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Does anyone know what rights expats have when going back to the UK under an Aussie passport?
Topic Started: Dec 7 2009, 10:55:14 PM (406 Views)
Anne
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Wonderful Winsome Wench

I ask this because of an incident that occurred when I very first arrived back at the UK. And the more I think about it the more it bugs me.

Now I'm not racist in any way shape or form, and I am well aware that I am a migrant in Australia, but on arrival at Heathrow I had to go through immigration because I was entering on an Aus passport. Out of the 8 or so boxes containing immigration officers, there was not one white face to be seen and the guy who interrogated me had such a strong Indian accent that I had trouble understanding him. Anyway, on the boarding card I had to put town and country of birth so I put Guildford, England. Under nationality I had put British/Australian. Upon interrogation I was asked if it was correct that I'd been born in the UK, then I was asked if I held a UK passport. I replied that I always had done but it ran out in Septemeber and I couldn't see the point in paying for two. At that point the officer crossed out 'British" on my landing card leaving just 'Australian'. He then went on to ask what my intentions were in the UK and explained that because I did not have a British passport I was subject to visa limitations and that I was not allowed to work. Have to say I was a tad p##sed off at being denied my heritage and at being quizzed over my eligibilty to enter my homeland by someone who was so obviously not born and bred British. The main thing that irritates though was the crossing off of British and telling me I was subject to visa limitations. Why? I'm a British citizen. Why should my time in my home country be limited? Can anyone enlighten me?
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Keith&Lol
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Emerald (Special Member)
Sounds like a jobsworth to me, what a pr#ck, i'm sure they don't have to be so blunt and abrasive.
So if you had taken the time and trouble to get an English passport it would have been ok? why would you want 2 passports and is it legal to carry 2 passports...ohhh I'm confused now.
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Bordy
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Braw Auld Bampot
Nice welcome back to UK Anne, think it says more about the UK now than anything else.
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Hevs
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Miraculous Mamma Mod

Because you were travelling onn an Aussie passport it was probably a red tape thing. If you were returning to the UK for work then you would obviously have to have a visa in there OR a British passport. He was just being officious, as most airport staff are IMO. I have never been treated as rudely anywhere as I have in Melbourne airport when the woman asked where my kids passports were, when I replied "on mine" she told me that was illegal and physically pulled Niall back from the waiting lounge and we were told to wait there while she called security. Niall was hysterical! Stupid bitch! We had travelled all over the world like that. They just love the power some folk :yes:
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ABCDiamond
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It appears that you now need a "certificate of entitlement to right of abode", unless you still hold a British passport.

The details for this are at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/righttoliveinuk/claimrightofabode/supportingdocuments/

What is interesting, from looking at this, is that in Europe, you would be classed as Australian, with no entitlements that a British passport holder would have.

The immigration guy, when he said: "because I did not have a British passport I was subject to visa limitations and that I was not allowed to work" was probably very wrong in that... There are many British born people without passports in the UK, who are able to live and work without problems, we all did until we got our very first passports :whistle:

Maybe the Indian Immigration official at Heathrow, didn't realise that the British, unlike Indians, can have dual nationality :lol:
(The Constitution of India does not permit dual citizenship)
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ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

hence why I have both passports and used the UK one to enter UK and Aus one to enter Aus ... so much simpler
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Bridiej
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ohippy
Dec 8 2009, 09:41:54 AM
hence why I have both passports and used the UK one to enter UK and Aus one to enter Aus ... so much simpler
yep worth the extra expense to have no hassle :yes:

as for what he said, no idea on the job front but at the end of the day if he is holding your passport and it's an Aussie one then how does he know you are a Brit born and bred? :dunno:

i think a lot of airport workers are jobsworths, i know when i got to perth after our trip i forgot i had strawberries for katie in my bag, woman was going on and on and on and on about it - the fact i'd been sick on the flight, was exhausted and had a toddler to look after on my own the whole way didnt interest her. i think you have to be a "certain sort of person" to do jobs like that!!
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Hevs
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Miraculous Mamma Mod

Bridiej
Dec 8 2009, 10:55:08 AM
ohippy
Dec 8 2009, 09:41:54 AM
hence why I have both passports and used the UK one to enter UK and Aus one to enter Aus ... so much simpler
yep worth the extra expense to have no hassle :yes:

The tight arse in me disagrees totally..... :whistle:
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Lynnj
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As far as working in the UK goes, I can't see any way they could stop you. You are a British Citizen with a British Birth Cerificate, where you have lived for the past x years is irrelevant. You do not need to hold a british passport to prove your nationality (how many uk citizens do not have a passport?) except at a border crossing.

I'm presuming that it was easier for the immigration officer to class you as Aussie as opposed to proving your citizenship, he was obviously happy you did not intend to stay forever so classed you as an Aussie to avoid holding you up. So technically he probably didn't actually do his job properly.

Immigration and Customs officials do come across as officious jobsworths, but its worth bearing in mind that they are there at the forefront of protecting that countries security, they have probably seen people trying to flout the system in more ways than you can imagine and cannot afford to soften to anything as those non law abiding travellers among us would be quick to swoop on it. But yeah.... I couldn't do their job! :scared:
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catgirl
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Courageous Cuddly Kitty

I wouldn't do their job either - god could you imagine the stick you'd get on some of forums :whistle:
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Melibeam
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Most Exceptional Lady

I must have a really evil streak in me, coz I would love that job. When I watch border security I love watching the airport workers searching peoples bags etc and fining them for bringing in food and other illegal stuff. I also love the immigration officials interviewing people and especially when they send them back to where they have come from for lying or having incorrect visa etc.

I must be a really bad person, but I seriously think i would love a job like that :yes:
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Bridiej
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Chattermonster Extraordinaire!

catgirl
Dec 8 2009, 05:35:52 PM
I wouldn't do their job either - god could you imagine the stick you'd get on some of forums :whistle:
:lol:

I couldnt do their job, I've watched some of Border Security as well and I'd just want to punch half of them!!! :blushing: :lol:
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ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

:lol:

I'd love to be a traffic warden :crazy:
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ABCDiamond
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I've never really liked the face to face contact with people, when I was younger I wanted to be a sniper. :whistle:
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marco121068
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Anne
Dec 7 2009, 10:55:14 PM
Quote:
 
on arrival at Heathrow I had to go through immigration because I was entering on an Aus passport.

then I was asked if I held a UK passport. I replied that I always had done but it ran out in Septemeber and I couldn't see the point in paying for two. At that point the officer crossed out 'British" on my landing card leaving just 'Australian'.


To be completely honest I can't see what the problem is. You arrived in a country from overseas - and the travel document you were using was an Australian Passport. You didn't have a UK passport with you....so how could you confirm your nationality?

Quote:
 
The main thing that irritates though was the crossing off of British and telling me I was subject to visa limitations. Why? I'm a British citizen. Why should my time in my home country be limited? Can anyone enlighten me?


I wonder how many times people trying to enter the country illegally have tried that one on?
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Tiredwithtwins
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Admin

Melibeam
Dec 8 2009, 05:57:11 PM
I must have a really evil streak in me, coz I would love that job. When I watch border security I love watching the airport workers searching peoples bags etc and fining them for bringing in food and other illegal stuff. I also love the immigration officials interviewing people and especially when they send them back to where they have come from for lying or having incorrect visa etc.

I must be a really bad person, but I seriously think i would love a job like that :yes:
:lol: me too
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