
*bunnyhugs*
At least it wasn't Australia. Here you would get put on a plane heading back asap abd be banned for two years
and it has been said in a previous journal, you shouldnt be so judgemental and tar everyone with the same brush.
Just tell them that you are visiting your friends and traveling, that's all.
Have the following things, and you should be alright.
1. Return tickets.
2. Traveler's insurance.
3. Staying less than six months.
4. Proof of funds. A bank statement, or an ATM receipt with a recent date on it.
However the way I book a flight is very different >.< since I fly standby I wait until a couple days before I leave so I know what flights look good and that I can actually get on.
I'm so sorry to hear this though... it's not right. I wish I could somehow make this not have happened... :(
*hugs tight*
- With the visa waiver system there is no right of entry, it's entirely at their discretion. It's the same in the US the other way, they need not give any reason at all and you have no right of appeal. With a proper pre-travel visa it can be challenged in court.
- The reasons were mentioned in his post: No current job, no permanent residence in the US, visiting a partner for the maximum amount of time, brought a resume/CV and employment certificates. With the best will in the world, that sets every immigration officer's alarm bells ringing. It would DEFINITELY get your turned around in the US, and their treatment of deportees is not as nice as described here. (Not to mention there is no chance of a same-sex partner visa like Mangusu has :p )
So yes, this is why they didn't let you in. Just say'in.
As a UK national I can only apologize for the actions of my country =[
I'm seriously tempted to phone gatwick and demand an explanation for this bullshit.
At the VERY LEAST you should have been refunded for your experience. Surely you can sue them, for wasting your time, STEALING your plane tickets, robbing you of 2 days of your life and not even having the courtesy to issue an official apology.
1: you told them you were gay
2: you told them you were staying for six months (red flag there, they dont follow up with that shit, they just want to ask in case they get an answer like that.)
3: you had all your personal documents with you, NO ONE travels with those unless they plan to stay where they land.
So regardless of what you actually said to them, they heard this: "Hey guys, I'm a homosexual, and I plan to enter your country with the intent of never leaving again!"
From the encounter and stuff that happened, youre probably going to be flagged as a likely illegal immigrant, seriously hurting your chances of being able to renew your visa. Next time just say "oh im on vacation" "only a couple weeks" and keep most of your answers to "yes sir, no sir" most of the time theyre not really interrogating you, they have no way of following up with you to find out if you lied (unless they tag you for some red flag), dont volunteer ANY information, only respond to what youre asked directly. And telling someone youre gay really doesnt have any benefit in any situation, only the possibility of letting some homophobe know you're what he hates. Im not saying you should be in the closet, just dont volunteer that information to anyone who has authority over you at the time.
Hope that helps, and good luck. Despite that what i said may sound a bit harsh, i do feel for you and wish you the best.