Questions tagged [customs-and-immigration]

Customs and immigration covers a range of border control procedures (referred to as 'immigration' in most countries) and import of goods. Prefer a more specific tag where appropriate, some examples of which are listed under `tag info`.

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UK visa refusal on V 4.2 a + c (and sometimes 'e')

Many of the UK visa refusals we see here share a common pattern and the prevailing reasons refer to V 4.2 (a) and (c). I do understand that, while the applicants may describe very different ...
Giorgio's user avatar
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111 votes
5 answers
255k views

I have two passports/nationalities. How do I use them when I travel?

I am a citizen of two different countries, and have two passports. How should I use my passports when traveling?
lambshaanxy's user avatar
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48 votes
4 answers
313k views

How much electronics and other valuables can I bring duty-free when going to India?

I am planning to travel to India (COK airport, Kerala) from United States. I want to take my laptop as well as my tablet (iPad). Am I allowed to take both in my backpack with my documents related my ...
Happy's user avatar
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17 votes
1 answer
86k views

Do I need a transit visa for a layover in the United Arab Emirates?

Do I need a transit visa for a layover via airports in the UAE, such as Dubai International Airport or Abu Dhabi International Airport? If so, what are the requirements for such a visa? Can I get the ...
JoErNanO's user avatar
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48 votes
3 answers
15k views

Recently naturalized American visiting the UK, previously denied visa. Apply for entry clearance?

I am a recently naturalized America citizen. I want to visit the the UK but leaning towards flying in to France, and attempt entry into the UK via Calais by road on my US passport, so that if I am ...
Augustine of Hippo's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
35k views

How to prove that you have significant ties with family in your home country?

How can I prove the immigrant officers that I have significant ties in my home country? Are there any documents that I need?
Ariannakim's user avatar
27 votes
1 answer
12k views

For UK/USA bound flights, are details entered during online check-in, such as date of birth or passport number ever checked by airlines/immigration?

When checking-in for a flight online, you are usually asked for details such as date of birth, passport number, passport expiration dates, etc. However despite making minor mistakes a few times (...
JonathanReez's user avatar
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53 votes
10 answers
20k views

Where can I travel for prolonged periods of time while legally working remotely for a company in my home country?

I found several questions about inbound travelers to the US in this scenario, but little about other countries: I work for a company in my home country (USA) who are open to me working remotely while ...
Carl's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
2k views

When do I clear US customs and immigration if connecting at a US airport to my final destination elsewhere in the US?

I'm a British citizen travelling from London Heathrow (LHR) to the Hartford, Connecticut airport, and have a two hour stopover in Newark, New Jersey (EWR) on my itinerary. At what stage would I clear ...
Steena's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
2k views

What do non-EU/Schengen citizens need to do when travelling within the Common Travel Area (CTA)?

With the Common Travel Area forming a partially open-border zone, what should a non-EU/Schengen citizen travelling within it keep in mind? For example, do passports get checked, and perhaps stamped, ...
Crazydre's user avatar
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19 votes
3 answers
74k views

What is the minimum wait before I may re-enter the USA after a 90 day visit on the Visa Waiver Program?

I entered the USA on a three month visa waiver program from Australia. I am about to return to Australia and would like to come back again to the USA. How long do I have to wait until I can re-enter ...
Dave's user avatar
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42 votes
1 answer
17k views

How can I ensure my exit from the US by land is recorded?

Seeing as the US does not perform border control on exit (save for occasional spot checks, usually when traffic is moving slowly at the border), how do I make sure my exit by land is recorded so that ...
Crazydre's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
55k views

Can I leave the UK and come back in, on a Tourist visa?

I am a United States citizen with a 6-month Tourist visa to the UK (a stamp in my passport). Additionally, in 2013 I spent about two months in the UK on tourist visas, split between two separate ...
NWard's user avatar
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27 votes
6 answers
374k views

Can I bring my desktop computer as check-in baggage on a flight? [duplicate]

I am moving from Malaysia to the US, and planning to bring my desktop computer with me. I plan to pack it in my checked-in luggage. Will the computer risk being damaged? Any precaution should I take ...
MohdSaif's user avatar
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115 votes
19 answers
121k views

Why would you wrap your luggage in plastic?

At many airports you can wrap your luggage with sheets of sticky plastic. Why on earth would you do that? I only see disadvantages. I can imagine the mess when customs ask you to open your luggage. So ...
user avatar
29 votes
2 answers
15k views

Can a UK Border Immigration Officer remove a stop indicator flag?

Today at Belfast airport I was detained for about twenty minutes while the border officer left her terminal at the primary control point (PCP) and went to review my profile/files at the secure control ...
Augustine of Hippo's user avatar
28 votes
4 answers
36k views

Do I have to enter the UK on my UK passport?

I'm a British National (Overseas), which basically means that while I don't have the right of abode in the UK, I am permitted to visit the UK without a visa. However, my passport has expired, and ...
waiwai933's user avatar
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50 votes
8 answers
49k views

Is it a good idea to mention to the USA immigration officer that I'm visiting my girlfriend?

I spent 5 months in the USA, and everything went without a problem. Now I'm spending my second month back in my country (the Czech Republic). In a week or two I want to go back to the USA for another ...
Jakub Kohout's user avatar
87 votes
11 answers
52k views

What can I do to prevent passport stamps being put on blank pages?

I'm running low on blank passport pages which are sometimes needed for full page visas such as those issued by Armenia, India, and Vietnam. When I crossed the border into Turkey the other day I got ...
hippietrail's user avatar
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18 votes
2 answers
18k views

Lost passport with Schengen visa

My passport was stolen in Prague on my way to Vienna. I filed a police report and our embassy swiftly acted by giving me a temporary passport for my onward journey to Munich and Rome. Upon exit from ...
Victor's user avatar
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47 votes
2 answers
5k views

What is meant by "personal impact and articulation skills" in the context of border entry?

Within dozens of highly-rated responses regarding both UK and Schengen entry, I see the phrase "personal impact and articulation skills." There is no further explanation of what these mean and, in ...
Giorgio's user avatar
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27 votes
3 answers
22k views

Which queue for an unmarried EU/non-EU couple travelling through UK Immigration Control together?

I'll be arriving at Heathrow in June 2015 with my current girlfriend for a holiday in the UK. I've been trying to find out which immigration queue to join at Heathrow Passport Control without much ...
mccdyl001's user avatar
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26 votes
1 answer
4k views

Couldn't return papers to border officials last time. Should I be afraid when going back to USA?

Three years ago I was on holidays in Canada and visited the Niagara Falls. I also went to the American side of the falls and got something like a "short-term visa". I also got a green paper with all ...
RoflcoptrException's user avatar
18 votes
2 answers
7k views

Entry into US with unpaid medical bills and ticket for careless driving

While on vacation in the US last year, my wife and I was in a traffic accident. My wife had to spend more than a week in hospital before we could fly home. Our insurance is covering everything, but we ...
Traveller's user avatar
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20 votes
3 answers
122k views

Can I take two laptops to India from United States? One bought in India and one in US [duplicate]

I will be landing at New Delhi airport. The worth of new laptop (Lenovo Yoga Idea Pad 13) is about $1000 and old one (Macbook Pro) is > 1 lakh INR. I want to leave the new laptop in India. I have a ...
Nitin Garg's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
6k views

Documents required by Indian citizens wishing to travel to Nepal

I'm a citizen of India and I'm travelling to Nepal by air. Is an Aadhaar Card a valid document used for travelling to Nepal by air?
Dhruva Deole's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
21k views

Can I use the valid Schengen visa in old passport?

I'm an Indian National. I have a Type C Schengen Business Visa which is valid from 26-11-2015 to 26-11-2020. I received it when I intended to travel to Netherlands, although I have not used it. When ...
Ragav's user avatar
  • 191
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Passport validity for Canada

I am traveling from Boston to Canada by cruise ship. The first port of arrival is on July 30 and the last port in Canada is on August 4. Then I'm flying on August 5 from Montreal to California. My ...
Fisher's user avatar
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28 votes
1 answer
37k views

Does being refused entry to Singapore mean I am now blacklisted?

My friend who is an Indonesian citizen tried to enter Singapore this week and was refused entry at the Singapore Harbour Front Ferry Terminal by immigration. This was his first trip overseas and is ...
Dave1972's user avatar
  • 281
6 votes
1 answer
3k views

Is B1 visa in perfect condition valid on old damaged passport?

I got my US B1 visa last month on my Indian passport. Someone in my family wrote a phone number on one of the blank page of my passport. As my passport is damaged now, can I travel with my current ...
Prince's user avatar
  • 63
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are the rules for China's visa-free transit programs?

Assuming one wants to travel through China, what are the rules for visa-free access? To be more specific: How does the 24-hour visa free transit work? How does the 72-hour version work? What does a ...
9 votes
4 answers
34k views

Lufthansa connecting flight at Munich, only 45 minutes in between. Will I be able to make it?

I bought a single ticket from Lufthansa, of Mumbai to Paris. My first flight (LH765) lands at 5:55am at Munich, from where I have another Lufthansa flight (LH2226) to Paris at 6:40am. This is a single ...
Kamal's user avatar
  • 91
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

Which Schengen countries (don't) stamp passports of ordinary residence permit holders?

The Schengen Borders Code doesn't prescribe an exception from stamping travel documents for holders of ordinary residence permits (as opposed to family member "Article 10"/"Article 20&...
Crazydre's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can I travel within the Schengen area while my Italian residency card is being renewed?

I am a Filipina living legally here in Italy. My permesso di soggiorno is under renewal since it has been expired. I was scheduled for biometrics on April 11 and I have to go to Denmark on April 28. I ...
Babychiq's user avatar
58 votes
5 answers
14k views

Is it possible to enter Russia by train 1-1.5 hours before the visa validity period starts?

A friend of mine is taking the Train from Finland to Russia. She has now paid and sent the Tourist visa application, with the requested validity being from 3 to 16 August. Now she's considering ...
Crazydre's user avatar
  • 75.8k
26 votes
3 answers
61k views

Biometric passport: How can I know if the chip is still working? Does it matter?

My biometric passport inadvertently spent some time under the rain. It's not badly damaged but some sheets are a bit deformed and there are tiny brown spots on the side. I am wondering if there is an ...
Relaxed's user avatar
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14 votes
1 answer
2k views

How can I know ahead of time whether the Taiwanese immigration and airline flying there will accept my passport?

I recently tried to fly from Manila (MNL) to Taipei (TPE) but at the airport ticket counter AirAsia refused to sell me a flight ticket on the grounds that my French passport was wet and that ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
112k views

Can we carry three new smart phones in hand luggage to India? [duplicate]

I bought two smart phones for my father and sister in Europe. Will the customs officer in India (Chennai) give any trouble if I carry two new unopened smart phones with the box in my hand luggage? ...
Din35's user avatar
  • 63
61 votes
8 answers
89k views

Can growing a beard cause problems in crossing borders?

I just recently renewed my passport with a picture taken just after I shaved. I haven't shaved since (>3 weeks) and I kind of like it. I am even looking into how to maintain a beard, but that is a ...
user avatar
44 votes
1 answer
33k views

What is a Seaman's book, and can it really replace a passport?

What is a "Seaman's book", and can it really replace a passport for some or all immigration purposes? Even Wikipedia the all-knowing does not seem to know, although it contains many tantalizing ...
lambshaanxy's user avatar
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39 votes
1 answer
12k views

UK: Is a 10 year ban still valid after acquiring new citizenship?

I am an Indian national and was refused a UK visa in 2009 in NYC and given a 10 year ban, but now I'm a US citizen. Would the ban still apply if I wanted to visit the UK?
Emmanuel's user avatar
  • 391
33 votes
1 answer
7k views

Is it really forbidden to cross the Indian border with Indian rupee?

Last week I tried to exchange some Swiss Francs into Indian rupees. For that I visited a big bank and they told me that they have rupees but I'm not allowed to import any into India. Is this really ...
RoflcoptrException's user avatar
25 votes
3 answers
15k views

European citizen visiting Cuba while in US?

I may be visiting the US soon for both work (conference) and leisure (sight-seeing) but was wondering whether it is possible to pay a visit to Cuba, as I see that direct commercial flights have been ...
tiit_helimut's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
7k views

US Citizen: 90/180 Schengen Stay & Bilateral Agreements w/Poland, Denmark, etc

I'm a US citizen on an extended trip in Europe. So far, I've been very careful with the 90/180 rule. At no point in any 180 days have I stayed more than 90 days in the Schengen area; my "gap months" ...
Archagon's user avatar
  • 1,065
11 votes
1 answer
36k views

UK Immigration officers arrivals interview questions

When interviewing arrivals seeking entry, what questions do UK Immigration offices ask? Also, what will be asked on the landing card?
Sean Q's user avatar
  • 235
9 votes
1 answer
41k views

What does this mean? "Your UK visa application has been issued"

Your UK visa application has been issued. PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THE VISA APPLICATION CENTRE BEFORE THEY CONTACT YOU. You will be contacted by the Visa Application Centre when your documents ...
Ayaan Mustafa's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is a day trip US to Canada currently practical?

Is discretionary, non-essential, zero-night travel from US to Canada reasonably doable since Canada's recent reopening to vaccinated US tourists? I'm a US citizen in rural New York, less than an hour ...
Bob Stein's user avatar
  • 265
8 votes
3 answers
73k views

Do I have to claim and re-check in my baggage in international transit when traveling with the same airline?

I'll be traveling to Memphis, Tennessee form New Delhi, India via Qatar Airways. The itinerary would be: New Delhi <--> Doha || Doha <--> Chicago || Chicago <--> Memphis Would I be required ...
Rish's user avatar
  • 183
1 vote
2 answers
81k views

How many iPhone 6 devices can I bring into India? [duplicate]

My Aunt lives in Newyork (United States) she's Indian, she's been there more than a year. I just ordered her 2 iPhone 6 phones for me and my brother personal use. The main problem is that with 2 ...
Shalom Lepcha's user avatar
91 votes
6 answers
17k views

What happens if you are refused entry between two countries?

Last month, I was travelling on a backpacking trip across Russia and the Baltic states (Schengen zone). I'm an Indian by nationality. So I had to get the respective single entry visa for Russia and ...
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