Lesson 3: Going Through Immigration

Key Words: departure, booth, counter, scan, machine-readable

A. Look at the pictures and discuss in pairs.

1. Why does a person need a passport?
2. What are those booths for?
3. Why are people standing in a line in front of them?
4. What are the persons doing inside the booth?

B. Read the text and answer the questions.

Zara's parents, Mrs. Jhuma Islam, Mr. Mazharul Islam, Zara, and Mita, fill in their departure cards and move towards the immigration counter. Mita stands in front of one of the booths. She hands in her passport and the departure card to the officer.

The immigration officer goes through Mita’s passport, visa, and the departure card. "Are you traveling alone?" asks the officer. "No. I'm going with my aunt, uncle, and cousin," says Mita.

"They are right there on that counter."

"Is this your first visit to Thailand?"

"Yes."

"How long are you going to stay there?" "Seven to ten days."

“Where are you going to stay?"

"In a hotel."

The officer is talking as well as going through Mita’s papers. He finds the papers OK. He smiles and stamps her passport. The officer keeps the departure card, and returns the passport to Mita.

“Have a safe journey.”

Mita waits for her aunt, uncle, and Zara on the other side of immigration. Once all of them are done, they walk towards the passengers’ departure lounge.

C. Make a list showing what the immigration officer asks and tells Mita, and what Mita says in response. One is done for you.

| Immigration Officer | Mita | |---|---| | 1. Are you traveling alone? | 1. No. I’m traveling with my aunt, uncle, and cousin. | | 2. | 2. | | 3. | 3. | | 4. | 4. | | 5. | 5. |

D. Now, work in pairs and act out the role of Mita and the immigration officer.

E. What are the three things needed at immigration?