I do not know if it was due to a bit of luck and preparation but for my few travels outside this country I have never experienced (and hopefully will never have to) any crazy and awful scenario such as being offloaded from an international flight.
On one hand, this same scenario continues to haunt many of our fellow citizens who intend to travel beyond our territory In fact, just a few weeks back, when a woman's was offloading experience made the rounds in social media. I don't wanna go into the details of that because I am sure many people have seen that post which went viral when a woman was not allowed to take her Cebu Pacific flight bound for Singapore due to her inability to produce certain documents asked by the Immigration officers.
My Personal Experience
Based on my past travels, I really did not have much of a problem when it comes to the Immigration because I am very straightforward during the interview and I make it a point to be fully prepared for every question BI officers often asked of tourist travellers. If you are going to another country on a tourist visa and would want to have a hassle-free experience at the Immigration, do take note of the following;
1. You must have your roundtrip ticket, copies of accommodations receipts or hotel reservations, address of hotel, name of contact person or whomever you will be staying with. And yes, I even memorized the address of the hotels where I was staying.
2. You must be mindful of your flight dates, where you are going and more importantly you know the details of your trip itinerary. Must include details about cities you are visiting and even the tourist spots you intend to visit. Have a background of the places you intend to go and reason why you want to go.
3. I was never asked to present a financial document but I have ready with me copies of my bank statements, latest credit card statements, letter from my employer, calling cards, Employment ID, birth certificate, even my enrollment/asessement form from my law school. The Immigration officer may ask for this to ensure you have the financial capability to spend for your travel expense and that you really intend to go back to the country after your trip.
4. I also addressed and answered their questions direct to the point without fussing up with unnecessary details. Being a law student is really a great thing because we are trained to be responsive and answer direct to the point. Of course, more important is that you must be truthful and consistent with your answers regarding your trip, your true purpose and other personal details.
5. Finally, I believe that being confident is also key. The Immigration people can sense if you are not telling the truth just by profiling and indeed having truckloads of confidence can be a factor for you acing that interview. As in every situation, carrying yourself with confidence can greatly influence how people see you and deal with, yes lucky you, that includes Immigration officers. So be confident in every manner from the way you carry yourself, look the part of a tourist, and answer their questions with ease.
I hope these tips help and lessen the worries of those who are planning to travel outside the country. If you have anymore questions regarding my own experience with our Immigration officers, feel free to send your queries in the comment section below.
