“I am detaining you, please step into the waiting area sir,” said the immigration officer.
“What? Why? I don’t understand,” I pleaded. But before I knew it, and without any explanation, I was ushered into a rectangular pen in the middle of the immigration hall.
I took a seat, buried my head in my hands while I tried to process what had just occurred.
“What did I do wrong,” I asked my self. The immigration lady was a sweet older woman and I answered her nearly 50 questions calmly and in truth. The truth being that I am a backpacker and I plan to leave the UK in around a week through the port of Dover.
“Maybe she thought I was on drugs,” I thought, as I envisioned my drowsy disposition after the sleepless flights from NYC to Reykavik and Reykavik to Gatwick.
“Or maybe, she found my old record!” I wondered as a pang of anxiety put even more stress on my already plane pressurized colon.
When I was 16, Scottish police believed that I was selling drugs, an accusation that couldn’t have been more far fetched. While I was never caught, I was always worried that I might be in their database.
“But that was over 8 years ago, and I have since entered the UK without any problems, so it couldn’t be that,” I thought as I clenched to hold in another mean post plane fart.
Frustrated, I walked over towards one of the guards to try and find out why I was being detained and for how long. I asked, “Excuse me sir, I know you get this question a lot, but how long does this….” Before I had finished my sentence, I was accosted with a flurry of incomprehensible British slang and curses. So rude was his response that I was momentarily stunned.
I was treated like a criminal and I didn’t even know my crime. Essentially, I was guilty until proven innocent.
Now furious over his lack of manners, and the injustice of the situation, I walked to the center of the holding area and yelled, politely yet sternly “Would someone please tell me the reason why I am being detained”
Suddenly, the direct attention hundreds of passengers passing through immigration was now on me. “Oye” I thought, as I temporarily shrunk under their bleary eyed and confused gazes.
While my fellow passengers had heard me, the guards pretended not to notice. And in a matter of seconds, my outburst had been forgotten.
Defeated, I sulked back into my chair.
Sitting next to me was an Arab, a Frenchman, and a hardcore looking band from Japan. Since I speak some Japanese, I introduced my self and asked them why they were being detained. To which they responded, some of us don’t have the proper visas. “Well at least there is no confusion as to why they are here,” I thought.
As time passed and my frustration grew, I decided I would do something that would surely get someone’s attention. I decided I would hit the record button.
As expected, guards quickly arrived, demanded that I turn off my camera, and delete my video. Gathering as much bravado as I could, I responded, “Not until you provide an explanation as to why I am being detained.” Not wanting to cause a scene in front of the passengers, the power hungry guards scurried off in search of their superiors.
After 10 minutes, an agent who seemed to be of higher authority politely greeted me. Together, we retrieved my luggage and he searched through it. He then instructed me to empty all the cards from my wallet and wait yet again for another bag check and interrogation.
After 30 minutes of waiting, I was greeted by a friendly looking agent named Ken who ushered me into a holding facility that seemed to double as a children’s playroom.
He then handed me a document, which stated, You have been detained under paragraph 16 of schedule 2 to the 1971 act 01 arrested under paragraph 17 of schedule 2 to that act.
Upon reading, I defiantly demanded a copy of this act and further explanation as to why I was being detained.
To this, Ken calmly responded in his British accent, “Look, I am on your side. And if you want to get out of here, you don’t want to be demanding these kinds of things. Just stay calm and answer all questions truthfully”
As I heard his words, I realized that he was right. I had no choice but to comply. I had no rights in this detention facility. And if these agents so decided, they could imprison me in a proper detention facility for days before being deported. As much as this injustice had angered me, I decided to keep my cool and do what they said.
Following a pat down and a few more questions, he then escorted me to another holding facility. Here, he offered me tea and a sandwich, sustenance I was incredibly grateful for.
After around two hours, a lady officer took me to another room for another round of interrogation. She was cold and expressionless and I could tell she had done this a thousand times before. But as the questions progressed and she began to realize that I really was just a backpacker, she began to lighten up.
When the questions ended, I asked her, “So what was the meaning of all this?” She responded, “I believe my colleague initially detained you because she was unsure of your plans in the UK and also because you don’t have a flight out of here.”
To my great relief, she then said, “I will grant you permission to enter the UK.”
After being detained for 6 hours, I was finally free!
Though the guards amiably escorted outside and wished me good luck on my travels, no one offered any kind of apology or offered to reimburse my buss ticket.
Lessons learned: In order to avoid detention in the first place, make sure that you convey to the immigration officer a clear plan and date of departure. Even if your plans are not yet finalized, like many backpackers plans aren’t, just make them up. It’s also a good idea to fake a return plane ticket in advance.
Don’t give them any impression that you are seeking to reside or work in the UK. For more info on avoiding detention, check out, How To Get A Visa For The UK.
If you are detained as I was, hide your defiance, be compliant, and kill them with kindness, because like Guantanamo Bay, YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS.
What an unpleasant experience. But thankfully the lady at the interrogation office finally granted you permission to enter UK. Because I’ve read stories of backpackers got detained, even in their home country, only because they have visited ‘suspicious’ countries.
What a horrible thing! A similar thing happened to me but in the US, while I was flying there from Mexico, so I totally understand the feeling of being totally powerless. Thankfully you were able to make it safely outta there! Cheers and congrats on the blog.
this was such a nightmare. actually, this is one of my greatest fear if i’m to travel alone. what if i get detained in a foreign country and i have no one else to turn to for help. good to know that your case is only their lack of understanding of your itinerary. wishing you well in your further trips :)
I hear ya, in the end it wasn’t too bad though thankfully. As long as you don’t have a reason for them to detain you, it shouldn’t be a problem. Thanks, and you!
It’s beyond annoying when these things happen. It’s also so ridiculous how they can judge you right away and treat you so rudely. Good thing you kept your cool and got through it.
I heard similar stories too in the past and i am glad that you were able to surpass that challenge. Someone advised me that it is better to take flights landing via Birmingham compared to Heathrow. The immigration officers are a bit more friendly there.
Hey Mica, where did they get you? Birmingham, thats good to know.
Hahaha. Same thing happened to me. But not 6 hours. First time, coming into Heathrow, I got through pretty easily, just a few questions. Second time, coming in at Calais (before leaving France for Dover), I was detained for almost an hour. I’ll write a post about it eventually, bit of a backlog at the moment :-s
I just hitched from Dover to Calais and the immigration was super light. Got through with no problem. Did you take the Eurostar?
Mate, this is terrible but I must admit I’m hardly surprised. I’ve had a few friends detained before as well. It’s not a pleasant experience obviously. If I ever head to Europe I will try to avoid the dreaded flight in…
It was really annoying. I can understand the concern and everything, but it was just the way they handled it, just really rudely.
okay, first of all, great storytelling. second. whoa! that’s freaking scary, man! i would’ve been shaking in fear the whole time if that happened to me. but you’re right. when things like this happen, keep calm and follow orders. :)
Thanks! At first, to be honest, I had a bit of the shakes but then the lack of sleep and and food overcame and anger rushed through my veins. It made for a good post though.
It is great that you are able to impart useful tips through this experience to your readers. Sometimes as a travel blogger it is good when bad stuff happens as it gives us an interesting topic to write about.
Your right, at the time it was a bit hellish but as soon as I got out and tasted the fresh air I thought, wow, what a great post this is going to make.
Yikes! I hate it when glorified security guards act like that. There’s no excuse for not giving you a reason much earlier on. (But that doesn’t make for good blog posts now does it?)
Glad you made it out!
Your right, not many people get to see the inside of UK immigration, it definitely made for some interesting material.
oh man,,, what a horrible incident!!! i admire your courage. good thing you asked for an explanation. :-)
Thanks Flip, it was intense. I hate getting held against my will, especially with out knowing why.
What an enthralling and frustrating story. I felt myself getting angrier and angrier as I read this. Such horrendous treatment of somebody who hadn’t done anything wrong. I don’t blame you for your reactions – I would have been much the same.
I’m glad it all worked out and gladder still you were able to share the story. Hopefully the appropriate authorities see it and can take a little lesson in better handling the process. It needn’t be so drawn out and alienating.
Thanks Chris, glad you’re on my side with this.
It’s a hard lesson learnt but you’re entering another country so you have to accept they have their rules and reasons.You’re being granted entry there, entry is not a right unless you play by their rules.
Sad to hear of your experience. How do you reckon my son got on when picked up entering from Northern Ireland with two rifle rounds in his bag he’d forgotten about? :-)
Wow, full on! Glad you made it through! Here’s a secret tip: Use a booking site such as expedia.com to ‘book’ a flight out of the country you are entering. Go all the way to the point of confirming the itinerary and print it out! (Just do NOT enter any card details!) That’s how I am travelling around South America for an indefinite amount of time!
Ugh…my country sucks! Many apologies…
Another reason for the list of why I feel ashamed when I have to admit to being English :)
haha, no worries. I love England, the land of snake bites.
Wow. Yea always a good idea to be calm and answer questions. It is so hard to be patient but when faced with getting booted out it’s always the best option. Sometimes they ask for forwarding flights, sometimes they don’t. You never know and that can be so annoying! We got pulled aside for a special search in Cartagena last year and we had to sign papers saying we allowed the guards to x-ray us for drugs. We were like, what ever…..kills time before the flight, so it’s cool. And once they saw we had nothing, they started telling us some crazy shit. People that had been busted just the week before with drugs in their bellies. People do crazy, crazy things for money!
Oi! Thats sounds a bit worse than my ordeal.
Owch, that is rather crap. And I thought the Pommies were meant to be a nice bunch!
I always wondered what that ‘pen’ was for in the middle of immigration – great idea to record it to get attention.
Glad to hear you got out of there and didn’t spend a night in detention though. :)
Stay safe!
Thanks Nicole
Rough arrival! I wouldn’t have wanted to stay in the UK after a welcome like that one :S
It was terrible at the time, but now I realize that it was a pretty cool experience. Not many people get to se the inside of UK immigration. Some of the guards told me some crazy stories of drug smugglers and such.
ah that’s crazy dude! Well glad you got outta there. I was reading on Wandering Earl’s site that when he books a one way ticket somewhere, he also brings a fake copy of an old ticket (that he doctors up in microsoft word) with him to show the airline and immigration. Check out his story here, it might help with your next leg of the journey— http://www.wanderingearl.com/proof-of-onward-travel-a-story-and-a-solution/
Me too! Was a close call, almost got sent back to Iceland. I have never had a problem before but next time I will use earls technique, its a great idea, thanks for letting me know.
What a nightmare! I can’t believe it took you so long to get out. I just feel sorry for the people who don’t speak English and end up stuck there for days.
I’ve heard of people booking cheap onwards flights that they never intend to take just to prove to immigration that they will be leaving the country…eventually!
It was truly a nightmare at the time but now I see it as a good lesson and cool experience. I was thinking about those people as well and asked the guards how they handle them, he told me they always manage to get and interpreter. But still, it must really stink for them. I don’t think I would go so far as to buy a ticket but I think next time, I will take Wandering Earls advice and forge a ticket.