Why are our passports scanned when we return home?
- Thread starter jamoor
- Start date
I'm sure they do but I strongly doubt that they specifically identify every passenger and the origin of their flight. There may be face recognition in operation for known terrorists and the like though.
There aren't any cameras on runways by the way.
The point is that when you arive at passport control and hand your passport over, they have no indication as to whether you have arrived from Russia or from France or anywhere else for that matter, unless they have some sort of suspicion and have marked you to be pulled aside. That's why they ask you
No worries whatsoever. Unless you've been to Heathrow and enjoyed landing at the wrong terminal at just the wrong time (which always seems to happen to me!) then it's hard to imagine what a nightmare it can be with everyone from all over queueing up in one place. A lot of other airports I've been to have passport control per flight rather than per terminal, but that would clearly not be viable at Heathrow.In that case I will be a man, eat my words and apologise to Wicksta
I'll never forget the time I arrived at passport control in Heathrow and before I handed the guy my passport he said, "Hello Mr. Kelly, did you have a nice day in Copenhagen?"
Thats gotta be some kinda MI5 secret code, you obviously gave the wrong answer and were not whisked away 007 style.
2 weeks ago on my outbound flight to the US, they guy at UK passport control didn't even want to look at my passport. It has no fancy biometric tag thing either.
It was probably my suspicious activity. In the space of 5 days I had been to 9 different countries, staying no longer than 2 hours in any of them. They must have thought I was up to something
It was probably my suspicious activity. In the space of 5 days I had been to 9 different countries, staying no longer than 2 hours in any of them. They must have thought I was up to something
TERRIST!
per flight? I travel through a LOT of airports and have NEVER seen that
I've seen it at quite a few places, also passport control per flight getting on the plane as well as off. The smaller the airport, the more likely it is.
Went to Florida earlier this year and got my finger print digitally recorded as well as my mugshot taken via webcam (no doubt this came up on a large screen in Jack Bauer Central with loads of other tidbits of information).
Had passport scanned on entry into the UK too.
Had passport scanned on entry into the UK too.
Because when abroad, if your wanted by any foreign governments it will be shown on your passport when interpol contact our government youll be flagged up on the computer, i read some leaflet thing that my mum got when she came home from mallorca this year..
Associate
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- 9 Jan 2006
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- Nottingham
it's happened to me pretty much every flight i've ever been on, at both ends. returning from germany, switzerland, the US. the US entry was the worst, retina scans, fingerprints the works, even for my 2, 5 and 7 year old nieces and nephews.
funny story though, on the way into switzerland they scanned my mate's passport and they wouldn't let him in the country! he was led away along with the guy who was travelling on a fake passport and the dodgy nigerians into some room where they kept him waiting for ages (he was let through that night). turns out he had an outstanding speeding fine - they made him go to court on the saturday morning - he was fined about £1000 in total. he wasn't laughing but we all were
the ironic thing is that it was he who booked and was the driver of the minibus that was transporting us everywhere in switzerland. the hire company weren't bothered though - and they didn't notice the 4 ft crack across the windscreen when we took it back
funny story though, on the way into switzerland they scanned my mate's passport and they wouldn't let him in the country! he was led away along with the guy who was travelling on a fake passport and the dodgy nigerians into some room where they kept him waiting for ages (he was let through that night). turns out he had an outstanding speeding fine - they made him go to court on the saturday morning - he was fined about £1000 in total.
he wasn't laughing but we all were the ironic thing is that it was he who booked and was the driver of the minibus that was transporting us everywhere in switzerland. the hire company weren't bothered though - and they didn't notice the 4 ft crack across the windscreen when we took it back
When I came back from Rome, my passport was checked and scanned by a polite young man who was the spitting image of Damien Lewis. I was glad it wasn't just waved through to be honest, gave me a sense that the job was being done properly.
Soldato
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- Glocestershire
Happened to me on the way back from spain, at Gatwick. Took ages.
My g/f with her US passport was through a good 10 minutes ahead.
My g/f with her US passport was through a good 10 minutes ahead.
Getting your p/port scanned is nothing try flying to N. Ireland from Glasgow on a weeky basis like I did when courting my then girlfriend.
Form filling until your hand cramped ....
every week the same form then the same quiz upon return from El CID.
Mind you I was 22 flying hand luggage with ryanair and had a black leather jacket...
Form filling until your hand cramped ....
every week the same form then the same quiz upon return from El CID. Mind you I was 22 flying hand luggage with ryanair and had a black leather jacket...