Travelling with EEA Passport holder - Can I use the EU/EEA Lines?
Jan 10, 2009, 12:23 pm
#1
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Travelling with EEA Passport holder - Can I use the EU/EEA Lines?
I've had a look through a couple of the forums but couldn't find the answer so here goes...
My husband and I are flying to the UK from Norway in a couple of weeks...arriving Heathrow T3.
He is Norwegian, and holds a Norwegian Passport.
I on the other hand, will be traveling on my Australian Passport.
Can I as his wife, join him in the UK/EU/EEA passport holders line (assuming they're less busy than the general line ofc) or will I be made to go through the general line?
Beck
My husband and I are flying to the UK from Norway in a couple of weeks...arriving Heathrow T3.
He is Norwegian, and holds a Norwegian Passport.
I on the other hand, will be traveling on my Australian Passport.
Can I as his wife, join him in the UK/EU/EEA passport holders line (assuming they're less busy than the general line ofc) or will I be made to go through the general line?
Beck
Jan 10, 2009, 3:55 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PEK and BOS
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I've had mixed experience with this when travelling with my wife, who isn't an EU citizen (they may be more lenient with children, a la dgwright99's experiences.
Sometimes they say "that's part of the benefit of being a UK citizen", other times they say "if you want to be together, you can go into the 'non-EU' queue.
No harm in asking, but it certainly hasn't been consitent with me!
tb
Sometimes they say "that's part of the benefit of being a UK citizen", other times they say "if you want to be together, you can go into the 'non-EU' queue.
No harm in asking, but it certainly hasn't been consitent with me!
tb
Jan 11, 2009, 6:22 pm
#7
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Jan 11, 2009, 6:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Your husband can follow you in the non-EU queue if you want to stay together. Depending on the flight, the non-EU queues are sometimes shorter.
The trouble is the queues for the EU queues can be long with fewer counters so the longer time needed to interview you would hold-up the people behind you which is unfair to them.
I can understand parents taken kids through the EU queue since they are totally dependant on their parents for the details as the kids cannot be interviewed.
You as an adult, can be interviewed and would have to prove your right of entry either as an Australia or a spouse of an EU citizen. If nothing else, they will query why you are still an Australian citizen and evidence of your marraige, etc. This will take time and delay others in the queue behind you who do not need to be interviewed.
The trouble is the queues for the EU queues can be long with fewer counters so the longer time needed to interview you would hold-up the people behind you which is unfair to them.
I can understand parents taken kids through the EU queue since they are totally dependant on their parents for the details as the kids cannot be interviewed.
You as an adult, can be interviewed and would have to prove your right of entry either as an Australia or a spouse of an EU citizen. If nothing else, they will query why you are still an Australian citizen and evidence of your marraige, etc. This will take time and delay others in the queue behind you who do not need to be interviewed.
Jan 12, 2009, 4:50 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
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I have lived in the UK for 30 years (and been married to a UK national for 20 years) without acquiring British citizenship. No one has EVER asked me why I'm not British (it's none of their business what nationality I choose to hold).
Jan 12, 2009, 6:55 am
#10
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LCY is an exception, since there is only one queue for everybody.
Jan 22, 2009, 5:58 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
Jan 22, 2009, 6:56 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Location: Argentina
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When my wide didn't have her UK passport we usually used the relevant channels.Most times though there wasn't much delay in fact sometimes she was through quicker than me depending what flight we had come off.
Once, at GLA I think it was, I was through quickly so lurked behind the non EU line waiting for my wife and was more or less told to bugger off by the officer even after after explaining to them I was waiting for her.
Bloody cheek of it. 
Once, at GLA I think it was, I was through quickly so lurked behind the non EU line waiting for my wife and was more or less told to bugger off by the officer even after after explaining to them I was waiting for her.
Bloody cheek of it.
Jan 22, 2009, 9:49 am
#15
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No he can't - whether UK immigration will tolerate him there is up to their mood on the day. I have been evicted (and not in a friendly way, may I add) from the non-EU queue at Stansted. And my wife has never been allowed to use the EU lane (Australian passport, STN, LGW and LHR). So in short, I wouldn't try it.
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Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Jan 22, 2009 at 9:56 am