David and Ecologgers: David, I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. I was the victim of a similar situation at the beginning of the month. I was planning to spend two months in Scotland, visiting friends and possibly volunteering on some wildlife studies, although I had not confirmed anything upon my arrival. I had just spent two months volunteering on a study in Iceland, and when I arrived in Glasgow I was detained and questioned for several hours regarding my intentions. Eventually, I mentioned the possibility of assisting with some field work, but made it very clear I would not be getting paid, and that it was only a possibility. I thought this would make my situation better, as it would make me out to be doing something more than being an aimless backpacker.
Instead, I was informed that under new UK legislation 'volunteer work' requires sponsorship and a volunteer visa beforehand. It is a bit of a blanket clause, since there are quite a few more ways to not get paid for 'working' than getting paid for it. I insisted that I had friends who had done similiar things in the UK, and the customs official told me "they probably lied about what they were doing here, and the law just took effect in July." A quick check of the UK immigration website shows this law took effect in November of 2008. Perhaps they started enforcing it in July on some sort of whim. In your situation, it sounds like since you were doing 'voluntary work' for the University of Glasgow, the immigration officials deported you under this same principle. After all this, I was told I was being deported, via Iceland since I had arrived on IcelandAir. The next flight was not until that Friday (this was a Wednesday). Initially it appeared that I would be detained until my flight on Friday, but after presenting my passport as a type of 'bail,' being fingerprinted, and photographed, I was released into Glasgow on the condition that I provide an address where I would be staying and check in. During this time, I received the assistance of an immigration attorney and presented an appeal to the Chief of Immigration. The appeal was denied, and I was shipped back to the US under the charge of 'implied intent to commit to voluntary charity.' So tell me, any thoughts on what should be done about David's case, mine, and the other similar situations I've heard of? And how to prevent this from happening since so many scientists are traveling for presentations and conferences, which could be construed as voluntary? David, what sort of action is the University of Glasgow taking? Were you charged for the deportation flight? And do you have any idea what to do about that pesky X stamp on your passport? -Bill On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 9:25 PM, David R. Anderson < [email protected]> wrote: > I flew to London-Heathrow a week ago on my way to Glasgow, Scotland where > I was to give a 2-dayworkshop, a day of consultation and a seminar. The > University of Glasgow was to pay for my expenses and services and 41 grad > students, post docs, and faculty were registered for the workshop. I was > detained at Heathrow by the UK Border Agency for nearly 5 hours. During > this time I was searched, questioned, fingerprinted, photograhped and > moved from one secure room to the next -- like a criminal. My carry-on > suitcase and leather bag with my workshop materials were emptied and > searched, along with my wallet. I asked on 7 different occasions to be > able to call the US Embassy -- these requests were denied! At the end of > this long process the agent announced that I was to be deported the next > day! They claimed that I did not have a special visa or a "certificate > of sponsorship." Indeed, I had neither; I had never heard of such > requirements for a US citizen. I have spent 42 years working in > academic/science and have travelled to many foreign countries. I have > never experienced such detention and deportation. > > UK universities, travel agents, immigration attorneys, my US Senator's > office and others are now trying to unravel exactly what papers are > actually required. This search has proven to be difficult for a number of > reasons. This matter is important as all the UK universities have > academic visitors arriving daily for conferences, symposia, workshops, and > seminars, etc., etc. with countless agreements concerning reimbursments > and honoraria. It seems that special documents are now required or one > faces deportation and all the related expenses. I will post agian if I > learn more; in the meantime, professionals going to the UK should make > every effort to obtain the "required" documents. >
