Visiting England

[MrsOO 7]

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.

There's no border control really (at least times I've crossed), its VERY porous (makes no sense to me) driving from Dublin to parts of Ireland like Co Donegal, at some point you even drive through Northern Ireland. The only way you know are the yellow double markings on the ground (Ireland), compared to white markings on the road (UK Northern Ireland)

We went from Donegal (Ireland) thru derry (UK) into Northern Ireland a couple of times, all you notice are the signs, especially GARDA for Ireland as opposed to police in UK. I still took my passport just in case the police happened to stop us and ask me for ID.

Matter of fact many folks who live in Donegal work in derry and vice versa.

Never get questioned at Dublin, takes like 1min for me to get through on a US passport. I havent even been asked what I was doing there, and I got 90 days each time in a 2month span! The 2nd time, they didnt even ask me why I only stayed a few days on my prior visit.

Edited February 25, 2010 by MrsOO

[John and Camie 39]

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.

I nearly didn't make it past Customs. They want to know the truth, so you tell them. I was the first in line and the last to leave, the questioning was that intense. This was during K-1, and I was frustrated and a bit concerned that they didn't even KNOW what K-1 was when I tried to explain that John was moving out of England, I wasn't trying to move IN.

This is a good thread, and I hope that some of the tips offered here help USC fiances/spouses get into England a lot easier.

[Claire and Troy 2]

Honestly, the cloak and dagger stuff is just plain silly. Just state the truth. I visited my fiance several times during our visa process and never got much more than a few additional questions. "I'm here to visit my fiancee and friends." The worst grilling I ever got was being asked the names of the people I was there to see. It's much easier when you're being honest and not having to think something up on the fly.

[Dawn654 0]

Thank you so much to everyone!!! I already have a ticket into Heathrow - IMO the most painful airport in the world...!! so I will bring our NOA and a letter from my employer and hopefully be ok.

I think you're right about being honest. If they look through my passport they will see visits to the UK and I don't think I could get away with English countryside... :innocent:

Thanks again. I'll let you guys know how it goes! Fingers crossed.

PS _ I do have paranoia! Would hate to get there, get denied, and have the pain of not seeing him PLUS the bad stamp on my passport during a visa process!!!

[closed-20101014 3]

There's no border control really (at least times I've crossed), its VERY porous (makes no sense to me) driving from Dublin to parts of Ireland like Co Donegal, at some point you even drive through Northern Ireland. The only way you know are the yellow double markings on the ground (Ireland), compared to white markings on the road (UK Northern Ireland)

We went from Donegal (Ireland) thru derry (UK) into Northern Ireland a couple of times, all you notice are the signs, especially GARDA for Ireland as opposed to police in UK. I still took my passport just in case the police happened to stop us and ask me for ID.

Matter of fact many folks who live in Donegal work in derry and vice versa.

Never get questioned at Dublin, takes like 1min for me to get through on a US passport. I havent even been asked what I was doing there, and I got 90 days each time in a 2month span! The 2nd time, they didnt even ask me why I only stayed a few days on my prior visit.

Hi,

Can you tell me if it's possible to do what I suggested and if you think it might arouse some suspicion if my husband already has 6 months spent in the UK? This basically means he can not visit the Uk at all without sorting out a visa. We are still deciding what to do bt if we do the US visa we need to see each other at some point if it takes a year. If we can try for a visit to the UK proper by attempting to cross the border ast a point where an official visitor's visa might be issued (more likely refused but it's worth trying) can you tell me where this is possible - to be honest I'd be afraid of just going through and being in the UK without passing a checkpoint. There are actual roads in with no checkpoint? We wouldn't want to end up on those, I don't want any trouble.

[Mintchip 0]

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.

Don't think it's so easy getting through Ireland. I was flying back and forth to see my fiance on the Isle of Man, when an IO questioned the amount of time spent in the UK (even though I was in Dublin!) She was nasty, told me I'd over stayed and was about to send me back to NY! Took my photo in front of a height line and everything! It was horrible. At the time, I was not aware that I could only stay for no more than 6 months in a 12 month period and had been flying back to the US every 3-4 months for several weeks at a time. Anyway, she finally decided to let me carry on to the Isle of Man and said she would "let the Isle of Man immigration people deal with (me)" Fortunately, the IOM IO was very gracious and allowed me to stay until my return flight (which I had in hand at the start).

Now, the last time I went to see my (now) husband who is currently still in Scotland while we await his Visa, I flew into Dublin to transfer onto Edinburgh. I handed him my passport AND my transfer boarding pass explaining that I was merely there to connect with another flight. He didn't ask any questions and sent me on my way. In Edinburgh, because I was on a domestic flight, we didn't even go through immigration.

Since permanently moving back to the States, I now just say I'm visiting family....which is true.

[jkminney 30]

I have been to England several times even before I was enaged and I NEVER had any problems until I flew to Birmingham and I told them I was going to see my fiances family. They did ask several questions about how long I was staying and I told them that we had filed the paperwork for him to come to the states. They seemed satisfied with that. I am leaving again tomorrow this time to be able to be with John during the interview. I'll have plenty of paperwork only because of that. Hope I don't get the same gal!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

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.

I had a very weird experience. When I received my UK work visa I chose a really cheap flight that flew to Dublin then to Bristol, I missed my connection in NY and then flew to Shannon and then Dublin. I went through immigration in Dublin, was stamped in for 90 days (I just explained I was on route to the UK). Then I flew from Dublin to Bristol and there was no immigration!! So later I had to explain to the Home Office why I had an unstamped visa in order to get my N.I. number etc.

Btw I flew to the UK while we were waiting on her visa and brought paperwork. I was asked the purpose of my visit. I said to visit friends and family. He asked who I was staying with and I said my SO's and that we are waiting on her visa. We chatted a bit about her visa, all very casual really and that was all.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

There's no border control really (at least times I've crossed), its VERY porous (makes no sense to me) driving from Dublin to parts of Ireland like Co Donegal, at some point you even drive through Northern Ireland. The only way you know are the yellow double markings on the ground (Ireland), compared to white markings on the road (UK Northern Ireland)

We went from Donegal (Ireland) thru derry (UK) into Northern Ireland a couple of times, all you notice are the signs, especially GARDA for Ireland as opposed to police in UK. I still took my passport just in case the police happened to stop us and ask me for ID.

Matter of fact many folks who live in Donegal work in derry and vice versa.

Never get questioned at Dublin, takes like 1min for me to get through on a US passport. I havent even been asked what I was doing there, and I got 90 days each time in a 2month span! The 2nd time, they didnt even ask me why I only stayed a few days on my prior visit.

I was speaking about border control at Dublin International, not border control between the North and the South.

Which as you have duly noted - there is none of.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

I had a very weird experience. When I received my UK work visa I chose a really cheap flight that flew to Dublin then to Bristol, I missed my connection in NY and then flew to Shannon and then Dublin. I went through immigration in Dublin, was stamped in for 90 days (I just explained I was on route to the UK). Then I flew from Dublin to Bristol and there was no immigration!! So later I had to explain to the Home Office why I had an unstamped visa in order to get my N.I. number etc.

Btw I flew to the UK while we were waiting on her visa and brought paperwork. I was asked the purpose of my visit. I said to visit friends and family. He asked who I was staying with and I said my SO's and that we are waiting on her visa. We chatted a bit about her visa, all very casual really and that was all.

That must not be uncommon with UK airports. I know Heathrow has a "transfer" area whereby you bypass UK immigration completely if your final destination is Ireland (the Republic).

It can indeed cause a problem for those coming into the UK on a UK visa (if they first land on Irish soil) because a lot of flights out of Dublin land the passengers into terminals that don't clear UK immigration. It can cause major problems for those coming on a settlement visa because they cannot prove entry.

I'm surprised you weren't cautioned about that.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Hi,

Can you tell me if it's possible to do what I suggested and if you think it might arouse some suspicion if my husband already has 6 months spent in the UK? This basically means he can not visit the Uk at all without sorting out a visa. We are still deciding what to do bt if we do the US visa we need to see each other at some point if it takes a year. If we can try for a visit to the UK proper by attempting to cross the border ast a point where an official visitor's visa might be issued (more likely refused but it's worth trying) can you tell me where this is possible - to be honest I'd be afraid of just going through and being in the UK without passing a checkpoint. There are actual roads in with no checkpoint? We wouldn't want to end up on those, I don't want any trouble.

That is kind of a silly question.

If you are driving along a road and it crosses the border and there is no checkpoint there, how can you think you are going to get in some sort of trouble? It's an open road.

And if there is a checkpoint into the North (run by UK officials) what makes you think there would be some sort of different "visit visa" than there would be at any other UK point?

If you are trying to figure out how to get off the island and over onto the mainland and somehow bypass the authorities, that won't happen. He'll need photo ID even to take the ferry.

As for him landing in Dublin with a US passport showing he just spent six months in the UK, I'd suspect he'll at least be questioned about that.

[closed-20101014 3]

I'm dead.

I screwed up, again a\nd I guess I can't apply for UK visa now either.

I just realised with a horrible creeping sense of terror that my husband has overstayed his UK visas because you are only supposed to stay 180 days in a 12 month period and he stayed 10 dfays in dec 08, 14 in may 2009 and 173 from august 2009-Jan 2010.

We can't applyu for either visa without a ban!

Please can anyone help us

Husband is now saying he'll have to "lose" nhis passport but it'll look suspiciouys as hell won't it and how on earth will we prtove visits I'm in a state.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Please stop taking bits and pieces of immigration law from either side of the pond and running away with them.

I believe there is a caveat in UK immigration law for those who have overstayed less than 28 days. Google it and see what you come up with. If that doesn't work, check here:

http://www.iasuk.org/home.aspx

Please get yourself some professional help for your immigration issues.

[closed-20101014 3]

Please stop taking bits and pieces of immigration law from either side of the pond and running away with them.

I believe there is a caveat in UK immigration law for those who have overstayed less than 28 days. Google it and see what you come up with. If that doesn't work, check here:

http://www.iasuk.org/home.aspx

Please get yourself some professional help for your immigration issues.

I offerd to pay for IAS' services already. Re. being self employed.

They took over a month to get back to me then made a phone call saying I shouldn't pay for their services as I didn't need them because I'd be fine as I earn enough.

I'm really not fine because I only have a year's worth of proof of income as I've not lived in the UK for 4 years til end of 2008. Where they say "show 6 months of payslips," for the self employed read "2 years of notarised business accounts and tax returns."

UK immigration don;t take you seriously if you'fre self employed, You're doubly stuffed if like me you sell via eBay. It doesn't matter that it brings in a ton of money and puts you well over poverty line. If you are self employed they don't think you'll stay that way.

IAS say I'm fine so I can't say I trust them. They said I was "fine" back in July when I'd only been self employed for 5 months.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

That must not be uncommon with UK airports. I know Heathrow has a "transfer" area whereby you bypass UK immigration completely if your final destination is Ireland (the Republic).

It can indeed cause a problem for those coming into the UK on a UK visa (if they first land on Irish soil) because a lot of flights out of Dublin land the passengers into terminals that don't clear UK immigration. It can cause major problems for those coming on a settlement visa because they cannot prove entry.

I'm surprised you weren't cautioned about that.

I think it was a hole in their security. I remember an article a few months later drawing attention to the issue. Bristol does have immigration control, I remember going through it from Berlin. I also tried the (then) new service between Newark and Bristol one Christmas and immigration was very tight.