My travel time was approximately 13 hours. I got 3 hours of sleep. I was exhausted when I got to the UK border patrol. I hand the patrol officer my landing card and passport, and he starts asking me questions about how much money I have with me and in the bank, why I'm here, etc. Then he began to ask me why I don't have a job. I explain that I had to quit due to the amount of time I would be here-apparently this was a problem. Visiting my boyfriend, without a job to go home to, for an extended period of time. At this point, the officer began asking me more personal questions about my boyfriend: "How long have you been with your boyfriend physically?", "When is his birthday?", "What does he do for a job?", etc. He then continues to tell me that he's going to have to detain me while they call Shaun and interview him.
I freaked out.
They put me in a holding area (some benches surrounded by a rail, with locking gates) and told me someone would be with me in a moment. A woman came around and got me, we picked up my bags, and she searched them. She then took me back to the holding area, where I had to wait for approval to enter the country. While in the holding area I saw a transvestite, a man dressed as a woman, which made me smile. After what seemed like forever, the original officer returned and unlocked the gates. He let me know that he found Shaun and had a physical interview, rather than the phone interview. Then he let me know I was approved to enter the country. I was very relieved. He explained that the fact that I was here for my boyfriend, in combination with not having a job and being here for so long, they were concerned I was running away to get married and illegally gain citizenship to the UK. I thanked the officer, his boss (the one who gave me the final approval) and the guy that stamped my passport.
This entire process took over an hour, I was on little sleep, and this was the first time traveling outside of the US. You can try to imagine how I was feeling during the whole process...
It had been over 4 months since I had seen Shaun. It was amazing to see him after coming through the gates...
To be continued...
Well that sounds like the best way to go any where. Here is the way you always have to look at something like that. (Even if it is in hind sight.)
ReplyDeleteEvery time someone asks you about your trip to England, you always have an awesome story to tell :)
I hope to have more stories...but this will be the first one to tell every time!
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