Visiting England

[Dawn654 0]

hi!

I have a question that I am hoping someone can help with. I have previously visited my then Boyfriend/fiance in England a few times last year. I got grilled quite a bit - but luckily always got through. The interview questions definitely have me nervous as I have a visit planned for next weekend. Since we are married now - and he has a CR-1 visa in process - do you think that I will get into UK ok?? ANything I should take or tell them to make it a smooth customs chat!!!? Any advice would help!

[englandusa18 0]

My husband also lives in England and we are filing our CR-1 visa. I have been to England twice since our case is filing. The first time I went I brought my NOA1 notice, a letter from my manager at work, print outs of my bank accounts, my lease in NY. I was really nervous to go through immigration. When immigration asked me who i was visiting i said my husband. They asked me a couple of questions such as why don't you live together. I said that we are filing for our green card they let me through right away. The second time I went i forgot my whole folder of paperwork! I was really nervous but when i got to immigration I said I am here to visit my husband they didn't question me at all and let me through. I would maybe bring a couple of things but don't be worried! Just state that you are here to see your husband your visa is filing and they will be fine!

[Christi and Ian 24]

I was just in England in December. I overloaded my carry-on with proof that my supervisor expected me back by a certain date, proof that we were trying to get him LPR in the U.S. and a million other things...

...and I wasn't asked for a single one of them.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I can't find my dictionary, so I'm unable to look up the definition of PARANOIA, but taking a bunch of paperwork overseas is more than just silly. Next time tell 'em you want to see London and the British Countryside and forget the B.S. with visiting your husband.

[Christi and Ian 24]

I can't find my dictionary, so I'm unable to look up the definition of PARANOIA, but taking a bunch of paperwork overseas is more than just silly. Next time tell 'em you want to see London and the British Countryside and forget the B.S. with visiting your husband.

...or...you could try the TRUTH...

[Brit Abroad 166]

Much depends on the airport you fly into and what time of day. Overloaded Customs/Immigration officials do spot checks, not indepth ones unless the person looks/acts suspicious.

If you're flying into a regional airport, then you're more likely to be grilled as the Officer has more time to spend asking questions of fewer passengers.

Generally, take evidence of ties to the US and whichever NOA form you have and you should be fine.

[christeen 966]

The only thing I would be worried about is the lousy exchange rate!!!...lol.. But seriously, just bring proof that you are leaving and ties back home so they do not think you are staying....

[merijan 0]

hi!

I have a question that I am hoping someone can help with. I have previously visited my then Boyfriend/fiance in England a few times last year. I got grilled quite a bit - but luckily always got through. The interview questions definitely have me nervous as I have a visit planned for next weekend. Since we are married now - and he has a CR-1 visa in process - do you think that I will get into UK ok?? ANything I should take or tell them to make it a smooth customs chat!!!? Any advice would help!

Im not sure what the problem is. When I went before my husband came here, he was in London, and I just said I am visiting freinds. Thats it.easy.

[Christi and Ian 24]

Im not sure what the problem is. When I went before my husband came here, he was in London, and I just said I am visiting freinds. Thats it.easy.

And I said I was there to visit my husband...and they didn't ask for a shred of evidence that I would be leaving.

Play it safe, tell the truth, have evidence with you should you need it...if you don't, it COULD all come back to bite you in the #######...

[Damian&Kelly 16]

I've had trouble almost every single time visiting England!! I've told the truth every time, I've left when I told them I'd leave, I never did anything at all to make them think I'd break the law in any way. And They still give me a hard time! The last time was the easiest because my husband traveled with me and we were just visiting his parents now that he lives here in the US.

You shouldn't have a problem if you take enough ties to the US. Just tell the truth and bring ties.

When I went to the UK to visit after applying for the K-1, I showed my NOA1, and they had no clue what it was. I actually said, "we're applying for a US visa so my English husband can live in American so I will not be staying in the UK as we are trying to move together in the US" She looked at me and said "oh you must have had trouble a lot with immigration with the amount of paperwork you brought this time."

[closed-20101014 3]

If you are in doubt and you don't want to waste your plane ticket, I had an idea.

Go to Southern Ireland (Dublin airport) but not as a stopover, actually buy a ticket there to visit the country. Instead of flying in to the UK, cross the border to Northern Ireland, and do your visa explaining there. If they don't refuse you, you can buy a local plane or ferry ticket to the mainland once issued with your visitor's visa. If they do refuse you yu're like a half hour plane ticket from your spouse who can visit you in Ireland. Obviously, do this when your spouse can get time off work.

This is what we are probably going to do, because we used up our "6 months per 12 months" visitor visa allocation and refusal is extremely likely.

I don't know how viable it is. The idea came to me when I was stressing and I thought "if only the UK was bordering another country so we don't waste a plane ticket.... wait a minute."

Alternatively you can do what I did when I was racking up visits to Japan. The UK checks when you enter the country, and records it. Apparently they don't record when you leave unless you overstay! I know this because the Lib Dems were calling for legislation for this to get the true immifgration figures to the country - re. we don't know how many legally leave so we don't know how manhy illegal immigrants are here! If you've used up a 6 month stay, you can "lose" your passport and get a new one to come back in on. Only divulge then how long you were there last if they ask. I did this to Japan - went in on 3 month tourist, got it extended to 6, left country, "lost" passport, came back in, married my ex, applied for COS (not illegal in Japan.) This was before they took fingerprints though but the UK STILL doesn't record when people leave!

we won't do the above because we are applying for a UK visa (probably) and don't want to compromise it. But if it's just a visit it's probably worth trying to avoid interrogation, obviously only if you stay for really really long periods.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

If you are in doubt and you don't want to waste your plane ticket, I had an idea.

Go to Southern Ireland (Dublin airport) but not as a stopover, actually buy a ticket there to visit the country. Instead of flying in to the UK, cross the border to Northern Ireland, and do your visa explaining there. If they don't refuse you, you can buy a local plane or ferry ticket to the mainland once issued with your visitor's visa. If they do refuse you yu're like a half hour plane ticket from your spouse who can visit you in Ireland. Obviously, do this when your spouse can get time off work.

This is what we are probably going to do, because we used up our "6 months per 12 months" visitor visa allocation and refusal is extremely likely.

I don't know how viable it is. The idea came to me when I was stressing and I thought "if only the UK was bordering another country so we don't waste a plane ticket.... wait a minute."

Alternatively you can do what I did when I was racking up visits to Japan. The UK checks when you enter the country, and records it. Apparently they don't record when you leave unless you overstay! I know this because the Lib Dems were calling for legislation for this to get the true immifgration figures to the country - re. we don't know how many legally leave so we don't know how manhy illegal immigrants are here! If you've used up a 6 month stay, you can "lose" your passport and get a new one to come back in on. Only divulge then how long you were there last if they ask. I did this to Japan - went in on 3 month tourist, got it extended to 6, left country, "lost" passport, came back in, married my ex, applied for COS (not illegal in Japan.) This was before they took fingerprints though but the UK STILL doesn't record when people leave!

we won't do the above because we are applying for a UK visa (probably) and don't want to compromise it. But if it's just a visit it's probably worth trying to avoid interrogation, obviously only if you stay for really really long periods.

You still have to deal with Irish border control, you know. It's not like a person can just land in a country and not have to explain why they are there. No one has to admit you and it they do they don't have to give you 90 days or 6 months.

[closed-20101014 3]

You still have to deal with Irish border control, you know. It's not like a person can just land in a country and not have to explain why they are there. No one has to admit you and it they do they don't have to give you 90 days or 6 months.

It stops you wasting the cost of your plane ticket though. Every time my husband has come to the UK he comes via some other country as it's cheaper (something to do with airport taxes.) So you may as well land in a country with a border to the UK (Ireland being the only one) then try for border control, if you don't get through then you are accessible to your spouse who can fly to Ireland extremely cheaply (Ryan Air being an available option.)

If yu do it via France border control is going to after a longer drive in general. Paris is quite a way from Calais then you have to go through the tunnel before being possibly refused. If you read my post you'll see I acknowledged a "possible refusal" anyway.

This basically seems the safest way of saving what is often an expensive plane ticket and ensuring you still get your visit and are not horribly let down.

Or do you mean you might have a problem landing in Ireland? I don;t see why, you aren't sporting past 6 nmonth long tourist visas to Ireland. Alternatively you can just say "Well my husband lives in the UK, we used up our visits there so we are having a 2 week holiday here." Why would they think you would stay? You'll have your ties to the US on you anyway.

Edited February 25, 2010 by Shirorisu

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Or do you mean you might have a problem landing in Ireland? I don;t see why, you aren't sporting past 6 nmonth long tourist visas to Ireland. Alternatively you can just say "Well my husband lives in the UK, we used up our visits there so we are having a 2 week holiday here." Why would they think you would stay? You'll have your ties to the US on you anyway.

I'm saying border guards in Dublin are well aware of the porous land border between the Republic and the North and don't willy-nilly stamp the passports of ANYBODY coming into their country because of that very reason. It's not hard to find accounts in this community and others of entrants to Ireland having their passports stamped for only a day or two beyond their return flight date rather than the full 90 days which Americans somehow think they are entitled to.

Breathe the words "husband", "wife", "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" or even "family member" and expect a grilling. I'm not kidding. Ireland isn't a hopping off point to Europe. They're already in enough trouble with the EU.

[closed-20101014 3]

It's not hard to find accounts in this community and others of entrants to Ireland having their passports stamped for only a day or two beyond their return flight date rather than the full 90 days which Americans somehow think they are entitled to.

That would be fine. We're not hoping for 90 days. Is it a problem and more likely to result in a refusal than the UK, where we've already used the 6 month allocation?

I am a haslf hour plane ride from Dublin so even barring crossing the border it's still better than France.