OT Passport Control for Infant/ Under 5s
Jan 28, 2014, 9:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 851
OT Passport Control for Infant/ Under 5s
This is OT other than most of the flights were on BA 
My son who is now approaching 2 looks nothing like the photo in either of his passports. The photos were taken when he was +/- 7 weeks.
When arriving in different parts of the world this is treated very differently.
Arriving in SYD they asked some quite searching questions (DOB, place of birth father's occupation) so they clearly had access to his birth certificate (or were bluffing) and asked about his travel history
IN others parts of the world they just vague look in his direction and make sure our names match.
LHR is as you'd expect hit and miss!
Do Aussie immigration people have sight of my sons birth certificate (or salient details?)
My son who is now approaching 2 looks nothing like the photo in either of his passports. The photos were taken when he was +/- 7 weeks.
When arriving in different parts of the world this is treated very differently.
Arriving in SYD they asked some quite searching questions (DOB, place of birth father's occupation) so they clearly had access to his birth certificate (or were bluffing) and asked about his travel history
IN others parts of the world they just vague look in his direction and make sure our names match.
LHR is as you'd expect hit and miss!
Do Aussie immigration people have sight of my sons birth certificate (or salient details?)
Jan 28, 2014, 9:27 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 94
Arriving in SYD they asked some quite searching questions (DOB, place of birth father's occupation) so they clearly had access to his birth certificate (or were bluffing) and asked about his travel history
....
Do Aussie immigration people have sight of my sons birth certificate (or salient details?)
....
Do Aussie immigration people have sight of my sons birth certificate (or salient details?)
Jan 28, 2014, 10:50 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: LON, RUH and DXB
Programs: BA Bronze, GF, EK, WY
Posts: 2,607
I would guess some jurisdictions have a greater focus on child trafficking or separated parents absconding.
And let's face it, few of us look much like our passports photos after a few years. I was behind a family at the LHR UK border recently and the very friendly officer remarked to one child that he'd changed a lot from his photo and how his hair had grown. All very well handled but there may have been a hidden agenda in play.
When it was my turn at the desk I jokingly said if she made any comment about my hair I'd be putting in a complaint ! I'm a little greyer than I was 4 years ago and don't need to be reminded of the fact
Fortunately I'd judged her mood correctly !
And let's face it, few of us look much like our passports photos after a few years. I was behind a family at the LHR UK border recently and the very friendly officer remarked to one child that he'd changed a lot from his photo and how his hair had grown. All very well handled but there may have been a hidden agenda in play.
When it was my turn at the desk I jokingly said if she made any comment about my hair I'd be putting in a complaint ! I'm a little greyer than I was 4 years ago and don't need to be reminded of the fact
Fortunately I'd judged her mood correctly !
Jan 28, 2014, 11:37 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: England
Programs: Mucci des Epices Exotiques, BAEC Gold,EK Gold,SPG,Marriott,Club Carlson
Posts: 918
I have asked about the ability to recognise a 3 year old from a photo taken when my child was 2 weeks old. Apparently they focus on the ears and eyes...
Jan 28, 2014, 12:15 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Mstr Steve ZA's photo was taken when he was 5 days old and his eyes are closed in it so he was unrecognisable even on his first flight at 4 months old. It gives us something to talk about with the various border agents around the world but we have never had any problems.
Jan 28, 2014, 12:17 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
A (German) border official almost waved me and our 4 month old through while looking at our 4 *year* old's passport (photo taken when the 4 year old was ~2 months old)
LHR is very hit and miss. We've had a grilling and we've had "charming" too... YMMV
LHR is very hit and miss. We've had a grilling and we've had "charming" too... YMMV
Jan 28, 2014, 1:10 pm
#7
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,804
Plus where the top of the nose joins below the forehead, relative to a centre line through the eyes. But the ears are the easiest.
Jan 28, 2014, 1:27 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Windsor, UK (In the flight path)
Programs: Mucci, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, Blah Blah...
Posts: 502
Many border agents I've met call the name of the children out (my oldest is 3.5 and photo taken at 2 months). If the child looks up, it's probably responding to their name.
Also, as someone else says. It's more likely they are looking for the nature of the answers, not the actual answers. If you look confused or get angry, they will probably investigate further. If you just answer if you've nothing to hide (as everyone else would), then you'll be ok.
Matt
Also, as someone else says. It's more likely they are looking for the nature of the answers, not the actual answers. If you look confused or get angry, they will probably investigate further. If you just answer if you've nothing to hide (as everyone else would), then you'll be ok.
Matt
Jan 28, 2014, 3:45 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,504
When I was about 4, we had a holiday in South America. I was still on my mother's passport. When we entered Argentina, they accidentally only stamped her as entering the country, not me. At passport control when we were leaving they wouldn't let me leave. It was a Sunday afternoon, and eventually my grandfather said "fine, you can keep him", knowing that no public servant wants to be stuck with a screaming 4 year old on a Sunday. We were quickly on our way.
Jan 28, 2014, 5:03 pm
#10
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Arriving in SYD they asked some quite searching questions (DOB, place of birth father's occupation) so they clearly had access to his birth certificate (or were bluffing) and asked about his travel history
IN others parts of the world they just vague look in his direction and make sure our names match.
--- snip ---
Do Aussie immigration people have sight of my sons birth certificate (or salient details?)
IN others parts of the world they just vague look in his direction and make sure our names match.
--- snip ---
Do Aussie immigration people have sight of my sons birth certificate (or salient details?)
However, the Australian immigration officers often ask what may seem like a bit of a probing question, especially to non-nationals (although they sometimes do the same to nationals, especially with a young child). It's probably to do with seeing how you react and to make sure that it's your child and you are also not abducting your own child.
I know it probably feels rather offensive even just to be checked in that way, but they do take those things seriously as there have been recent reported cases.
Jan 28, 2014, 7:58 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,504
I strongly doubt they have such details.
However, the Australian immigration officers often ask what may seem like a bit of a probing question, especially to non-nationals (although they sometimes do the same to nationals, especially with a young child). It's probably to do with seeing how you react and to make sure that it's your child and you are also not abducting your own child.
I know it probably feels rather offensive even just to be checked in that way, but they do take those things seriously as there have been recent reported cases.
However, the Australian immigration officers often ask what may seem like a bit of a probing question, especially to non-nationals (although they sometimes do the same to nationals, especially with a young child). It's probably to do with seeing how you react and to make sure that it's your child and you are also not abducting your own child.
I know it probably feels rather offensive even just to be checked in that way, but they do take those things seriously as there have been recent reported cases.
I highly doubt they have access to UK birth certs.
As for probing questions, when I went backpacking in my early 20's I was asked point blank how much cocaine I did in Peru because it's so cheap there.
Jan 28, 2014, 11:57 pm
#13
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,273
When I was about 4, we had a holiday in South America. I was still on my mother's passport. When we entered Argentina, they accidentally only stamped her as entering the country, not me. At passport control when we were leaving they wouldn't let me leave. It was a Sunday afternoon, and eventually my grandfather said "fine, you can keep him", knowing that no public servant wants to be stuck with a screaming 4 year old on a Sunday. We were quickly on our way.
Jan 29, 2014, 3:34 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 932
That is what I have found with my 4yo daughter who travels on a 2 mo passport. The name matches if daughter responds naturally to it.