There are many ways that people can gain the right to work, live or study in the United Kingdom but no matter how you have obtained the right, there are a number of things that you should do to prepare yourself for the point of entry. Landing in the UK can be quite exciting and it is understandable that many people will be keen to start their new adventure in a positive manner, but it is important to not get carried away with things.
Making a mistake or doing the wrong thing at the point of entry may lead to a lot of hassle or inconvenience which is why following these immigration tips on entering the United Kingdom will help to make things a lot easier for most people.
Fill in your landing card
Anyone that is entering the United Kingdom from a Non-European Economic Area, the EEA, country should ensure that they have completed landing card to pass over at border control. It is likely that this card will be presented to the entrant on the plane but if not, make sure that you find the landing card and then complete it as quickly as possible.
In order to speed up the process, you should look to have your passport ready to present to customs officials. This means that you should remove your passport from any case or cover it is enclosed in and if you are wearing a hat or sunglasses, you should remove these before reaching the border control desk.
You would be advised to have relevant information about your stay and entry to the country handy, which means that you should have a copy in your hand luggage. Given that most airports don’t permit the use of electronic devices at this stage of the process, you are advised to hold relevant information in paper form. If you are a student, you are advised to hold your CAS number, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies number handy.
You should also look to have bank statement details and information relating to your accommodation in your hand luggage as Border Control staff may request this information. Having these details close to hand will speed up the process but it will also help you to be less flustered by the situation.
Make sure you know information about where you will stay
No matter what confirmation you have to enter the country, it is natural that many people feel nervous at this stage of the process, even when they have nothing to be nervous about. This can be a very intimidating process for many people but if you have as much information with you that will explain your right to live, work or stay in the country, you’ll find that the process becomes much easier.
When you are dealing with Border Force officers, you should expect them to ask you questions about your stay in the United Kingdom. These aren’t being asked to trip you up but knowing the basics of where you are going to stay and work in the United Kingdom will make the process a lot simpler for you.
If you are entering the United Kingdom from outside of the European Union, you should be aware that there are restrictions on meat and dairy products. There are also restrictions on some plants, vegetables, fruit, honey, eggs, fish and traditional medicines. If you are in any doubt about what you can and cannot bring into the United Kingdom, be sure to check the relevant websites. If you attempt to bring in a restricted item, even unwittingly, you may find that your progress is blocked.
You should also be aware that there are restrictions on alcohol, tobacco and gifts which you can bring into the United Kingdom. Anyone that exceeds their duty free allowance without declaring items may find that all of these duty items are taken away from them. People should also be aware that bringing in counterfeit goods, illegal drugs, indecent material or offensive weapons can also lead cause problems.
Anyone arriving in the UK from outside of the EU is required to declare cash over a minimum level of €10,000, or the equivalent in a different currency. Entrants to the UK are also advised to not provide misleading or false information at Border Control. You will hopefully not require the service of experienced immigration solicitors and by following these rules, you should be fine.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professionally for 9 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn’t sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.
