Job Discussion Forums

[saren]

World traveler arriving on a one-way to Luton airport

I've heard reports of immigration officers in the UK denying access to travelers regardless of their passports. Ive read posts on this forum and others regarding this important issue.

My situation is as follows:

I have a CDN passport (even though I was born in Iran, and it says that in my CDN passport).

I'm flying in on a one-way ticket (on a cheap discount airline, ryanair) from Marrakesh, Morocco.

My previous passport was stolen in Mexico last year, so my new passport is pretty empty and it was issued by CDN embassy in Mexico city (and it says that in the Passport).

I only have a couple stamps in my passport (from Morocco, EU, and USA). I haven't worked since I left Canada 3 years ago. I've been living on life savings, a large bank account, and using websites like couchsurfing, and hospitalty club (therefore avoiding the need for hotels). I use public transport, and rideshare (instead of trains, or bus networks), therefore enabling me to spend no more than 10 pounds or so/ day.

I don't have a physical credit card with me though I use a family credit card number to make purchases online.

I don't have a bank statement, as I do everything online; and my account usually has a few hundred dollars in it at all times. I have an international debit card handy.

I'm coming in on a one-way ticket because I want to travel extensively in England, and Wales until I'm good and ready to leave (probably 2 months after arriving). Canadians are entitled to up to 6 months of tourism time in the Uk (officialY). The immigration officer then decided how many months to grant the Cdn visitor. I need at least 2 months. How do I get that?

I want to buy my exit ticket when I am done with England. I want to spend At least 2 months in england. I plan to fly to Norway after that. I'm planning to fly on Norweigan airline out of London again so I want to buy the ticket later, not now.

However, if it's better, I can purchase the ticket to Norway here in Morocco, and print out the e-ticket and bring it with me to Luton airport when I arrive in London next month if it will help me avoid a lengthy ordeal in the immigration waiting room, or heaven forbid refusal and deportation back to Morocco (even though I am Canadian), I don't want to go back to morocco or Canada.

What do you think will happen to me at Luton?

I am young, olive skin, clean shaven, travel alone, say that I work as a freelance travel writer, and was born in Iran, though maintain Cdn citizenship.

I can either tell them I'm staying in a cheap hostel, which I won't since I have hosts lined up in london or Should i tell them about the hospitality club and my hosts (whom I've never met), and my plan of only spending a few pounds a day, and therefore don't need to prove i have thousands of pounds to verify my stay of 2 months, or should I just tell them Im staying in a cheap hostel for a week in London before moving on to other destination in England.

My purpose in england is tourism (albeit really cheap tourism). I like slow travel.

how should I word this at luton?

Thanks

[Will.]

Well,
Now that you have published your details online for any bright-eyed and bushy-tailed immigration officer or their colleagues to peruse I imagine anyone carrying a CDN passport and having been born in Iran will have a hard time flying in from Marrakech to Luton. I would now seriously consider going someway to guaranteeing that you have enough money to pay hotel, transportation and food bills while in the UK and expect to be asked to provide the evidence too, unless you wish to be returned to Marrakech on the same plane you flew in on or suffer a much reduced stay in the UK. AN onward tickwet or the means to purchase one is standard international travel requirement detail at immigration desks as is the possession of at least $300, though it may be $500 now

[Insubordination]

Must be annoying to automatically be a suspect. I gather you've had problems before. If you can show them your credit cards, your online account and tell them which hotel you're going to (splurge on one night) and have an onward e-ticket to Norway then you will cover all their usual questions.

I guess it's all up to the discretion of the immigration officer. Try not to worry too much as you might just sail through.

[saren]

i have the onward ticket to norway and i havent said anything wrong on this forum, so why would any immigration officer reading this give me a hard time?

[spiral78]

it seemed that you expected some flack upon arrival in England, or else the original post doesn't make sense. 99 percent of us don't need to be concerned when entering a country...

not making any judgement about whether or not you SHOULD get any flack - just that your situation dictates that you might, and your original post appears to be aimed at how to get around any potential trouble.

[Will.]

Hi Saren.
There is nothing wrong with the sundowner approach to international travel I am an old exponent of it myself, admittedly 30 years ago. Unfortunately, the immigration people do not regard this as really being a tourist but rather akin being a sponge on society and expect 'real tourists' to make a considerable contribution to the national income by spending foreign currency here. Your intention to avoid doing this, as much as possible, is like a red rag to a bull and even though your experience would be more to my taste than theirs it will be difficult to convince them... and here the important part...that you do not intend to 'supplement your stay by seeking illegal employment'. This is the bit that can be used to refuse you entry as a tourist. The onward ticket is so you can go somewhere you wish to go and not return elsewhere. As long as you are confident in your ability to persuade them of your honest intention to travel the country and seek accommodation through your contacts and 'rough it' on floors in fields and in haystacks while living on the reduced price food section of supermarkets and travelling via rideshare and hitch-hiking you should be ok.
Enjoy interrogating them I am sure they have not been introduced to the pleasures of this kind of tourism ...yet.