I'm in the UK, back from France. I've been in the UK for several hours, so what I really mean to say is that I'm no longer being detained by immigration. Fingerprints, photographs.... eeeyikes. There are ambiguous questions in the world. Have all your itinerary with you ON PAPER when traveling, especially your return-to-home-country flight info, and if they say "do you have any money" they don't mean cash. Charge cards count
Once they have you tagged, any little hesitation or fumble is evidence that you're a danger to national security. What I did for a living wasn't a clear answer (should have said "I'm a writer" I guess, but because I don't make a living writing, it seems somewhat false as "an occupation"), whether I had a mobile phone (yes, but it's not here, and it doesn't work in Europe)...
I'll be better prepared when I come back from The Netherlands. And having changed planes in Amsterdam once (coming back from India ac couple of years ago), I know that they have mind-reading profilers, so they'll know I'm honest. I prefer mind-reading to ambiguous questions.
Oh goodness, Sandra, what an ordeal (I clicked over to the FB discussion and read more). I'm so glad Julie was able to wait for you, and that you had a home and friends to go to, rather than a hotel. Hoping the rest of your border crossings are much less eventful!
ReplyDeleteOops, forgot to sign my comment above. That's me, Glenda =)
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