In recent years, many such cases have come to light where a person pretended to visit another country to travel, while in reality, he was there to settle and work. To prevent this, many countries now carry out a strict customs process. Because of this, some tourists who really went to travel were sent back.

To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, here are a few tips you must follow for smooth airport immigration.

How can you ensure a smooth airport immigration process?

  1. Carry necessary documents:

Before going through the immigration area, make sure to pack all your necessary documents. These include your passport, boarding pass, identity card, and anything else you may need. Keep these documents in a safe and easy-to-reach compartment. 

    2.Get those nerves under control:

When you go to the immigration area, make sure to keep your nerves under control. Remember, you are not a goon or criminal smuggling drugs. You are a traveller visiting a new place and looking to have a fun time. Remember, when you are nervous or sweaty, the customs people might target you. Thus, staying calm is important.

    3. Answer the necessary questions:

The customs people might ask you some questions before giving you clearance. When they do, make sure to answer them honestly. Do not indulge in idle chit-chat or small talk. If you do not understand a question, ask them to repeat themselves. If there is a language barrier, some gestures may help.

    4. Get your return ticket:

One document the immigration authorities might request you to present is an aeroplane return ticket. This is seen as strong evidence that you will be returning to your home country and won’t stay illegally in the destination country. You can present these tickets in a digital form like PDF, email, or on the app.

     5. Book your hotel in advance:

Besides the return ticket, you are also recommended to show your hotel reservation tickets to the customs people. Book your stay based on your duration. If you will be staying in the country for 10 days, make the bookings for all the days, even if they are in different hotels. Do not show the bookings for less than the trip duration.

Also, it is advised to make the payment when making the bookings. If you choose to make the payment at the hotel, the customs officers may doubt you since you can always cancel the booking.

    6. Carry your old passport:

If you have recently renewed your passport, do not forget to carry the old one when visiting customs. This comes in handy since the stamps and visas on the passport are relevant proof that you travel a lot.

    7. Know your itinerary:

People at the immigration counter might ask you about the itinerary or what you plan to do when you arrive at the destination country. Not knowing the details can raise suspicions. 

When you are going to the customs office for completing the immigration formalities, make sure to be prepared or they might cancel the permissions.