# My best friend was refused entry into the UK, can he sue somebody for it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539 "2014-08-14T18:57:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Get\_The\_Hell\_Away\_From\_Here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Get\_The\_Hell\_Away\_From\_Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Get_The_Hell_Away_From_Here)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/1 "2014-08-14T18:57:55Z")
My best friend decided to take a trip to the UK but very annoyingly indeed was refused entry and now has a stamp in his passport with a massive X drawn through it. :smack: He is completely confused where he stands on this matter. I am no expert in legal issues, so I was wondering, so that he can make himself feel better for it, can he sue a company of his choice for it such as AT&T, Comcast, Walmart or Amtrak for it? If the answer is no, I would be much grateful if somebody could explain why in detail for me. Thank you in advance. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/2 "2014-08-14T19:00:15Z")
You again? ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/3 "2014-08-14T19:05:06Z")
What? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/4 "2014-08-14T19:09:28Z")
Non-citizens lacking documentation allowing them entry into a country have no right of entry to begin with. You friend’s plan to sue unrelated organizations is only marginally less stupid than your OP. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/5 "2014-08-14T19:10:38Z")
> [@Get\_The\_Hell\_Away\_From\_Here](#): > > My best friend decided to take a trip to the UK but very annoyingly indeed was refused entry and now has a stamp in his passport with a massive X drawn through it. :smack: > > He is completely confused where he stands on this matter. I am no expert in legal issues, so I was wondering, so that he can make himself feel better for it, can he sue a company of his choice for it such as AT&T, Comcast, Walmart or Amtrak for it? > > If the answer is no, I would be much grateful if somebody could explain why in detail for me. > > Thank you in advance. 🙂 No he can’t. The UK is not a company. The UK has the sovereign authority to refuse entry because they don’t like the colour of his shoes. If you have a visa and have been refused entry then you have ten days in which to appeal that decision. If you are here on a visitor’s visa, then you have no right of appeal. You can get advice from [The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner](http://oisc.homeoffice.gov.uk/). But suing the British Government? No. That’s like suing a home owner because they won’t let you in their house. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/6 "2014-08-14T19:12:06Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/7 "2014-08-14T19:13:54Z")
Seconding the “WTF?” ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/8 "2014-08-14T19:15:21Z")
So did your friend tell you the details of why they were denied entry? The devil is in the details. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/9 "2014-08-14T19:19:38Z")
> [@Get\_The\_Hell\_Away\_From\_Here](#): > > can he sue a company of his choice for it such as AT&T, Comcast, Walmart or Amtrak for it? Yes he can. I would expect the suit to get thrown out of court the instant a Judge looks at it, but he can sue if he wants to. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/10 "2014-08-14T21:18:54Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Seconding the “WTF?” Thirding. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/11 "2014-08-14T22:08:59Z")
He can sue the UK in the International Court of Justice in The Hague. ---
**Author:** ![iljitsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@iljitsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iljitsch)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/12 "2014-08-14T22:28:27Z")
If the UK doesn’t let him in, we sure as hell aren’t going to. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/13 "2014-08-14T22:43:45Z")
In a startling parallel to this tale, the OP has been denied entry to the Commonwealth of The Dope. Expect to be sued. Yeah, I’m looking at you. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/14 "2014-08-14T23:30:46Z")
Well, as a UK citizen, I say I think we dodged a bullet. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/15 "2014-08-15T03:35:19Z")
If denying entry to Britain were grounds for a lawsuit, then there would be a helluva lot of Thais suing Britain. That much I know. ---
**Author:** ![Timetrvlr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Timetrvlr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timetrvlr)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/16 "2014-08-15T03:48:48Z")
Canada Border Services routinely refuses entry to visitors for all kinds of good reasons. I imagine UK authorities do too. If visitors have past criminal history in their own country, ever, even a DUI conviction, they are inadmissible. We don’t want any more criminals, druggies, lowlifes, unemployed or welfare bums from other countries. We have enough of that sort already. I suppose other countries feel the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-was-refused-entry-into-the-uk-can-he-sue-somebody-for-it/695539/17 "2014-08-15T06:06:20Z")
Since the OP is banned, I’m going to close this, but if anyone else wants to continue the topic discussion, you may open a new one.