Got denied entry to Doha
Jan 23, 2019, 9:20 am
#31
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 84
That was sort of my impression before I ever went land side of Doha. Since I transited DOH so many times in the last few years, finally decided to go land side for a few hours. I found certain sights interesting. Later I stayed over night and saw the city at night. Kind of quiet in city center. But found the a long walk on Al Corniche at night for photo shoot kind of interesting. Along with day time visit to Museum of Islamic Arts, Dhow Harbour, Skyline Viewpoint and of the Souq Waqif. I thought it was worth it.
I will be spending 1 night there on my upcoming trip! Hope to tour other parts (more inland) of the city by Uber (hope they still have Uber).
For those who has never been to Doha, give it a few hours and see if you find anything interesting.
I will be spending 1 night there on my upcoming trip! Hope to tour other parts (more inland) of the city by Uber (hope they still have Uber).
For those who has never been to Doha, give it a few hours and see if you find anything interesting.
Sounds like you've pretty much seen it all. If you have a whole day you could go visit one of the lovely beaches, but this time of year the water is cold. Or go to one of the huge malls (Festival City/ Mall of Qatar)
Jan 23, 2019, 10:37 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: San Francisco, California
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Posts: 943
Perhaps that's a guideline, but it's not a rule. I met a friend for coffee at a hotel not far from the airport on a 4 hour layover in Doha in November 2018. The immigration official asked me a few questions but stamped me in to Qatar.
Jan 23, 2019, 1:03 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SCL
Programs: DL 360, DL 1M, DL Charter Diamond, LA Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 5
Must be up to each immigration officer. I transferred through DOH in October 2016 with a 5-hour connection. Passed through the private Business Class immigration line, told the officer how long my layover was, told him I was going out for dinner, and he stamped me into Qatar with no questions. I then grabbed an Uber and enjoyed a nice walk and dinner in Souq Waqif.
In June 2016 while connecting at BOG, I had a 3-hour layover at 6:00 AM. I told the immigration officer that I needed to exit landside to physically transfer my checked bag as it was between two airlines in different alliances (still Interlined, but wanted to be sure). Stamped into Colombia, got my bag, re-checked it, walked outside for a few minutes, then back through exit immigration.
At NRT I have stamped into Japan with as little as 3 hours layover on multiple occasions just so I could ride the train to Narita town and eat some ramen. Again, no problem. Similar situation (but no ramen), many times, at JNB (South Africa), GRU (Brazil), LHR (UK), FCO (Italy), AMS (Netherlands), AKL (New Zealand), CAN (China), MEX (Mexico), YYZ (Canada), and SCL (Chile).
Maybe what happened to you was an unfortunate mix of bad luck, randomly enforced rules, and variations between different country policies. Regardless, hope you get to Doha sometime...worth it!
(I have a US passport.)
In June 2016 while connecting at BOG, I had a 3-hour layover at 6:00 AM. I told the immigration officer that I needed to exit landside to physically transfer my checked bag as it was between two airlines in different alliances (still Interlined, but wanted to be sure). Stamped into Colombia, got my bag, re-checked it, walked outside for a few minutes, then back through exit immigration.
At NRT I have stamped into Japan with as little as 3 hours layover on multiple occasions just so I could ride the train to Narita town and eat some ramen. Again, no problem. Similar situation (but no ramen), many times, at JNB (South Africa), GRU (Brazil), LHR (UK), FCO (Italy), AMS (Netherlands), AKL (New Zealand), CAN (China), MEX (Mexico), YYZ (Canada), and SCL (Chile).
Maybe what happened to you was an unfortunate mix of bad luck, randomly enforced rules, and variations between different country policies. Regardless, hope you get to Doha sometime...worth it!
(I have a US passport.)
Jan 23, 2019, 6:15 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Northern California
Programs: UA-Plat, UA-MM, Hertz PC, HH, APEC ABTC
Posts: 235
Jan 23, 2019, 8:53 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: mci
Programs: aa
Posts: 669
Happened to me in London too as a US passport holder transiting, but he relented after I was able to convince him that I had enough time to go to Windsor Castle and make it back.
But he gave me a different stamp compared to every other UK stamp I have a leave to enter for 24 hour stamp - and every time I go back to the UK, border agents ask me what I did to get that stamp.
But he gave me a different stamp compared to every other UK stamp I have a leave to enter for 24 hour stamp - and every time I go back to the UK, border agents ask me what I did to get that stamp.
Jan 23, 2019, 9:46 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 374
From my understanding, HIA are looking to add more e gates and will soon allow non residents to enter the country using them. I assume for those from visa free countries. Therefore, I wonder if it will make a difference when you can enter the country without speaking to anyone or will the system still flag up that your connection is less than eight hours?
Jan 23, 2019, 9:53 pm
#38
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
That was sort of my impression before I ever went land side of Doha. Since I transited DOH so many times in the last few years, finally decided to go land side for a few hours. I found certain sights interesting. Later I stayed over night and saw the city at night. Kind of quiet in city center. But found the a long walk on Al Corniche at night for photo shoot kind of interesting. Along with day time visit to Museum of Islamic Arts, Dhow Harbour, Skyline Viewpoint and of the Souq Waqif. I thought it was worth it.
I will be spending 1 night there on my upcoming trip! Hope to tour other parts (more inland) of the city by Uber (hope they still have Uber).
For those who has never been to Doha, give it a few hours and see if you find anything interesting.
I will be spending 1 night there on my upcoming trip! Hope to tour other parts (more inland) of the city by Uber (hope they still have Uber).
For those who has never been to Doha, give it a few hours and see if you find anything interesting.
Jan 24, 2019, 6:51 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: QND, BEG, BUD
Programs: AY Platinum; TK Elite+; MR Titanium; HH Diamond
Posts: 109
https://transitvisa.qatarairways.com/transitvisa/online/qrvisa/applyVisa/search
Personally, I did a couple of stopovers that were shorter than 8h and successfully applied for a transit visa (before they removed the visa requirements in my case).
Jan 24, 2019, 8:59 am
#40
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,993
Transitted through Doha in November and told the immigration officer I was going through to use the showers in arrivals! No questions asked but was given leave to remain sticker until the same day only.
Jan 24, 2019, 9:21 am
#41
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 608
I remember eyebrows being raised in KUL when I flew in on AirAsia from Brunei and was out a few hours later to Delhi (no airside transit from LCCT to KLIA1 in those days). Old mate said it wasn’t acceptable to enter and exit on the same day but what can you do? They let me go in the end
Jan 24, 2019, 1:29 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,498
This is interesting, thanks. I've entered Doha on a <8 hour layover before, usually around 6pm connecting to a 2.30am departure. The first time was under the old visa-on-arrival and the second under the then newly introduced visa waiver. Didn't get any questions the first time round, but the second officer asked me twice where I was staying; I simply told him I had a connecting flight the next morning and was heading into Doha for dinner. He didn't seem too perturbed. I may choose my words more carefully next time.
Jan 24, 2019, 11:51 pm
#44
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 167
It's entirely possible it is the rule, and these exceptions are breaches of the rule based on discretion - but exceptions are discretionary and don't mean the rule doesn't exist.
Jan 25, 2019, 12:04 am
#45
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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Posts: 21,600
Happened to me a few years back, said I was only there for 3 hours and wanted to go out and see the place.Happened in Panama too. Apparently has to do with the system flagging you up for only being there for such a short period. I would assume they meant it on the "he might be up to no good" side of things.