Detained at the Airport

• Why would you be detained at a UK airport?
• What will happen if I am detained?
• What to do if you are detained
• How IAS can Help?
• Frequently asked questions

If you have not applied for leave to enter the United Kingdom or do not have the correct visa, you may be at risk of being detained by the UK border force upon your arrival and could be denied entry. However, any US citizens entering the UK could face being detained by immigration officers at the airport upon their arrival. Whilst this situation is rare, even if you enter the country legally and with the correct documents, you could still be detained.

The main reason for being detained at a UK airport or denied entry is that immigration officials may feel that you pose a risk of absconding. Absconding is when someone does not follow the conditions that they enter the country under, for example overstaying their visa and not leaving or returning to the United States when you are supposed to.

Citizens of the United States are regarded as “non-visa nationals” in the UK. This means that you do not need a visa for entry to visit the UK under the conditions that you are staying for no more than 6 months and will not be working with the exception of small business meetings. If you plan to work, study or take part in an exchange in the UK then you will need a visa, which you will have to meet the requirements for. Whilst being a non-visa national makes travel more straightforward, border officials could still wary of your intentions whilst in the UK.

Some reasons that UK immigration officials may feel that you could pose a risk of absconding include:

• Having no travel plans to leave the UK, it’s common for many avid travelers not to have plans set in stone, but having no evidence of a return flight to the US, or onward plans to another country, could cause concerns.
• Being previously detained, if you have been detained at an airport in the United Kingdom before, even if you were released and given entry, you may be detained next time you travel to the UK too as this experience will be on record.
• Entering the UK again shortly after leaving, the maximum time that US Citizens can visit the UK without a visa is 6 months, some travelers will leave the UK for a short period by going to another country in Europe and will re-enter shortly as a way to renew there 6-month allowance. Doing this could result in your travel patterns being flagged by immigration. It is not against the law to make short trips outside of the UK so you should clarify your intentions with immigration officials if they ask you about this.
• Previous history of overstaying your allowed entry, such as previously staying for over 6 months without a visa or overstaying the validity of a previous visa.

To prevent being detained, you should ensure that you have your travel documents, including evidence of plans for leaving the country such as a return flight and that you are aware of the legal basis you are entering the country under.

On arrival in the UK, everyone has their passports or other forms of travel document checked by border officials. If you are detained at a UK airport, as well as going through the usual passport check, some other things will happen, these are as follows:

• You will have your biometric information taken, this is your photograph and fingerprints. It is important to follow UK immigration rules as this information could be shared with other countries and may affect whether you can travel to other countries.
• Your bags will be searched more thoroughly, this usually doesn’t take very long providing you are not carrying and restricted items.
• You will be questioned by an immigration official, they may ask you questions about your plans, what you intend to do whilst in the UK, how you will support yourself whilst here.

After this, the immigration officials will decide whether to grant you entry or not. If your answers satisfy their concerns then you will be granted entry and allowed to continue with your travels.

If you are refused entry then you will either be taken to an immigration detention centre or sent back on the next available flight to your departure location in the United States and you will not be able to continue to travel.

An immigration officer may also grant temporary admission or entry, this usually lasts a maximum of 1 week and will give you the time to gather evidence to prove to the Home Office that you are not at risk of absconding.

It is highly recommended that anyone being detained in the UK, or given temporary entry, seeks the assistance of a professional immigration lawyer.

This is because the UK’s immigration system is very complex, particularly when it comes to being detained. Getting the help of a professional immigration lawyer will mean that someone with a good knowledge of UK immigration law will be able to help you gather the evidence you need to resolve your issue quickly.

When detained in a UK immigration center, you will be provided with food and water as well as the use of a phone. You can use this to contact your loved ones as well as a legal representative. You should do this as soon as you can so that you have the best chance of having your situation resolved promptly so that you can get back to your travel plans.

Here at IAS, we are passionate about helping people with their immigration issues and we want to make sure that your experience in the UK is a good one. If you or someone you know is currently being detained in the UK, IAS can provide urgent advice and support. This includes an application for bail and advice and assistance on the appeal process. One of our dedicated team will be available to visit any place of immigration detention in the UK where you or your loved one is being held.

We are also able to organize family visits and act as a legal representative if your appeal is taken before the Tribunal.

Our lawyers offer urgent advice sessions for individuals facing immigration detention as well as deportation or removal.

During the advice session, your dedicated caseworkers will discuss your situation with you and offer reliable advice about what your next steps should be, and how they can help you further.

Here at IAS, we have offices located across London, as well as the rest of the United Kingdom. All of our lawyers are trained to a high level, have a vast amount of experience, and can assist with a wide variety of issues, no matter what your circumstances may be we will be able to help. For more information on the options available to you, contact us online or on +1 844 290 6312 or read below.