Scene at immigration counter.



him: So where do you come from now, sir? (flips through my passport, filled with stamps in Arab writing)

me: Right now, from London Heathrow, but that was just a transit. I flew in from Cairo, Egypt.

him: How long did you stay in Cairo?

me: One day.

him: Where were you before that?

me: In Jordan

him: And how long did you stay there?

me: Also one day.

him: Where did you come before that?

me: Iraq

him: ?!?!

me: Baghdad, Iraq. I work for the UN, you see.

him: Do you have any tickets to prove that?

me: No, I flew on a UN plane.

him: I do not see Iraq immigration stamps in your passport.

me: No, there is no Iraq immigration anymore since the war. The US military checks inbound passengers, but they do not stamp passports.

him: OK, how long where you there for?

me: A week.

him: So where were you longer than a week? Where do you actually live?

me: Well, my legal residency is in Belgium, but I spend most of my time in the UAE. In Dubai.

him: What do you do there?

me: I head the office of one of the UN agencies there. I have the status of an ambassador.

him: Do you have proof of that?

me: Sure. {I show him my UAE diplomatic card)

him: How long have you been living in Dubai?

me: Two years.

him: And before that?

me: I shuttled between Pakistan and Afghanistan

him: …

him: (after two minutes of typing on his computer) Could you step aside for a moment, sir, and come with me?

me: ?!



Thirty minutes later, in a separate room with clearly a number of other ‘doubtful cases’:

him#2: Mr Keyscher (?) (it is difficult to pronounce my name in English)

me: Yes, sir, good evening.

him#2: Evening, what is the purpose of your visit to the US?

me: I was asked by the UN security office to chair a meeting at the World Bank’s office in Washington.

him#2: Are you on an official mission?

me: Yes I am. On UN official business.

him#2: Do you have proof of that?

me: Sure. (I start up my computer and show him the invitation Email)

him#2: What is the meeting about?

me: It is about the UN relief efforts in Iraq. Mostly about the coordination of technical issues between different humanitarian agencies.

him#2: How long do you intend to stay?

me: I fly back tomorrow.

him#2: Where to?

me: To Dubai

him#2: Do you have any other travel documentation than this passport, your Belgian national passport?

me: Yes, I have two UN passports

him#2: Blue or red ones? (the red one is a full diplomatic passport)

me: I have both. (I hand them over)

him#2: Why do you travel on your Belgian passport, if you have a UN passport?

me: It is easier, as I do not need a visa to enter the US with my Belgian one.

him#2: Have a seat sir, someone will be with you in a minute



Thirty minutes later:

him#3: Mr Keyscher?

me: That is me

him#3: I am sorry sir, but we can not allow you to enter the US.

me: ?!?! Why is that?

him#3: You tried to enter on your Belgian passport, but this one is not valid to enter the US.

me: Why not? I was in New York two weeks ago. I fly to the US three-four times a year. I always use my Belgian passport.

him#3: Sorry, but the rules changed. As of last week, Belgian passports have to be machine readable.

me: ?!?!

him#3: They need a strip on the ID-page which is machine readable. Yours does not have that.

me: But two weeks ago, nobody said anything about that at the New York’s immigration office.

him#3: Sorry, but I do not make the rules. And they changed since last week. We can not let you enter the US.

me: But I am on a diplomatic mission. I have a diplomatic status. You have my diplomatic passports.

him#3: Sorry, but that does not matter. Just last week, we stopped a foreign minister from a Middle Eastern country entering the US also. Not the right paperwork neither.

me: Is it possible to speak to your supervisor please?

him#3: I am the supervisor, sir.

me: Can I still speak to your superior, please?

him#3: I will call him on the phone. One moment please.



After fifteen minutes with his supervisor on the phone:

him#3: I am sorry. But we can not let you enter the US. I will call the British Airways representative, and see if you can get a seat back on the same plane you came in with.

me: You do understand that I flew for three days for this meeting, straight out of Iraq? Is there any way anyone could vouch for me? I can call the UN head office in New York?

him#3: No, sir, I am sorry, that decision is final.

me: Can I call someone to let them know I can not make it to my meeting? After all, twenty people will attend, and I was to chair that meeting.

him#3: Sure, here is a phone. But you can are only allowed one local phone call.

me: Can I use my mobile phone to call? The person I need to talk to is from our HQ in Rome. He has an Italian mobile number.

him#3: Sorry, you are not allowed to use your mobile phone here.



I try to call Gianluca in his hotel downtown Washington, but there is no response.

me: (sigh) So, what will happen now?

him#3: We will need to take your photograph and finger prints, sir.

me: ?!?!



Four mug shots, ten finger prints and thirty minutes later:

me: Can I use the bathroom, please?

him#2 (again): Sure.



An armed guard escorts me to a bathroom. Stays outside of the door. I take out my mobile phone, call Gianluca, and explain what happened. I whisper I will not make it to the meeting. I give him a 60 seconds briefing on what my message was going to be in that meeting. The guard bangs on the toilet door saying “It is time, let’s go”.



Back in the immigration screening office, the British Airways representative is talking to him#2.

she: I picked up his luggage, but we have a pretty full plane

him#2: …

me: What would happen if I can not get on this return flight?

him#2: We will have to detain you until you can get a return flight. You have a ticket for tomorrow, so I guess that would mean detention until tomorrow.

me: ?! Detention?

him#2: Yes.

she: I will do my best.

him#2: Can I have your tickets please?

him#2 puts my three passports and all travel papers in a sealed envelop.



Thirty minutes later, the BA representative comes back.

she: I have a seat for you.

me: Thank you

him#2: We will escort you to the plane now

me: Can I have my passports and tickets, please?

him#2: No. You will get them back at Heathrow. Do know that the next time you want to enter the US, you will not be able to enter on the visa waiver program for Belgian nationals. You will need a visa. Each time you enter the US, you will be taken for questioning. Front desk immigration officers will not be allowed to let you enter. I need you to sign a paper stating you understood that, and agree to it.

me: Do I have a choice?

him: No sir, there is no appeal for this.

me: For how long do I need to get a visa. When will I be able to use the visa waiver program again? (I sign the papers)

him#2: This is valid for ever. Once refused entry into the US, you can not enter with the visa waiver program anymore. This gentlemen will escort you to the plane.



Two armed men take me outside the building, onto the tarmac. It is night already. It rains. A blinded truck is waiting for me. More armed men. I see cigarette butts on the ground, just outside of the door as we step outside.

me: I am sorry, but can I ask you one favour? I flew in from Cairo, non-smoking. Four hours. Had no time in Heathrow for a cigarette. Then flew trans-Atlantic for six hours, spent two hours here, and now will fly again. Can I have at least one cigarette please?

him#4: (looks at him#5) OK.. A quick one then.

me: That is the only good news I had since I landed here. Thank you.



They escort me back onto the plain. There are no passengers yet. Him#4 and him#5 whisper to the captain and the flight attendant. They look at me. I feel like a criminal.



Six hours later, I step out of the plane in Heathrow and get my papers back. My flight to Dubai leaves in two hours. I need to find a place to smoke a cigarette and call Gianluca again.