In Britain, in the 21st century, this is still happening …
“In September 2017, I had just landed at Manchester airport after a visit to New York. At passport control I was asked where was I born? I replied, Liverpool, and joked “doesn’t my accent give me away”, to which the officer replied aggressively: “That’s no guarantee you were born there”.
I’m a 73-year-old retired university lecturer, born and raised in Liverpool. But I’m black, you see, so my nationality always seems to be under question.
In fact, not only am I black British, but so were my parents, my grandparents, and my great-grandparents. I represent the fourth British generation of my family, who’ve lived here since the 1800s. Yet still I have to face passport officers who doubt my nationality…”
If he has a British passport why is he even being asked? I’ve never been asked where I was born at Passport Control … Ive always walked straight through when arriving in the UK.
@Dovefromabove Absolute disgrace Dove, unfortunately the ingrained racism which we were all bought up with in British society sticks at a subconscious level. Why cant we just see people not their colour.
As you say if he has a British passport why is he being questioned. I would have lodged a complaint.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
Big contrast with entering USA. SIL, dual nationality, uses his US passport to enter. First words from immigration official are always ‘Welcome Home’. This is despite him being born and brought up in the UK. Here, we get a surly glare.
If he has a British passport why is he even being asked?
As you say if he has a British passport why is he being questioned. I would have lodged a complaint.
Are you saying that all British passports are genuine? There may be grounds for complaint, but no simply on the basis of being questioned when being in possession of a British passport.
Maybe we've been fortunate on our visits to the USA but we have never experienced any problems with immigration officials there. One was envious when we said that our 3 week holiday used up less than half of our annual leave, but that's about it.
What does it say about the state of our nation that Heinz has offered for sale online a tinned “complete Christmas dinner” and that it sold out within hours?
I'll be interested to see how quickly these end up on Ebay and what ridiculous prices they fetch.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
If he has a British passport why is he even being asked?
As you say if he has a British passport why is he being questioned. I would have lodged a complaint.
Are you saying that all British passports are genuine? There may be grounds for complaint, but no simply on the basis of being questioned when being in possession of a British passport.
I've travelled extensively around the world and not once have I been asked by immigration in the UK "where was I born" on my return and one's place of birth is listed in the passport.
The immigration officer in this case did not mention his passport was fake .If he had he may have been justified in questioning him on that basis. But If you believe that had anything to do with this case all I can say is have a nice day
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
If he has a British passport why is he even being asked? I’ve never been asked where I was born at Passport Control … Ive always walked straight through when arriving in the UK.
I came back to the UK from Europe on a coach once and realised I'd left my passport in my bag which was in the luggage hold. I explained the problem to the control officer and he said "Where are you from?" I replied Wales and he just said "Good enough" and walked off.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I'm sure Tomorrow's World back in the '80s would have loved the Christmas dinner in a can. It would probably be served up by a slow and pointless robot.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
If he has a British passport why is he even being asked? I’ve never been asked where I was born at Passport Control … Ive always walked straight through when arriving in the UK.
I came back to the UK from Europe on a coach once and realised I'd left my passport in my bag which was in the luggage hold. I explained the problem to the control officer and he said "Where are you from?" I replied Wales and he just said "Good enough" and walked off.
There was a documentary on TV over ten years ago about the work of the customs at ports of entry.
I remember a customs officer, talking about an incident where someone had lost their passport saying. "If you are British, passport or no passport, we can't stop you coming back into the country."
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@Dovefromabove
Absolute disgrace Dove, unfortunately the ingrained racism which we were all bought up with in British society sticks at a subconscious level. Why cant we just see people not their colour.
As you say if he has a British passport why is he being questioned. I would have lodged a complaint.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
I've travelled extensively around the world and not once have I been asked by immigration in the UK "where was I born" on my return and one's place of birth is listed in the passport.
The immigration officer in this case did not mention his passport was fake .If he had he may have been justified in questioning him on that basis. But If you believe that had anything to do with this case all I can say is have a nice day
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'