#15 Immigration Check at the Airport｜Practical English Conversation

When I arrive at an international airport, the first step I must go through is immigration control. At this stage, in addition to checking my passport, I may be asked about the purpose of my trip, length of stay, and accommodation details.

Although immigration interviews are mostly formal and routine, it is important to be prepared with common questions and natural response patterns. Doing so will help me answer smoothly and without hesitation.

In this lesson, I will introduce frequently used English phrases at immigration, along with grammatical points and useful tips for answering confidently.

Dialogue

B

Good afternoon. What’s the purpose of your visit?

A

I’m here for sightseeing.

B

How long will you be staying?

A

I’ll be staying for 10 days.

B

Where will you be staying?

A

At a hotel in downtown San Francisco.

B

Do you have a return ticket?

A

Yes, here it is.

B

Thank you. Enjoy your stay.

1. Asking About Travel Purpose

The key word here is purpose.

Even if the question is phrased differently depending on the airport, the meaning is the same.

Natural answers usually take the form of “for + noun” or “to + verb.”

2. Stating the Length of Stay

This phrase is used to answer the common immigration question: “

How to answer :

Using the future continuous tense makes the expression sound natural when describing scheduled plans.

3. Confirming a Return Ticket

This question is meant to confirm that I do not intend to overstay.

The immigration officer wants to check that I have a plan to leave the country.

Appropriate responses include showing the ticket or stating the date.

Since the question is usually asked in the present tense, I should answer simply in the same tense.

4. Polite Closing Greeting

After the check is complete, immigration officers often say “Enjoy your stay.” This is a polite and concise version of “Have a good time during your stay.”

Appropriate replies are short and polite:

Summary