Jun 4, 2019, 6:52 am
Last edit by: stut
ePassport gates, new countries, passport requirements, experience and wait times. Any volunteers?
ePassport Gates Master Thread [was: Opening up the e-Gates to new countries]
Nov 24, 2018, 5:11 pm
#46
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Yes, they have access to databases to frustrate use of some passports issued to nationals of countries whose passports can often use the egates/ABC kiosks in the EU/Schengen areas. Even flagged passports of EU nationals can be inhibited from being accepted for egate entry at LHR. And that is why I have a very strong suspicion that the UK too will sometimes engage in stopping and questioning some US passport users using the egates.
The first would be someone whose passport is in a database - criminal record, wanted, etc. Presumably the egate would block use by those folks and they would be directed to a Border Force agent.
Not sure how the more discretionary examination would work with the egates. For example, from what I've read here and from the experience of the children of friends a consistent red flag is the American student who spends a year on a student visa in the UK, goes on a tour of Europe, and comes back to the UK with the intent of staying a few days or a week before returning to the US. The presumption seems to be that they are coming back to the UK to live, and they get a rigorous examination. They are selected now from the questioning that comes from the direct contact with the officer which would not happen with egates. So is the examination of Americans now going to be less rigorous?
Nov 25, 2018, 3:12 am
#47
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Nov 25, 2018, 5:00 am
#48
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It has been claimed on FT that one human officer is needed to monitor 5 egates, so if there aren't enough officers available not all gates will be opened.
Apr 23, 2019, 1:02 pm
#53
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I vote to keep the Americans out of the gates.
Apr 23, 2019, 5:52 pm
#54
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This is a concern I have had as well, and I'm an American who paid for Registered Traveller. On my last trip through Rome in January, though, they had something similar in effect, and it seemed to work just fine. I think Fiumicino had more e-gates than what I saw at T5 when I was through there yesterday, but I suspect additional e-gates are coming for T5 as well. Nevertheless, it was nice to bypass the long line of my countrymen waiting to get processed and then be through the gates in about 30 seconds. That and Fast Track were great. And then I hit the security screening. Oh well, into each life some rain must fall. . .
Apr 23, 2019, 5:57 pm
#55
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This is a concern I have had as well, and I'm an American who paid for Registered Traveller. On my last trip through Rome in January, though, they had something similar in effect, and it seemed to work just fine. I think Fiumicino had more e-gates than what I saw at T5 when I was through there yesterday, but I suspect additional e-gates are coming for T5 as well. Nevertheless, it was nice to bypass the long line of my countrymen waiting to get processed and then be through the gates in about 30 seconds. That and Fast Track were great. And then I hit the security screening. Oh well, into each life some rain must fall. . .
Apr 23, 2019, 7:15 pm
#56
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I don't consider June 2019 to be good news for me as a US passport user at LHR. I have concerns that this may frustrate my ability to use Fast Track passport control at LHR T5 except when I am in the company of certain people not eligible for e-gate use there.
Apr 23, 2019, 7:21 pm
#57
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On entering at FCO and using the egates as a US passport user, they still send US passport users to border control to make the the entry decision and stamp.
Apr 24, 2019, 4:26 am
#58
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This was entering the country. Similar to the e-gates at Heathrow but with many more stations. I just put my passport in the reader, got my photograph taken, and was allowed through with an extremely quick processing and stamp by a border guard. That was my fifth trip to Italy through Rome and easily the fastest processing I've ever had. My trip through Heathrow was my fastest as well, but then I hit the security line as I was heading to Dublin as the final destination so went through the UK/Ireland connections zone. If London had been my final destination on this trip, it would have worked exactly as my Rome trip in January did.
Apr 24, 2019, 8:24 am
#59
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I see them starting this on a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon after the morning bank of arrivals from the US when it is quieter at immigration.
Apr 24, 2019, 5:34 pm
#60
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I have the registered traveler thing and it expired in March. They have not sent me a renewal notice like they always used to.
So I went to the registered traveler website, this page:https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller/eligibility and it NO LONGER lists the US as being eligible!
I hope it's because of this program! Anyhow, I'll find out in June when I enter the country at T5.
So I went to the registered traveler website, this page:https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller/eligibility and it NO LONGER lists the US as being eligible!
I hope it's because of this program! Anyhow, I'll find out in June when I enter the country at T5.