Just to add to FlannerUK's post. If they decide to not let him in he won't be deported, he'll be "refused entry." Seems like a small difference but one that's very important for getting future visas.

A decision to refuse entry must be taken by a sunior officer at UK immigration, not just the counter officer. He will first be taken aside and face interroration in an interview room, initially by the counter officer who has doubts about his eligibility, and then by a senior officer who needs to come to an independent decision. All available evidence will be examined, including his luggage (which will be fetched from customs) and phoning up any UK contacts who can verify his statements, or not. Only if two officers agree can then a procedure for removal be initiated, and he will be given a letter setting out grounds for refused entry. Even then, he may be given a couple of days in UK to sort out his affairs before reporting back to Heathrow for removal.

The most sensible option really would be for him to have an onward ticket to his next destination. I know he wants to wing it, but it wouldn't kill him to have one firm date in his travel plans. You can get very inexpensive flights from London-Paris with someone like Ryanair or Easyjet, which would seem to me like a sensible investment. Or even a foot passenger ticket for a ferry out of Dover to Calais? That will cost as little as £15 - see www.poferries.com

As others have pointed out, his appearance is irrelevant.

Interesting point of view Alec. Having dealt with this from the other side of the barrier, it looks a lot like a whim, to me :)

Just an observation. It does seem crazy that UK/US can be so obsessive about letting in an english-speaking "all American" or "British rose" yet these two countries let in the 7/7 bombers and 911 hijackers respectively.

We didn't 'let the 7/7 bombers in'. They were British. They lived here.'

RE the OP - Being scruffy is unlikely to cause many problems (except perhaps a drugs search!). The lack of a return or onward ticket is the real problem. That will almost certainly single him out for extra questioning.

And not quite the same issue, either. Immigration officers aren't police or security officers.

"We didn't 'let the 7/7 bombers in'. They were British. They lived here.'"

They may have been citizens but at some point the families that produced them were let in.

So we ban immigration just in case some descendant turns out wrong.

Or will you allow immigration but prevent them from breeding?

"So we ban immigration just in case some descendant turns out wrong"

What I'm saying is using common sense when it comes to immigration and not allowing in those that are more prone to terrorism or don't assimilate very well and it's a myth that all groups can equally assimilate or even assimilate. Anyway, both the US/UK are in a recession and have had massive immigration over the past several years so I believe common sense dictates that most immigration be halted.

"I believe common sense dictates that most immigration be halted." - there doesn't seem to be much common sense in this post, but the BBC was reporting last night that immigration has halted itself as the jobs have dried up. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...igration.shtml

If he is flying from the US, are you sure he will even be allowed on the plane???

This summer DH and I flew to the UK and took the Queen Mary II back. I had to show our QMII reservation at the ticket counter at the airport because we didn't have a round trip ticket.

BTW, this subject has been beaten to death, but he does know about the 90 day Schengen limit after he leaves the UK, right?

Yup, he knows about Schengen. I don't think there's a danger of huim lingering overlong in the Schengen countries due to his financial limitations. We've heard it's best to visit India between November and March, so he'll be heading there, where it's much cheaper, before too long.

I assume he potentially faces all this again when he leaves UK for his first Schengen country? His current thinking is Copenhagen.

artsnletters,

My daughter reports that she has had a much easier time traveling to other European countries than she did with that first entry into the UK. Now, I don't know if that will be your son's experience, but I hope so!

By the way, I love your description of your son's looks. As a parent of two, I know It is not always easy being the parent of "young'uns" who must do things their own way, is it?

Saying he plans to stay with friends is like a red flag to a bull. That makes it sound like he's there for a long time, perhaps semi-permanently, since his lodging will be free.

Agree that he should get some sort of ongoing plane ticket - even if refundable and he turns it back - and also have some sort of reservation at a hotel or hostel - even if he cancels it as soon as he gets through Immigration.

I'm not an immigration expert, but wanted to share my bit of experience. I've stayed with friends in the UK a few times in the past few years, the most recent trip in May of this year. I got questioned more on this trip than I remember being questioned in the past. I always have an address for my friends, my passport and landing card ready to go. On previous trips, I've gotten through immigration with little more than the proper documents and a "What are you here for?" "Sightseeing and visiting friends." This time, they seemed more stern and asked questions like what my friends do for a living, and seemed to pay closer attention to the answers. I was with a few other people and this seemed to be pretty standard now.

I've never had any trouble, because I was able to answer all the questions easily and always had a round-trip ticket and a firm answer to how long I was staying. I agree that looking "scruffy" won't cause too much of an issue (I mean really, almost everyone looks scruffy after an overnight flight, and dreadlocks don't seem that big of a deal), but I do feel like things are more strict and your son should be prepared to answer those sorts of questions (including an onward/return ticket).

This news story illustrates how strict immigration is about any intention to work, even as a volunteer. It happened in June 2009.

http://www.thecnj.co.uk/islington/20...062609_01.html

When thinking about travelling to a country outside the US, ask yourself what hoops do the citizens of that country have to go through to visit the US. Normally the measures are reciprocal. So just as a young man or woman from the UK could not enter the US without clear intention of leaving within a reasonable time so will the UK immigration authorities apply the rules to a young man from the US like your son.

Unfortunately too many people (at least in the US and I assume the UK) enter in as visitors and then do overstay - so who can really blame the immigration officials. If your son is old enough to do the "round the world" adventure - he should be old enough to adjust himself to the realities of immigration and purchase a ticket to an onwards destination.