Re: Birmingham convention was QUALITY!!
I have to write, what just happened to me: no problem with my old (bald) foto on my passport in London (several checks), just let me pass.
As I landed in Bratislava 50 minutes ago I waited till all other travelers have passed the customers officer.
Then I went - a lady with a "communistic" draconic view (even decades after the iron curtain...a little remains)
stared on my passport & asked about the foto.
I said, it`s an old one & that I liked that 12 Monkeys style at that time.
Now very rigorous: She wants me to show all other ID cards I have with me ( but as I liked that foto, it`s on all cards the same)
She did not believe me, that that was me. So, I told her what I did in the UK.
Her face became uncertain - she could not believe it.
Then I "attacked" her with a charming "weapon" ):
I asked her in that special moment (her eyes were still unning up and down, checking my Passport, checking my style, comparing the faces)
"IF SHE LIKES IT,IF SHE FINDS IT BEAUTIFUL...". Uncertainness overall, she still could not believe but realized slowly that she was wrong in
suspecting me in what ever ( and her answer to my question was a shy spoken YES) And guess what: now she smiled ( a slovakian customs officer !!! )
and we talked a while, looked on photos from my notebook with the baldy "style" I weard just a few days before.
This situation is not yet implemented in any training module for customs officers.
Any other similar stories ? Peter - be prepared.
Carsten
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