British Expatriate Network

I am going to the UK for a visit

Currently I have a Green Card and British Passport. As I have never gone home with a Green Card. Do I use this or my British Passport?

Also when I arrive in the UK can I take my Family through the UK Immigration line as I am British. They will all hold US Passports.

Thanks

Scouser

I do believe it works on what country you are a citizen of .

They go thou the * citizens of other countries line * and you go thou the UK passport holders line when entering UK and the opposite when returning .

Thats how it worked for us before i got citizenship the family was broken up so to speak when entering immigration .
It might be differant now since 9/11 a lot of things have changed

You need to take both Green Card and UK passport with you. Enter the UK with your UK passport. If you have children under 18 yrs on US passports and you are the only adult then they can come in with you. If their US parent is with you then they should enter via the "Other Countries" desk.

Coming back into the US you will need both UK passport and your Green Card. DON"T FORGET IT!!! A lost/stolen/forgotten GC will cost you in time and serious amounts of $$$$$, not to mention the withering looks from the immigration peeps.

HTH

Debs x smile

You can also go through the non-EU citizens (long) queue if you want to be with them. Better off flashing the passport the quick way and getting to the carousel so noone nicks your luggage -)

Reminds me of the time I got sent to Secondary Inspection (like Purgartory but in the airport arrivals area) and had visions of my luggage going around a few times and then being picked up by some Chicago low-life.

No thanks to the INS jerks, somehow the luggage was still filtering through from my flight 45 minutes later when I was released and I got it safely.

Thanks for the info all.

I once got sent to immigration I returned to the US 90 days after I had been there.

I may as well get the luggage like you said. Wife may not be to happy standing with the 7 month old.

She doesn't need to stand with the baby, you can take him/her through the UK line.

I must say though last time we went to the UK (April 06) it was considerably quicker to go through the non-EU line. My son went with the non-EU with my fella and his daughter and had all the luggage by the time I got through on my Brit passport.

I failed to mention I have 2 Step kids. So I dont think I can get them through the UK line

It's alwaysworth giving it a try, especially if they are quite young. It really shouldn't be a problem if you explain their mother is in the other line, if you are even questioned on it.
They really are understanding about kids and long lines.

One word of warning, don't ask the guy in the uniform directing the lines. They are always giving misinformation no matter how many times they are told.
This from a couple of customs officers I've encountered in the past.