Uk Customs/immigration

[rhea]

Hi!
Ive never been overseas before so i have no idea what happens when you get there. normally i get off the plane and into a taxi..

do you get questioned, searched or do they only just pick random people? do you need to prove your funds everytime, where youre staying etc?

I am going to 5 months, i have a return ticket, but i only have $4500 because for the first 3 months, im staying with friends & relatives in Scotland&england. Then Im travelling around afterwards for 6 weeks... I have a steady flow of $300 per week coming into my account (no way to prove this) so by the time the 3 months is up, ill have close to $8000.
So, will i run into problems getting in to the UK?
Seriously, i have no idea what happens when you get to another country..
please fill me in
thanks!

[WillTravel]

I've never had any serious questioning at immigration and customs, but the 5 month stay might raise some concerns. In addition to what you have posted, could you get a credit card with a high limit? If you have $300 coming into your account every week, maybe you could get a signed letter from the person responsible for this. It is a valid concern - immigration officials don't like to let people in who might be a financial drain.

[pointofnoreturn]

I've never had any problems with them. I did encounter long wait lines and forgot to bring the declaration paper when I approached the lady but thankfully, she allowed me to write it in front of her rather than stepping out of line.

Everyone's required to go through Customs and if you're lucky, the lines won't be long but they always are! Make sure you have an address ready with you in case they need to contact you. It could simply be the last UK stop on your UK portion of your trip or a relative or whatever.

[rhea]

I have an address & phone of someone they can contact, I MIGHT be able to get a joined credit card (like an extra card) to my Dad's as i dont have one to myself, the limit on his is $2000. Otherwise, the only thing I can get is A hand/typed written note from my dad about the $300. Its just the matter that he's paying it into my account every week..But i have no proof of it, only a note like that

What do you have to fill out on a declaration form? Just like if you have any food or stuff with you? you get it on the plane yeh?

[rhea]

oh & would i need a bank statement? how recent would it have to be?
Say an atm reciept with my balance on it?

[me]

it's probably too late, if you have tix already, but i've heard that Amsterdam customs/immigration is more lax.

also, if you have proof that you'll be leaving UK, to go elsewhere in EU, that might help in getting trough UK customs/immigration.

the only time border control has given me the 3rd degree was, ironically, on a ferry from Saßnitz, Germany, to Trelleborg, Sweden in late 90's. on a *ferry!*

the Swedish border cops were checking people's ID. the rather scruffy looking Dutch guy in the compartment <the train had simply driven on, it was a RO-RO ferry> just got a glance. but those Swedes wanted all kinds of info from me. [where was i going, who was going to see there, how would i support myself, they wanted to see cash money.] when i said i had no Crowns, i planned to go to an ATM in Sweden, they wanted to see *some* kind of cash. i had a few D-Mark left, but not much. (i was *leaving* Germany! why take D-Mark with me to Sweden?) luckily, i had a US$100 bill. my emergency stash.

the scruffy Dutch guy & i had been on the train together from Berlin. we'd chatted for hours. actually, i'd bought a small bottle of spirits for him to give to his Swedish hosts. he had even less cash than i did!

his eyes grew big while the Swede Cops were giving me such a hard time. when he asked them why they questioned me so strongly, the woman Swede barked at him, "are you travelling together!?!" he shook his head no and shrunk back into his seat.

it was a strange ½ hour, or so. i'd been questioned less at Friedrichstr. Station when i crossed into East Berlin in the 80's!

- d

[rhea]

yeh I have my ticket already.
I dont have anything for europe bookd yet, as im waiting to know the dates for sure

[madamtrashheap]

rhea, from memory you're flying from Australia (you were talking AU$ in another post, yeah?), and I just saw your other post about visas for the UK. If you're under 30yo you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa at the British High Commission in your country. Do a little research here bhc.britaus.net/default.asp if you want to have a visa to work (even for just a month or so).

If not, Customs & Immigration will want to know and see proof as to how you're going to support yourself in those 5 months, particularly the 3 months in England and Scotland. Take the latest bank statement with you (ie the last one you receive before you fly, it should show up the $300 you refer to if it was started that month; ATM receipts aren't really acceptable proof), and also have your return ticket handy as well as contact addresses/numbers in the UK where you plan to stay. That way you'll show them that you aren't planning on working illegally in the UK and have means of support. They will ask lots of questions, that's their job, but don't panic, just answer them as best you can. They see this every day so tend to be quite direct about questions they ask which can freak some people out, but it's nothing to be worried about if you're doing every thing legally as you have the right to be in the UK for up to 6 months without a visa.

[rhea]

i leave on the 10th februray so that visa thing isnt an option. Im not working, just staying with friends & relatives, then travelling to europe for 7 weeks
So if I get a bank statement from the day before, that shows a $300 deposit, plus a handwritten? letter from the person, stating the to & from accounts in which it will be deposited, that should be okay for proof? will they accept a letter like that?

I have one address in Manchester where I will be for the first 2months, and the people are picking me up from the airport, though I have their phone also. I can get another address in Scotland, but I wont be boooking a flight there until I know the dates for sure. Plus Another person ill be staying with, doesnt get to London until 1st March, as she's moving back from australia..so i wont have the address..