Going through UK Immigration with USC wife

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

We are flying back to the UK for the first time together, will my American wife be able to go through immigration with me at LHR or will we have to go through separately? I usually use the self scan gates but my wife doesn't have the scan thing on her passport.

Thanks!

[shippingforecast 126]

When we flew back together from Madrid, they had us go through separately.

[Pheebs1201 269]

Not sure how applicable my answer is seeing as we are not married yet BUT when we came through at LHR we had to go through separate lines (with me using the machines you mentioned) then I waited the other side of those interview desks until he was called up and then he pointed me out to the immigration officer and he was allowed through smoothly and quickly (I guess my presence validated his reason for being there).

Good luck!

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

We've been once since his POE. He went through the UK side and I got in the long snaking line.

"Purpose of your trip?" My husband and I are visiting his family.

"Where is your husband?" Standing right behind you. He went through the fast lane.

"Next time go through that line with him."

So different stories amongst us.

[Owen_London 65]

Yes, USC spouses can go through the UKC queue with you. The border staff (now called UK Visas and Immigration, apparently) will tell you this if you ask them. However, the purpose is to keep families together, so I imagine if the UKC goes through the self-scan gates, the USC must go through the non-EU line as normal.

[nobbie 105]

I'd try going through the UK/EU line, it's unlikely they would send the USC back if they are there with their spouse unlike BWI here where they definately do. Some places like Norwich only have one queue so they cannot segregate.

[yuna628 9,528]

I can only tell you my experience with my fiancé, you have to go through the checkpoints/scanners etc separated, however at the interview desk in our experience as long as we noted we were traveling together, they let us stand next to each other but we answered questions individually. One of the first times I let him go ahead of me first at the desk, and when my fiancé mentioned me, the IO waved me to stand next him. This was at the smaller POE area before you need to get back onto a connecting flight. If LHR is your final destination then I'm not sure. They never seemed to have a problem standing together, in fact it seemed to make them a lot less harsh.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Thanks for the tips everyone!

[John and Camie 39]

I used to go through the non-UK queue when we were dating, so when I did the same as a married woman and the agent saw my husband waiting for me on the other side, he laughed, waived at him, then said, "go through with him next time." Definitely makes things easier, especially now that we've got a little one.

[thisamericanlife 3]

In my experience, the USC cannot go through the UK/EU gates, but the UK/EU partner is welcome to join USC at the global gates.

[yvy23 11]

I think it varies depending on the airport. We flew to the UK in July and I went through the self scan gate while hubby went through the non-EU line. He was told we could both have gone through the EU line (Heathrow T5), but obviously not the self-scan gate. Then we flew into Manchester last week and were both sent to the non-EU line so we could go through together. It seems like all the airports will allow you to go through the same line, but probably best to check with someone as to which line they want you in before maybe choosing the wrong one. Oh, and he did get far fewer questions with us going through together than he used to before we were married - they just asked me if we were visiting my family.