Questions tagged [officials]
Dealing with bureaucrats, guards, officers, and other official employees you will meet in your travels.
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I am camping and have been raided by a human. What is the correct course of action?
When camping in rural North Macedonia, I keep my food and some toiletries in a dry bag more than 30m from my tent, to avoid any hungry bears coming into my tent. I put the dry bag into a drably ...
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Do Paris authorities do plain-clothes ID checks on the subways?
While traveling in Paris 4-5 years ago, took the subway and saw a couple of guys doing ID checks. Not uniformed, maybe a colored arm band or something, don't remember seeing any badges. I think they ...
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What to expect when entering Schengen area on a C type tourist visa? Will border agents question me? Will I have to present more than my passport?
I'm excited that my Schengen C type tourist visa got approved and I will be able to visit the Schengen area as a tourist soon. Specifically, I will arrive in Germany by plane.
I had to submit so many ...
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Do I need to renew my address registration card in Serbia when changing hotels?
I entered Serbia a few days ago, and my first hotel registered me with police within 24 hours of my arrival as required by law. The hotel owner gave me a completed address registration card signed and ...
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What’s with the Frankfurt ‘police roundups’?
I’ve been visiting Frankfurt and a few times around the train station I’ve seen this sort of scenario:
a large number of police officers arrive on a street.
they ‘line up’ a group of people, kind of ...
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Can an EU citizen be prevented from entering another member state?
This doesn't apply to any real scenario but it's just a hypothetical. I was watching a border security show (UK Border Force) and in one episode a Polish gentleman who had a criminal record for petty ...
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US passport protections and immunity when crossing borders
Does the US Passport provide any kind of immunity against harassment, insult and intimidation by the border police of a destination country? Our US embassy in the destination country refused to ...
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Can immigration officers in airports make exceptions for citizens of a Covid-19-struck state who are not resident there?
I hold Israeli citizenship and passport and I am currently residing in Bangkok; I reside here nearly two years already - I didn't visit Israel since I came here. I don't hold Israeli residency status (...
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What is the meaning of a police car with no department or logo in the USA?
While traveling in the Southwest, I saw on two different occasions police cars that were painted all black, with no writing or logos on them. One was an older style of a police car, the other was a ...
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Do airport border officials know which flight you came on?
We have quarantine rules if you come from some countries in Europe. The border officials will ask you where are you coming from. Do they have this information already and they just test you?
Also ...
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Who is responsible for the cab fare increase due to waiting for a drug control to be completed at a checkpoint in Thailand?
If the passenger of a taxi get screened by the police for drug at a random street checkpoint in Thailand, who is responsible for the cab fare increase due to waiting for a drug control to be ...
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Reporting presence to authorities while on Schengen visa in Germany
I visited Denmark and Germany on a Schengen visa issued by the Danish consulate. My visit to Germany was for six days and I entered from Denmark. This was mentioned in my visa application.
Hotel ...
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a weird "no turn on red" traffic ticket [closed]
this is my first post. My apology if my question doesn't fit in the nature of this forum and please kindly redirect me to the appropriate forum if this is the case.
I was stopped when I drove in ...
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How to contact border authorities in EU/Schengen countries?
For questions about entering a country, people are usually referred to the embassy of said country. Unfortunately, except regarding visa issuance, these often prove rather uninformative.
So how would ...
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When does a foreigner's police escort from the elite Special Police Unit (SPU) have to escort the foreigner in Somaliland?
I have read that a police escort from the elite Special Police Unit (SPU) is required in Somaliland when traveling outside of Hargeisa.
E.g. https://www.onceinalifetimejourney.com/reviews/...
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Is a police escort (SPU) in Somaliland assigned to the foreigner automatically or must the foreigner request it?
I have read that a police escort from the elite Special Police Unit (SPU) is required in Somaliland when traveling outside of Hargeisa. E.g. https://www.onceinalifetimejourney.com/reviews/everything-...
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Road trip US - correct IDs missing
This is (fortunately) a purely hypothetical question.
If I, as Citizen in the European Union, make a road trip in the USA, get in a police traffic control an only have my local IDs with me (not my ...
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What are likely reasons for being asked by UK immigration to fetch my email flight confirmation despite API?
I (a south Slavic looking Swede) entered the UK at Luton from Larnaca the other day (black t-shirt+white 3/4 trousers+rucksack). Went to the only manned non-EU booth, which, unlike the EU section, was ...
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Is a police escort in Pakistan assigned to the foreigner automatically or must the foreigner request it?
I have read that a police escort might be needed/required in some areas of Pakistan. E.g. https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/is-pakistan-safe/ (mirror):
you might have to travel with an armed ...
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Can I call 112 to check a police officer's identity in the Czech Republic?
I'm travelling from the UK to the Czech Republic soon.
The UK foreign travel advice for the Czech Republic includes the following (bold emphasis is mine):
Beware of bogus plain-clothes policemen, ...
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How long do UK border officers check the computer for non-EU/EFTA visa-free passports?
Assuming an American, Aussie or Kiwi (etc.) presents themselves at the UK border, the landing interview goes perfectly and there's nothing funny about them, about how much time will the officer ...
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Can an official transit through the UK without a transit visa if not on official mission?
I have just read on this GOV document:
Holders of diplomatic or official passports may transit without a visa
Is this information still valid or is it expired? If it is, is it applicable to ...
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Wrongfully held at Italian passport control for over an hour (EU citizen): can I get financial compensation?
Background for anyone who may not know: I, an EU citizen, have the right to enter any EU or Schengen state (in this case Italy) using either a passport or national ID card. It doesn't matter whether I ...
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Got a "Ticket" for not paying for gasoline [closed]
I got a ticket in Germany for not paying for a tank of gas. The cashier didn't understand that I had gas to pay for, and just charged us for the snacks I brought to the cashier. I didn't notice the ...
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Proofs required and what to expect with Immigration officer interview, visiting UK for Job interview
I will be visiting London, UK for an onsite Job interview next week. For the purpose of this visit, I applied and got a standard visitor visa. I have booked return ticket, hotel, pickup and drop ...
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At what non-preclearance airports are there US DHS officers?
I've read that at certain airports (especially London airports), there are sometimes American DHS officers doing spot checks of passengers about to board flights to the US.
At what airports is this ...
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Should I say hello to the passport control officers, or just quietly give them my passport?
What is the etiquette? What do the passport control officers expect? I’m asking from the point of politeness and efficiency.
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When travelling to China, does the Hijab have to be removed?
As most of the people know, the Hijab is a headscarf which Muslim women are ordered to wear in Islam. Hearing the recent news, it appears China has banned the Hijab and other types of Islamic clothing....
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Passport requirements on entering Ireland as a citizen
Basic premise of this question is what are usual requirements for entering Ireland through Airport Immigration - and does this change based on where you departed from?
Basically - I'm a citizen and ...
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Can interpol detain me in the USA, Europe or Canada for dodging draft in countries like Russia, Belarus?
Can interpol detain citizens of CIS-countries(Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Armenia) in the USA, Europe or Canada for dodging draft in home countries?
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Can the police in Northern Cyprus take my passport away from me, an American citizen?
Is it legal for the authorities in the Republic of Northern Cyprus to keep my passport? I’m in Northern Cyprus and the police have taken my passport from me because of a personal dispute with a friend ...
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Why did someone at the airport ask for my passport and write my info in a book?
I’m 18 this year and I’m going to Korea for the third time. Once last year, twice this year. This time, I got a stamp on my flight ticket: it was stamped when I transferred from a domestic flight to ...
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I have multiple citizenships, and somehow landed in legal trouble while travelling abroad. Which embassy should I contact for consular services?
Consider the scenario where you are travelling overseas, outside of the jurisdiction of any of the countries to which you have citizenship. You somehow end up in legal trouble, and are arrested. By ...
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Why was my residence permit card bounced against the desk at immigration?
This may sound like a very bizarre question, but today while entering Turkey at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, I was using my UK Residence Permit as an entry requirement (since Indian passport holders need ...
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Why are German border checks alternately performed by border police and customs?
When entering Germany by bus from Switzerland, border checks are occasionally performed.
However, the checks are not always performed by the border police (Bundespolizei, officially responsible for ...
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Is it normal to be stopped by authorities and asked for ID in Paris? [closed]
On Boulevard Haussmann Paris, is it normal to be stopped for no apparent good reason and asked where you are from? I was giving directions to another tourist. My appearance is clean-cut, unremarkable ...
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Can a UK citizen be present in USA with no passport (during renewal)?
My UK passport is due to expire soon and I will renew it using the overseas service. However this requires me to send the old passport back to the UK, and I will be in the USA with no passport while ...
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Photographing federal buildings in Australia?
There are some amazing federal buildings in Australia, with their own unique designs.
However, a friend was saying he had no idea what he was photographing in Sydney and took a photo of the Federal ...
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How to pay German traffic ticket from the USA?
Yesterday, 2 pieces of paper have appeared in my mailbox in the USA. From what I understand, it is a traffic ticket, from Germany from Summer trip, which found its way to my address in the USA.
I do ...
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What happens if an arriving passenger into the US/Canada assaults a border officer?
One of my close British classmates will be travelling soon to Canada and the the United States for a week. Although hes a 'decent' guy who has gathered no criminal charges or arrest records as a 20yr ...
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Is an Email response considered an official document?
Can an email response, e.g. from the German Auswärtiges Amt, be considered an official document and used during travel?
As an example: If I have an electronic response stating that no special ...
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Why doesn't the Serbian border police let you re-enter Serbia at Belgrade airport and then re-exit?
I recently flew from Belgrade to Stockholm, arriving at Belgrade airport at 2 AM, with a flight leaving at 6 AM.
I had to change Serbian dinars to euros, and the only open bureau de change was ...
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Indian Passport not stamped, arriving from Canada via Amtrak
I was travelling back on the Amtrak train to New York from Montreal after a 3 day stay. On the way back, the CBP officer didn't even check my passport. Neither did he check the passport of the person ...
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Which police force is responsible for ports/harbors/marinas in Spain?
It's quite well known that Spain has a few different types of Police. However, just how many different types are there and what are their roles?
For example, who/what body of police is responsible ...
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Can I legally display my foreign license if pulled over in the USA if I already have USA license?
Am I required by law to have my USA license on me if I drive in the USA, or can I also have my foreign license? If pulled over, must I tell the police that I have a valid USA license or can I just ...
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Can my boyfriends stalker here cause travel visa entry problems when he visits me in US again? [closed]
I live in the US, and have a foreign boyfriend, who has been here several times and never overstayed.
However, he has a stalker in the US, who is acting like he is getting stalked.
Could this person ...
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Are EEA nationals allowed to use the non-EEA queue at UK airports?
I just (half an hour ago) entered the UK at Stansted airport, and the EEA queue at immigration was absolutely packed (it would have taken at least an hour to get through), whereas the non-EEA queue ...
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Which nations have specific laws that allow/ disallow ENTRY of shamanic ritual plants/ herbs such as Ayahuasca? [closed]
Travelling to Latin America to take hallucinogenic drugs: how does one do it safely?
This is a related question, but objective here is different.
I have a few friends from Latin & Eastern ...
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Should I report this UK road accident to the police? [closed]
I was involved in an accident (in England, A259) this morning, with four vehicles (v1 to v4, v1 in front and me in v2) involved, in line and hit from behind. I was driving the second vehicle from the ...
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Are there plain clothes police patrols in Warsaw, or was I a victim of a scam?
I was walking along the river in Warsaw in the afternoon and was approached by two men who claimed to be police. They showed me ID, but I have no idea what Polish policja ID is supposed to look like, ...
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