BootsnAll Travel Community

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

Well, sr999, I've said this before, but I like your stubborn ass, so I'll keep it quick:

• Look sharp the day you travel. Shave. Collar'd shirts are good.
  
• Have a defined exit date, or dates with specifics. Less then 8-weeks is good.
  
• Have a defined exit transport. A print out of NationalExpress' schedule with the phone number and date you want is good enough. Or even a list of STA offices in London.
  
• Have names, address, and phone numbers for people you will stay with, be it hotels, hostels or people. If they are friends, warn them and let them know that they should be very accommodating. "Sure! Stormy is gonna hang with me for a few weeks. No problem!"
  
• You are NOT working in the UK, not even on holiday. Full stop! Don't even think about it. Don't tell them anything. Sell it however, but you are not working there.

Even more quickly: Define a short itinerary, back it up with documentation and friends, and memorize good like.

thanks for that

fyi, i now have an onward ticket (dated 6 weeks after I arrive in London). I printed an eticket and will bring it with in my pocket.

Also in my pocket will be a bank statement (though with a balance of only a few hundred dollars). Ill also print the conversations I have with my hosts from the hospitality network.

Tnx

quote:

Originally posted by stormrider999:
Also in my pocket will be a bank statement (though with a balance of only a few hundred dollars).

I'd not bring that, then. It could do more harm than good.

and if they ask how do you I plan to fund my 2 month stay in the UK?

quote:

Originally posted by stormrider999:
and if they ask how do you I plan to fund my 2 month stay in the UK?

ATM card. They are not going to march you over to an ATM and check your balance. On this topic, it can't hurt to be as loaded up on cash as you are comfortable with.

My point is that unless you have a couple grand tucked away, a bank statement is meaningless, if not problematic. A few hundred? It proves nothing but that you are going to be there for X number of weeks...on what most visitors spend in a couple days.

Ask yourself "how many people travel with bank statements", let alone with just a little bit of money. Now ask yourself how many people print out itineraries, phone number, emails about the specifics.

Document and highlight the positive, get vague and downplay the negative.

You're traveling on holiday with a Canadian passport, with a near term, defined, documented exit, and (we assume) you don't look like a junkie. There is nothing usual about that. Just stay away from red flags and you have nothing to worry about.