Mixing
Is appearance important at the border?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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I hold a Swedish passport and I plan to travel to the UK this month and then to Canada within the next three months.
I have a type of personality preferring old clothing and high-time not shaving beard (mostly it comes from wanting a life soaking up mathematics and not caring for anything, makes peace of mind ... see e.g. G. Perelman, THE greatest mathematician alive and how is his appearance).
On the other hand, I am born Iranian so I have got a middle-eastern face and having a beard may cause negative thoughts for Islamophobic people (even though I'm 100% atheist).
In theory I should have no problem traveling to the UK and/or Canada, but is there any possibility that I be questioned by border officers?
uk canada sweden iran
asked 4 hours ago
72D
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72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I hold a Swedish passport and I plan to travel to the UK this month and then to Canada within the next three months.
I have a type of personality preferring old clothing and high-time not shaving beard (mostly it comes from wanting a life soaking up mathematics and not caring for anything, makes peace of mind ... see e.g. G. Perelman, THE greatest mathematician alive and how is his appearance).
On the other hand, I am born Iranian so I have got a middle-eastern face and having a beard may cause negative thoughts for Islamophobic people (even though I'm 100% atheist).
In theory I should have no problem traveling to the UK and/or Canada, but is there any possibility that I be questioned by border officers?
uk canada sweden iran
asked 4 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Yes appearance matters. You can read the reports for the independent inspector for the UKVI that immigration often take the appearance of a traveller into consideration when questioning. Having said that, you shouldn't have problems entering the UK because once they establish your identity, you would have a right to enter. Brexit might change all that of course.
– greatone
2 hours ago
Welcome new user. Yes, for better or worse appearance is definitely one of the qualities used to make judgements at the border.
– Fattie
55 mins ago
@Fattie, well that's really sad to be judged based on appearances... (I do it deliberately, though)
– 72D
37 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I hold a Swedish passport and I plan to travel to the UK this month and then to Canada within the next three months.
I have a type of personality preferring old clothing and high-time not shaving beard (mostly it comes from wanting a life soaking up mathematics and not caring for anything, makes peace of mind ... see e.g. G. Perelman, THE greatest mathematician alive and how is his appearance).
On the other hand, I am born Iranian so I have got a middle-eastern face and having a beard may cause negative thoughts for Islamophobic people (even though I'm 100% atheist).
In theory I should have no problem traveling to the UK and/or Canada, but is there any possibility that I be questioned by border officers?
uk canada sweden iran
asked 4 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I hold a Swedish passport and I plan to travel to the UK this month and then to Canada within the next three months.
I have a type of personality preferring old clothing and high-time not shaving beard (mostly it comes from wanting a life soaking up mathematics and not caring for anything, makes peace of mind ... see e.g. G. Perelman, THE greatest mathematician alive and how is his appearance).
On the other hand, I am born Iranian so I have got a middle-eastern face and having a beard may cause negative thoughts for Islamophobic people (even though I'm 100% atheist).
In theory I should have no problem traveling to the UK and/or Canada, but is there any possibility that I be questioned by border officers?
uk canada sweden iran
uk canada sweden iran
asked 4 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 41 mins ago
asked 4 hours ago
72D
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
72D
63
asked 4 hours ago
72D
63
63
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
72D is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Yes appearance matters. You can read the reports for the independent inspector for the UKVI that immigration often take the appearance of a traveller into consideration when questioning. Having said that, you shouldn't have problems entering the UK because once they establish your identity, you would have a right to enter. Brexit might change all that of course.
– greatone
2 hours ago
Welcome new user. Yes, for better or worse appearance is definitely one of the qualities used to make judgements at the border.
– Fattie
55 mins ago
@Fattie, well that's really sad to be judged based on appearances... (I do it deliberately, though)
– 72D
37 mins ago
add a comment |
1
Yes appearance matters. You can read the reports for the independent inspector for the UKVI that immigration often take the appearance of a traveller into consideration when questioning. Having said that, you shouldn't have problems entering the UK because once they establish your identity, you would have a right to enter. Brexit might change all that of course.
– greatone
2 hours ago
Welcome new user. Yes, for better or worse appearance is definitely one of the qualities used to make judgements at the border.
– Fattie
55 mins ago
@Fattie, well that's really sad to be judged based on appearances... (I do it deliberately, though)
– 72D
37 mins ago
1
1
Yes appearance matters. You can read the reports for the independent inspector for the UKVI that immigration often take the appearance of a traveller into consideration when questioning. Having said that, you shouldn't have problems entering the UK because once they establish your identity, you would have a right to enter. Brexit might change all that of course.
– greatone
2 hours ago
Yes appearance matters. You can read the reports for the independent inspector for the UKVI that immigration often take the appearance of a traveller into consideration when questioning. Having said that, you shouldn't have problems entering the UK because once they establish your identity, you would have a right to enter. Brexit might change all that of course.
– greatone
2 hours ago
Welcome new user. Yes, for better or worse appearance is definitely one of the qualities used to make judgements at the border.
– Fattie
55 mins ago
Welcome new user. Yes, for better or worse appearance is definitely one of the qualities used to make judgements at the border.
– Fattie
55 mins ago
@Fattie, well that's really sad to be judged based on appearances... (I do it deliberately, though)
– 72D
37 mins ago
@Fattie, well that's really sad to be judged based on appearances... (I do it deliberately, though)
– 72D
37 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
- There may be problems if your identity documents show no beard and you arrive with one. Immigration might believe that you are using the beard to disguise a stolen or forged passport. This problem should cause only delays if the biometrics check out.
- There may be problems whenever the immigration officer has discretion if a scruffy appearance is at odds with your stated purpose and financial situation. They are trained to look for inconsistencies and to question them.
answered 2 hours ago
o.m.
21.5k23255
@HankyPanky, if you did it, you could type faster than most people can read. 23 seconds difference ...
– o.m.
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
It shouldn't, but at least sometimes it does. Tony Saint worked in UK immigration for ten years, then wrote a novel based on his experiences. He called it Refusal Shoes, the title reflecting the propensity of some of his ex-colleagues for making admit/refuse decisions based solely on the applicant's footwear.
That said, as greatone notes, the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to, and "he was scruffy" is unlikely to fly as adequate.
Edit (in response to a comment): I'm fairly sure that EEA nationals have a right to enter unless any of several tightly-defined criteria are satisfied. Section 11 para 1 of the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 says
An EEA national must be admitted to the United Kingdom if he produces on arrival a valid national identity card or passport issued by an EEA State.
So it's possible that the border officer may start asking questions - it's a free country, after all - but your admissibility doesn't depend on the answers to anything like the same degree they do for non-EEA nationals. The exceptions (ie, grounds for inadmissibility) are listed in s19 of the same regulations, if you're curious.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with Tony Saint or his book. I just own a copy, is all.
answered 2 hours ago
MadHatter
7,56822747
In the US it openly does. It's amazing you mention the "shoe" book. I had not heard of it. Once, I was chatting with a USA border officer. He explained that indeed the first thing he checks is a person's shoes, as it gives a lot away. Amazing!
– Fattie
53 mins ago
1
Unfortunately this answer may be just wrong, MH. "the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to" Sure - but the way they investigate those showing up at the gate, to determine if they should not admit them, includes "questions", certainly "general appearance", "supporting paperwork" and so on. Note that, of course OP won't be refused "because of" long hair. (He could prove to be a rich rock star, with long hair.) The question is whether it will cause a big kerfuffle of questions.
– Fattie
50 mins ago
@Fattie see edit above.
– MadHatter
13 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
- There may be problems if your identity documents show no beard and you arrive with one. Immigration might believe that you are using the beard to disguise a stolen or forged passport. This problem should cause only delays if the biometrics check out.
- There may be problems whenever the immigration officer has discretion if a scruffy appearance is at odds with your stated purpose and financial situation. They are trained to look for inconsistencies and to question them.
answered 2 hours ago
o.m.
21.5k23255
@HankyPanky, if you did it, you could type faster than most people can read. 23 seconds difference ...
– o.m.
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
- There may be problems if your identity documents show no beard and you arrive with one. Immigration might believe that you are using the beard to disguise a stolen or forged passport. This problem should cause only delays if the biometrics check out.
- There may be problems whenever the immigration officer has discretion if a scruffy appearance is at odds with your stated purpose and financial situation. They are trained to look for inconsistencies and to question them.
answered 2 hours ago
o.m.
21.5k23255
@HankyPanky, if you did it, you could type faster than most people can read. 23 seconds difference ...
– o.m.
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
- There may be problems if your identity documents show no beard and you arrive with one. Immigration might believe that you are using the beard to disguise a stolen or forged passport. This problem should cause only delays if the biometrics check out.
- There may be problems whenever the immigration officer has discretion if a scruffy appearance is at odds with your stated purpose and financial situation. They are trained to look for inconsistencies and to question them.
answered 2 hours ago
o.m.
21.5k23255
- There may be problems if your identity documents show no beard and you arrive with one. Immigration might believe that you are using the beard to disguise a stolen or forged passport. This problem should cause only delays if the biometrics check out.
- There may be problems whenever the immigration officer has discretion if a scruffy appearance is at odds with your stated purpose and financial situation. They are trained to look for inconsistencies and to question them.
answered 2 hours ago
o.m.
21.5k23255
answered 2 hours ago
o.m.
21.5k23255
answered 2 hours ago
o.m.
21.5k23255
answered 2 hours ago
o.m.
21.5k23255
21.5k23255
@HankyPanky, if you did it, you could type faster than most people can read. 23 seconds difference ...
– o.m.
2 hours ago
add a comment |
@HankyPanky, if you did it, you could type faster than most people can read. 23 seconds difference ...
– o.m.
2 hours ago
@HankyPanky, if you did it, you could type faster than most people can read. 23 seconds difference ...
– o.m.
2 hours ago
@HankyPanky, if you did it, you could type faster than most people can read. 23 seconds difference ...
– o.m.
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
It shouldn't, but at least sometimes it does. Tony Saint worked in UK immigration for ten years, then wrote a novel based on his experiences. He called it Refusal Shoes, the title reflecting the propensity of some of his ex-colleagues for making admit/refuse decisions based solely on the applicant's footwear.
That said, as greatone notes, the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to, and "he was scruffy" is unlikely to fly as adequate.
Edit (in response to a comment): I'm fairly sure that EEA nationals have a right to enter unless any of several tightly-defined criteria are satisfied. Section 11 para 1 of the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 says
An EEA national must be admitted to the United Kingdom if he produces on arrival a valid national identity card or passport issued by an EEA State.
So it's possible that the border officer may start asking questions - it's a free country, after all - but your admissibility doesn't depend on the answers to anything like the same degree they do for non-EEA nationals. The exceptions (ie, grounds for inadmissibility) are listed in s19 of the same regulations, if you're curious.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with Tony Saint or his book. I just own a copy, is all.
answered 2 hours ago
MadHatter
7,56822747
In the US it openly does. It's amazing you mention the "shoe" book. I had not heard of it. Once, I was chatting with a USA border officer. He explained that indeed the first thing he checks is a person's shoes, as it gives a lot away. Amazing!
– Fattie
53 mins ago
1
Unfortunately this answer may be just wrong, MH. "the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to" Sure - but the way they investigate those showing up at the gate, to determine if they should not admit them, includes "questions", certainly "general appearance", "supporting paperwork" and so on. Note that, of course OP won't be refused "because of" long hair. (He could prove to be a rich rock star, with long hair.) The question is whether it will cause a big kerfuffle of questions.
– Fattie
50 mins ago
@Fattie see edit above.
– MadHatter
13 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
It shouldn't, but at least sometimes it does. Tony Saint worked in UK immigration for ten years, then wrote a novel based on his experiences. He called it Refusal Shoes, the title reflecting the propensity of some of his ex-colleagues for making admit/refuse decisions based solely on the applicant's footwear.
That said, as greatone notes, the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to, and "he was scruffy" is unlikely to fly as adequate.
Edit (in response to a comment): I'm fairly sure that EEA nationals have a right to enter unless any of several tightly-defined criteria are satisfied. Section 11 para 1 of the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 says
An EEA national must be admitted to the United Kingdom if he produces on arrival a valid national identity card or passport issued by an EEA State.
So it's possible that the border officer may start asking questions - it's a free country, after all - but your admissibility doesn't depend on the answers to anything like the same degree they do for non-EEA nationals. The exceptions (ie, grounds for inadmissibility) are listed in s19 of the same regulations, if you're curious.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with Tony Saint or his book. I just own a copy, is all.
answered 2 hours ago
MadHatter
7,56822747
In the US it openly does. It's amazing you mention the "shoe" book. I had not heard of it. Once, I was chatting with a USA border officer. He explained that indeed the first thing he checks is a person's shoes, as it gives a lot away. Amazing!
– Fattie
53 mins ago
1
Unfortunately this answer may be just wrong, MH. "the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to" Sure - but the way they investigate those showing up at the gate, to determine if they should not admit them, includes "questions", certainly "general appearance", "supporting paperwork" and so on. Note that, of course OP won't be refused "because of" long hair. (He could prove to be a rich rock star, with long hair.) The question is whether it will cause a big kerfuffle of questions.
– Fattie
50 mins ago
@Fattie see edit above.
– MadHatter
13 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
It shouldn't, but at least sometimes it does. Tony Saint worked in UK immigration for ten years, then wrote a novel based on his experiences. He called it Refusal Shoes, the title reflecting the propensity of some of his ex-colleagues for making admit/refuse decisions based solely on the applicant's footwear.
That said, as greatone notes, the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to, and "he was scruffy" is unlikely to fly as adequate.
Edit (in response to a comment): I'm fairly sure that EEA nationals have a right to enter unless any of several tightly-defined criteria are satisfied. Section 11 para 1 of the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 says
An EEA national must be admitted to the United Kingdom if he produces on arrival a valid national identity card or passport issued by an EEA State.
So it's possible that the border officer may start asking questions - it's a free country, after all - but your admissibility doesn't depend on the answers to anything like the same degree they do for non-EEA nationals. The exceptions (ie, grounds for inadmissibility) are listed in s19 of the same regulations, if you're curious.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with Tony Saint or his book. I just own a copy, is all.
answered 2 hours ago
MadHatter
7,56822747
It shouldn't, but at least sometimes it does. Tony Saint worked in UK immigration for ten years, then wrote a novel based on his experiences. He called it Refusal Shoes, the title reflecting the propensity of some of his ex-colleagues for making admit/refuse decisions based solely on the applicant's footwear.
That said, as greatone notes, the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to, and "he was scruffy" is unlikely to fly as adequate.
Edit (in response to a comment): I'm fairly sure that EEA nationals have a right to enter unless any of several tightly-defined criteria are satisfied. Section 11 para 1 of the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 says
An EEA national must be admitted to the United Kingdom if he produces on arrival a valid national identity card or passport issued by an EEA State.
So it's possible that the border officer may start asking questions - it's a free country, after all - but your admissibility doesn't depend on the answers to anything like the same degree they do for non-EEA nationals. The exceptions (ie, grounds for inadmissibility) are listed in s19 of the same regulations, if you're curious.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with Tony Saint or his book. I just own a copy, is all.
answered 2 hours ago
MadHatter
7,56822747
edited 8 mins ago
answered 2 hours ago
MadHatter
7,56822747
answered 2 hours ago
MadHatter
7,56822747
answered 2 hours ago
MadHatter
7,56822747
7,56822747
In the US it openly does. It's amazing you mention the "shoe" book. I had not heard of it. Once, I was chatting with a USA border officer. He explained that indeed the first thing he checks is a person's shoes, as it gives a lot away. Amazing!
– Fattie
53 mins ago
1
Unfortunately this answer may be just wrong, MH. "the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to" Sure - but the way they investigate those showing up at the gate, to determine if they should not admit them, includes "questions", certainly "general appearance", "supporting paperwork" and so on. Note that, of course OP won't be refused "because of" long hair. (He could prove to be a rich rock star, with long hair.) The question is whether it will cause a big kerfuffle of questions.
– Fattie
50 mins ago
@Fattie see edit above.
– MadHatter
13 mins ago
add a comment |
In the US it openly does. It's amazing you mention the "shoe" book. I had not heard of it. Once, I was chatting with a USA border officer. He explained that indeed the first thing he checks is a person's shoes, as it gives a lot away. Amazing!
– Fattie
53 mins ago
1
Unfortunately this answer may be just wrong, MH. "the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to" Sure - but the way they investigate those showing up at the gate, to determine if they should not admit them, includes "questions", certainly "general appearance", "supporting paperwork" and so on. Note that, of course OP won't be refused "because of" long hair. (He could prove to be a rich rock star, with long hair.) The question is whether it will cause a big kerfuffle of questions.
– Fattie
50 mins ago
@Fattie see edit above.
– MadHatter
13 mins ago
In the US it openly does. It's amazing you mention the "shoe" book. I had not heard of it. Once, I was chatting with a USA border officer. He explained that indeed the first thing he checks is a person's shoes, as it gives a lot away. Amazing!
– Fattie
53 mins ago
In the US it openly does. It's amazing you mention the "shoe" book. I had not heard of it. Once, I was chatting with a USA border officer. He explained that indeed the first thing he checks is a person's shoes, as it gives a lot away. Amazing!
– Fattie
53 mins ago
1
1
Unfortunately this answer may be just wrong, MH. "the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to" Sure - but the way they investigate those showing up at the gate, to determine if they should not admit them, includes "questions", certainly "general appearance", "supporting paperwork" and so on. Note that, of course OP won't be refused "because of" long hair. (He could prove to be a rich rock star, with long hair.) The question is whether it will cause a big kerfuffle of questions.
– Fattie
50 mins ago
Unfortunately this answer may be just wrong, MH. "the UK (currently) has a treaty obligation to admit you unless it has a good reason not to" Sure - but the way they investigate those showing up at the gate, to determine if they should not admit them, includes "questions", certainly "general appearance", "supporting paperwork" and so on. Note that, of course OP won't be refused "because of" long hair. (He could prove to be a rich rock star, with long hair.) The question is whether it will cause a big kerfuffle of questions.
– Fattie
50 mins ago
@Fattie see edit above.
– MadHatter
13 mins ago
@Fattie see edit above.
– MadHatter
13 mins ago
add a comment |
72D is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
72D is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
72D is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
72D is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
Yes appearance matters. You can read the reports for the independent inspector for the UKVI that immigration often take the appearance of a traveller into consideration when questioning. Having said that, you shouldn't have problems entering the UK because once they establish your identity, you would have a right to enter. Brexit might change all that of course.
– greatone
2 hours ago
Welcome new user. Yes, for better or worse appearance is definitely one of the qualities used to make judgements at the border.
– Fattie
55 mins ago
@Fattie, well that's really sad to be judged based on appearances... (I do it deliberately, though)
– 72D
37 mins ago