Scruffy young man entering the UK
Sep 7th, 2009, 01:30 PM
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Scruffy young man entering the UK
My son (American) plans to fly from NY to London in late October as the first stop in what will essentially be a round-the-world trip. He appears to be precisely the sort of scruffy, hippie-ish young fellow who might be planning to stay indefinitely. In fact, he doesn't plan to stay long in England - maybe two weeks or so? - before heading on, but he is doing one of those make-it-up-as-you-go type of trips. Consequently, he may not have an onward ticket yet. He can bring a bank statement that will show ample money to support himself abroad for several months, and I'm making him get travel medical insurance whether he wants to or not.
I've heard of people like my son having trouble entering because of the suspicion that they're coming to live rather than to visit. Since the dreadlocks, scruffy beard and thrift-store clothes aren't going to change, what should he bring and/or be prepared for to get through passport control without any problems?
I've heard of people like my son having trouble entering because of the suspicion that they're coming to live rather than to visit. Since the dreadlocks, scruffy beard and thrift-store clothes aren't going to change, what should he bring and/or be prepared for to get through passport control without any problems?
Sep 7th, 2009, 01:42 PM
#2
I'm sure others will have better answers for you -- but IMO he needs at minimum 1) a firm address for his stay in the UK (hotel/hostel/whatever), and 2) an onward ticket . . . . .
But maybe I'm overly cautious.
But maybe I'm overly cautious.
Sep 7th, 2009, 01:57 PM
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When I was young (many years ago) I was extensively questioned upon entering Great Britain on three occasions, despite being well dressed (at least the first time and presentable the other times) and having a return ticket home and enough travelers' checks for the duration of my stay. Last time there were no questions asked but I don't know if it's because I'm older or because things are more lax at immigration.
Your son should at least look neat and clean regardless of where he purchased his clothes. Does he have a job or promise of employment in the future? A degree? Bank statement?
If he is on an around the world trip doesn't he have an around the world plane ticket?
GB is the only country I've had trouble entering.
Your son should at least look neat and clean regardless of where he purchased his clothes. Does he have a job or promise of employment in the future? A degree? Bank statement?
If he is on an around the world trip doesn't he have an around the world plane ticket?
GB is the only country I've had trouble entering.
Sep 7th, 2009, 02:06 PM
#4
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He's planning on traveling overland as much as possible. Unfortunately for him, he wants his trip to look something like that of the incomparable "sandy" who was posting here a while back - couch-surfing, thumbing, ride-shares, etc. He has a job right now, but obviously will be leaving it to travel, although I think they would be happy to have him back. No degree. He will have a bank statement with $10K+.
He's not entirely unwashed, but "neat" is kind of difficult with the awful dreadlocks (hardly anyone Caucasian can grow decent ones), and he only trims rather than shaves. The explanation is that this is cheaper and easier.
He's not entirely unwashed, but "neat" is kind of difficult with the awful dreadlocks (hardly anyone Caucasian can grow decent ones), and he only trims rather than shaves. The explanation is that this is cheaper and easier.
Sep 7th, 2009, 02:24 PM
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Yeah, I know, I'm fairly sure he's going to get questioned, but we work with what we have. I'm assuming that having frizzy (but at least clean) dreadlocks and a scroungy beard won't categorically rule him out as a visitor. I'm just trying to do what I can to help him head off trouble at the pass.
My consolation is that, despite his barbering choices, he is a very personable, smart, kind, and wonderful human being, and as he's only 21, there's still hope that he will grow out of this eventually.
My consolation is that, despite his barbering choices, he is a very personable, smart, kind, and wonderful human being, and as he's only 21, there's still hope that he will grow out of this eventually.
Sep 7th, 2009, 02:30 PM
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Have him ask his employer to write a letter stating he is a valuable, hard-working employee and they will welcome him back after his grand tour. Is he young enough to claim this is a gap year?
Sorry to hear he wants to emulate Sandy but perhaps this adventure will be the making of him.
Sorry to hear he wants to emulate Sandy but perhaps this adventure will be the making of him.
Sep 7th, 2009, 02:31 PM
#8
It ain't the scruffy that will probably be a problem. Lots of scruffy kids travel.
And if he plans on copying the famous "sandy" - does your son realize that easily 90% of what he posted was totally fake. The consensus is he was a pubescent Canadian posting from his mother's computer somewhere in Ontario.
And if he plans on copying the famous "sandy" - does your son realize that easily 90% of what he posted was totally fake. The consensus is he was a pubescent Canadian posting from his mother's computer somewhere in Ontario.
Sep 7th, 2009, 03:24 PM
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UK immigration has a reputation for being tough (but so is US, Australian etc), but they work strictly to rules and cannot just turn him way at the whim of an individual official.
Regardless of appearance and first impressions, he will need to satisfy that he will meet all the requirements of a visitor. That means a reason for visiting (such as sightseeing, meeting friends, attending cultural or sporting events etc, with some creditable evidence such as an itinerary, tickets, guide books etc), enough funds to support himself without working (recent bank statement is best) and preferably return or onward ticket/reservation, or enough money to get one in UK. It helps to have accommodation booking for the first few days in UK. He must answer all questions truthfully and politely but don't volunteer opinions or ideas not asked for. Immigration has been known to use leading questions, such as 'Are you thinking of doing any casual, voluntary or unpaid work while you are here?' He should answer with a firm No. Never, ever breathe a word of possibly extending his stay, or wanting to study or doing voluntary work, none of which is allowed as a visitor and is a reason enough for refused admission (activity incompatible with visitor status, not holding a relevant visa etc). So provided he is forewarned and gives short, relevant answer to any questions, and as long as he can show evidence of funds and leaving at then end of his two-week stay, I don't think he will have any difficulty being admitted.
Regardless of appearance and first impressions, he will need to satisfy that he will meet all the requirements of a visitor. That means a reason for visiting (such as sightseeing, meeting friends, attending cultural or sporting events etc, with some creditable evidence such as an itinerary, tickets, guide books etc), enough funds to support himself without working (recent bank statement is best) and preferably return or onward ticket/reservation, or enough money to get one in UK. It helps to have accommodation booking for the first few days in UK. He must answer all questions truthfully and politely but don't volunteer opinions or ideas not asked for. Immigration has been known to use leading questions, such as 'Are you thinking of doing any casual, voluntary or unpaid work while you are here?' He should answer with a firm No. Never, ever breathe a word of possibly extending his stay, or wanting to study or doing voluntary work, none of which is allowed as a visitor and is a reason enough for refused admission (activity incompatible with visitor status, not holding a relevant visa etc). So provided he is forewarned and gives short, relevant answer to any questions, and as long as he can show evidence of funds and leaving at then end of his two-week stay, I don't think he will have any difficulty being admitted.
Sep 7th, 2009, 03:29 PM
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The lack of an onward ticket may be a real problem. Of course the appearance won't help. If he wants to waste his time and money, and not cooperate with bureaucracy, and then get sent back, I guess that is up to him. It's easy enough to comply with the UK's minimal requirements for entry, and easy enough to be obliging to accepted standards of dress and demeanor.
Sep 7th, 2009, 03:43 PM
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Actually I would be more worried about what the "welcoming" USA Immgration would do to him on return. (At least here in ATL they are worse then anyplace I have been)
I think that if he's articulate and able to explain himself then he should be fine. he should just be perpeared that he may have to do that. It happens. As an earlier poster pointed out, they generally don't deny you due to "looks" alone. (I did see a woman with a sewing machine once who appeared to be having quite the hard time convincing the immigration folks that she wasn't planning to stay. Can't say I blame them.. A sewing machine?)
I think that if he's articulate and able to explain himself then he should be fine. he should just be perpeared that he may have to do that. It happens. As an earlier poster pointed out, they generally don't deny you due to "looks" alone. (I did see a woman with a sewing machine once who appeared to be having quite the hard time convincing the immigration folks that she wasn't planning to stay. Can't say I blame them.. A sewing machine?)
Sep 7th, 2009, 04:13 PM
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artsnletters,
My daughter is currently in England studying and had the appropriate visas, letters and proof of financial stability she needed. She did feel that had she not been able to produce proof of her return ticket home, she might not have been admitted. I would strongly suggest your son have an exit ticket booked (plane ticket or Chunnel ticket) before his arrival in the UK.
My daughter is currently in England studying and had the appropriate visas, letters and proof of financial stability she needed. She did feel that had she not been able to produce proof of her return ticket home, she might not have been admitted. I would strongly suggest your son have an exit ticket booked (plane ticket or Chunnel ticket) before his arrival in the UK.
Sep 7th, 2009, 05:06 PM
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They will want to see hotel or hostel reservations for at least the first couple of nights and some sort of onward ticket. I'm not sure how you can not have the rest of a round the world ticket - it may be open to changes - but there will be on ongoing ticket.
If you mean he's bought a one-way ticket to the UK and nothing else - that must have been an awfully expensive ticket.
Another issue is if it looks like he may be camping out - as in carrying lots of things typical tourists don't.
Showing assets i s good, but showing intent to move on is often necessary.
If you mean he's bought a one-way ticket to the UK and nothing else - that must have been an awfully expensive ticket.
Another issue is if it looks like he may be camping out - as in carrying lots of things typical tourists don't.
Showing assets i s good, but showing intent to move on is often necessary.
Sep 7th, 2009, 05:33 PM
#15
Two ideas that may help:
Clothes make s the man, or so I've heard. Scruffy hair and beard are negated by a jacket and necktie. Dreadlocks are often covered by a roomy cap, some of which are designed for just such a purpose.
Onward ticket could be a fully refundable ticket for 2-3 weeks later, and he can then get a refund, no harm done.
Clothes make s the man, or so I've heard. Scruffy hair and beard are negated by a jacket and necktie. Dreadlocks are often covered by a roomy cap, some of which are designed for just such a purpose.
Onward ticket could be a fully refundable ticket for 2-3 weeks later, and he can then get a refund, no harm done.
Sep 7th, 2009, 05:52 PM
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nytraveler, he has bought a one-way ticket from New York to London, for a grand total of $211. May I recommend studentuniverse.com?
He's got friends to stay with in London so he can give their name and address, and he's timing his arrival because he has tickets to a concert three days after arrival )which he bought months ago), so there is that. I will have him get the letter from his employer. The bank statement should not be a problem - he'll have $10,000+. He will have a sleeping bag, but I'd think that's reasonable for someone who's planning to hostel in the winter.
BTW, he didn't take his example from Sandy, whom he's never heard of. He has several friends and acquaintances who've done what he is planning to do. In any event, the trip lasts only as long as his money, so if he's wrong about his ability to couch-surf his way around his chosen route, he'll just be home sooner than he wants to be.
The general agenda is:
*Western Europe - London, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona?
*Turkey
*India
*Africa - he has friends in Nigeria so that one's for sure, but basically he wants to travel from Morocco down to South Africa or vice versa.
No chance he'll scrounge up a jacket and tie, but he does wear beanies, which make him look considerably less disreputable, and I'll talk to him about finding something reasonably tidy to wear coming off the plane.
It's no joyride having a son who prefers bum couture. The one consolation is that I'm sure he'll eventually outgrow it.
I will definitely broach the subject of the onward ticket.
He's got friends to stay with in London so he can give their name and address, and he's timing his arrival because he has tickets to a concert three days after arrival )which he bought months ago), so there is that. I will have him get the letter from his employer. The bank statement should not be a problem - he'll have $10,000+. He will have a sleeping bag, but I'd think that's reasonable for someone who's planning to hostel in the winter.
BTW, he didn't take his example from Sandy, whom he's never heard of. He has several friends and acquaintances who've done what he is planning to do. In any event, the trip lasts only as long as his money, so if he's wrong about his ability to couch-surf his way around his chosen route, he'll just be home sooner than he wants to be.
The general agenda is:
*Western Europe - London, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona?
*Turkey
*India
*Africa - he has friends in Nigeria so that one's for sure, but basically he wants to travel from Morocco down to South Africa or vice versa.
No chance he'll scrounge up a jacket and tie, but he does wear beanies, which make him look considerably less disreputable, and I'll talk to him about finding something reasonably tidy to wear coming off the plane.
It's no joyride having a son who prefers bum couture. The one consolation is that I'm sure he'll eventually outgrow it.
I will definitely broach the subject of the onward ticket.
Sep 7th, 2009, 05:55 PM
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Not sure what to say about the (lack of) onward tickets. Maybe your son could type up with a "draft" itinerary to show upon arrival...one that clearly indicates his intent to move on to Amsterdam, er, no, Paris on a date certain.
But that aside, and given appearance that you described as only a mother could do...I'd say that attitude is as important as appearance when entering a foreign country. A polite, upbeat demeanor certainly helps. And organizational skill helps too: having travel documents in hand, not fumbling for passport, landing card filled out neatly, etc.
But that aside, and given appearance that you described as only a mother could do...I'd say that attitude is as important as appearance when entering a foreign country. A polite, upbeat demeanor certainly helps. And organizational skill helps too: having travel documents in hand, not fumbling for passport, landing card filled out neatly, etc.
Sep 7th, 2009, 07:11 PM
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I think his appearance won't be a problem but the lack of travel plans / onward ticket will. Also having friends in London might work against him. Try to think about this from the immigration officer's point of view. He's got money and friends but no onward travel plans.
I agree with KidsToLondon about an itinerary, and getting an onward ticket. Does he have friends in Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam or Barcelona? correspondence with them could help.
Actually print of this thread and send it with him.
I agree with KidsToLondon about an itinerary, and getting an onward ticket. Does he have friends in Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam or Barcelona? correspondence with them could help.
Actually print of this thread and send it with him.
Sep 7th, 2009, 10:19 PM
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"He appears to be precisely the sort of scruffy, hippie-ish young fellow who might be planning to stay indefinitely. "
Is, frankly, complete tosh. Talk about motes and beams
People who plan on staying indefinitely come in all sorts of guises, and if dressing like a parody of a 1950s American fratboy got you through immigration, Heathrow would be stuffed with male Stepfords.
As it is, Heathrow's actually stuffed with "scruffy, hippie-ish young fellow" s who are billionaire British businessmen, arriving (but legal) rock stars or just ordinary punters who've spent the night in cattle class from Singapore. At intercontinental rush hour, if you want to attract an immigration officer's attention, dress posh. Scruff is the norm.
Immigration officials get fired for fatuous stereotyping, and fired with the derision of their colleagues if they make their recommendations on the basis of hairlength. <b> There is no dress code for presenting yourself to UK immigration, and faffing about as if there were is to miss the point spectacularly </b>
What WILL worry them, though is vagueness. As you've described it, he ticks far too many "send him home" boxes:
- no onward ticket
- no precise plan for where he's staying
- couch surfing
- no evidence of a specific reason for going home
A non-European arriving at UK immigration with no return ticket and no evidence of a job or full-time course back home
is very likely to be interrogated intensively with a view to deportation. Medical insurance is irrelevant, and cash in the bank (which, BTW, has to be enough to support him IN BRITAIN for the length of time they think he's going to be here - in his case, six months) doesn't help much either.
If he hasn't got hard evidence of a job or real course in a real school he's going back to in the next six months, it really is almost essential to have a ticket out of Britain.
Is, frankly, complete tosh. Talk about motes and beams
People who plan on staying indefinitely come in all sorts of guises, and if dressing like a parody of a 1950s American fratboy got you through immigration, Heathrow would be stuffed with male Stepfords.
As it is, Heathrow's actually stuffed with "scruffy, hippie-ish young fellow" s who are billionaire British businessmen, arriving (but legal) rock stars or just ordinary punters who've spent the night in cattle class from Singapore. At intercontinental rush hour, if you want to attract an immigration officer's attention, dress posh. Scruff is the norm.
Immigration officials get fired for fatuous stereotyping, and fired with the derision of their colleagues if they make their recommendations on the basis of hairlength. <b> There is no dress code for presenting yourself to UK immigration, and faffing about as if there were is to miss the point spectacularly </b>
What WILL worry them, though is vagueness. As you've described it, he ticks far too many "send him home" boxes:
- no onward ticket
- no precise plan for where he's staying
- couch surfing
- no evidence of a specific reason for going home
A non-European arriving at UK immigration with no return ticket and no evidence of a job or full-time course back home
is very likely to be interrogated intensively with a view to deportation. Medical insurance is irrelevant, and cash in the bank (which, BTW, has to be enough to support him IN BRITAIN for the length of time they think he's going to be here - in his case, six months) doesn't help much either.
If he hasn't got hard evidence of a job or real course in a real school he's going back to in the next six months, it really is almost essential to have a ticket out of Britain.
Sep 8th, 2009, 12:57 AM
#20
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I more or less exactly agree with flanner. I have to say that for Americans, the only difficulties I've encountered have been where they thought the person was coming in to get married and hadn't got the right visa.
However, the comment that an immigration officer "cannot just turn him way at the whim of an individual official." Effectively they can do just that.
However, the comment that an immigration officer "cannot just turn him way at the whim of an individual official." Effectively they can do just that.
