UK immigration form expects time-travelers from non-existent countries

The 40 million visitors who arrived in the UK during 2019 came from all manner of places – but a new online immigration form seems to suggest that some might also be time-traveling from countries that don't exist any more.

Since 8 June, the UK has insisted that all people, including its own citizens, entering the country from anywhere except the Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man must self-isolate for 14 days. As part of this, they must fill out an online form which asks them where they have come from.

However, it has been noted that some of the destinations on the drop-down menu would require them to have been on a very long flight indeed. 

Yugoslavia hasn't existed under any variant of that name since 2003, Czechoslovakia dissolved into two countries in 1993, the USSR's remaining countries became the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1991 and the German Democratic Republic unified with its western neighbor in 1990. 

The curious glitch is not expected to cause any problems at immigration. CGTN contacted the Home Office but no response was forthcoming at the time of publication.

Written for CGTN Europe, 15 Jun 2020, but not published