<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by sapguy:
In case you don't know, us Yanks and you Brits do NOT need to a visa to enter each other's country - it's called the Visa Waiver Program, so no I didn't have a visa because I did NOT need one.</font>
You know, funnily enough, in the UK it isn't called the Visa Waiver Program or even Visa Waiver Programme. There isn't any such thing - that's a USA thing. To come into the UK, nobody needs a visa unless (a) they are coming for a purpose for which they need a visa or (b) they are a national of one of the countries on the visa list, who need visas for all entries to the UK. But, anyway, it looks like I guessed right.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Besides, you missed the point. I have no problem with the IO asking me those questions one or may be two times. But to be asked those rather asinine questions quite a few more times (not every time mind you) when upon swiping my US passport onto his electronic reader or simply leafing through it to see the uncountable number of "LHR Immigration" stamps in it, now that's what I call been given the Third Degree, as so eloquently stated by DCBritboy.</font>
And here
you're missing the point. The law requires the IO to ask you the questions. Every time. However stupid it might seem. Of course, you will sometimes come across some lazy or bored ones who don't, but strictly speaking they are not doing their job properly if they don't.
I can't say anything about the attitude of the immigration officers on each side. On a personal basis, I only have dealings with the ones in the US so I can't compare them to the ones here. But I do know about the law.
[This message has been edited by Globaliser (edited 06-06-2003).]