Any other Pakistani facing similar problems?

[Hyde]

Well just wondering if any other Pakistani experienced such issue in recent days/months?

Well I was travelling from London Standard to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol couple of days ago and one of the immigration officer stopped me may be because I was travelling alone on the plane. He started questioning me about my work, nature of job, residence in UK and other relevant questions.

Later after seeing I travelled to Pakistan in 2008 or my Birth place, he started questioning where you were born, is that place near Peshawar, do you know any extremism anywhere in the world, what are your religious beliefs (sunni or shia), which Mosque do you go to and how practising Muslim are you? Many Muslim distribute leaflets on the streets so ever read those leaflets or ever saw any extremist in your life... So many other relevant questions that only had to do with religion.

Later he wrote my entire itinerary of travel and dates and places where I am expected to travel, contacts numbers of my friends and people I am hoping to meet there etc

I found it bit irritating because the only reason he was questioning me was due to my Muslim name and other people were allowed to aboard

I was just wondering if I was born near Peshawar will that make me a suspect? thankfully i wasn't so he allowed me to travel after few minutes of long Interview

 

[Vibs]

Well just wondering if any other Pakistani experienced such issue in recent days/months?

Well I was travelling from London Standard to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol couple of days ago and one of the immigration officer stopped me may be because I was travelling alone on the plane. He started questioning me about my work, nature of job, residence in UK and other relevant questions.

Later after seeing I travelled to Pakistan in 2008 or my Birth place, he started questioning where you were born, is that place near Peshawar, do you know any extremism anywhere in the world, what are your religious beliefs (sunni or shia), which Mosque do you go to and how practising Muslim are you? Many Muslim distribute leaflets on the streets so ever read those leaflets or ever saw any extremist in your life... So many other relevant questions that only had to do with religion.

Later he wrote my entire itinerary of travel and dates and places where I am expected to travel, contacts numbers of my friends and people I am hoping to meet there etc

I found it bit irritating because the only reason he was questioning me was due to my Muslim name and other people were allowed to aboard

I was just wondering if I was born near Peshawar will that make me a suspect? thankfully i wasn't so he allowed me to travel after few minutes of long Interview

I don't know about other Pakistanis but I had a Sikh colleague go through this entire process at Frankfurt. We almost missed our connecting flight that day. WHile he was being interrogated, some white kids kept pointing at him and shouting Aladdin.

 

[Imran Khan]

lolz freedom of west enjoy yaar mera name to poocha tha yaar

 

[Dalai Lama]

 

[untitled]

And they want us to assimilate.... how can we when they treat us, see us differently and almost always Randomly check us

 

[Rafael]

Once while boarding a flight from Dubai to Manchester, an immigration officer (Indian origin) stopped me and after looking at my passport color. Asked me some very ridiculous questions like what is the purpose of your visit, when were you there last time, where would you stay. The questions were even more irritating because he could see my student visa very clearly.

I got so irritated and shouted "I know why are you questioning me; You being an Indian couldn't let go this opportunity"

And guess what, He was shocked and embarassed

 

[untitled]

I don't know about other Pakistanis but I had a Sikh colleague go through this entire process at Frankfurt. We almost missed our connecting flight that day. WHile he was being interrogated, some white kids kept pointing at him and shouting Aladdin.

How many of these security experts can differentiate a Sikh from a Muslim ?

 

[Dalai Lama]

Also tell them it's a "bong" not a bomb.

 

[Vibs]

Once while boarding a flight from Dubai to Manchester, an immigration officer (Indian origin) stopped me and after looking at my passport color. Asked me some very ridiculous questions like what is the purpose of your visit, when were you there last time, where would you stay. The questions were even more irritating because he could see my student visa very clearly.

I got so irritated and shouted "I know why are you questioning me; You being an Indian couldn't let go this opportunity"

And guess what, He was shocked and embarassed

Wow..that's like asking to get yourself detained dude, even if only for a charge of racism!!! If he let you go, you should consider yourself lucky!

 

[Vibs]

How many of these security experts can differentiate a Sikh from a Muslim ?

I dont think he knew what a Sikh was. Besides they can't tell the difference between a Parmeet and an Imran anyways. They all sound Greek and Latin to them.It didn't matter. A 6'2 muscular guy with full facial hair and a turban is "muslim" enough for them.

 

[Rafael]

Wow..that's like asking to get yourself detained dude, even if only for a charge of racism!!! If he let you go, you should consider yourself lucky!

Actually it was the other way around. He was clearly discriminating.

 

[Hyde]

Once while boarding a flight from Dubai to Manchester, an immigration officer (Indian origin) stopped me and after looking at my passport color. Asked me some very ridiculous questions like what is the purpose of your visit, when were you there last time, where would you stay. The questions were even more irritating because he could see my student visa very clearly.

I got so irritated and shouted "I know why are you questioning me; You being an Indian couldn't let go this opportunity"

And guess what, He was shocked and embarassed

well these are general questions and all immigration officers are allowed to ask such questions. Nothing about him being an Indian in this scenario

It happens to those who visit UK for the first time - but for the next trips they don't stop you unless for a reason

 

[VCheng]

For all these instances, and generally for immigration checks, please remember that the officials are just trying to do their jobs. Being adversarial never helps. Put yourselves in their position and see how difficult it really is to differentiate the nutcases from the regular folks. With that in mind, being courteous, short and to the point with "yes", "no" and "correct" being most of the limited answers (or simple, short sentences) will make everything quite smooth.

Please ignore these comments if you do not agree with them.

 

[Vibs]

For all these instances, and generally for immigration checks, please remember that the officials are just trying to do their jobs. Being adversarial never helps. Put yourselves in their position and see how difficult it really is to differentiate the nutcases from the regular folks. With that in mind, being courteous, short and to the point with "yes", "no" and "correct" being most of the limited answers (or simple, short sentences) will make everything quite smooth.

Please ignore these comments if you do not agree with them.

Makes sense. But it would help if they have some general knowledge as well! Try explaining to a German what a Sikh means.

 

[Rafael]

well these are general questions and all immigration officers are allowed to ask such questions. Nothing about him being an Indian in this scenario

It happens to those who visit UK for the first time - but for the next trips they don't stop you unless for a reason

Wasn't my first trip either. I came from UK to see my family in Dubai and was going back.

I lived in UK for 3 years and this incident took place while I was residing there.

I found his questioning ridiculous coz he could see my student visa, arrival and departure stamps and every thing etc. And on top of that he took me on the corner and made me wait 20 mins. Also he invited his peers to interrogate me as if i was a illegal immigrant lol