Under 18 American Traveling to UK

[ihopeyoudontmind 1]

I am 17 years old, and I am traveling to Manchester, England from Boston, USA on the 4th of July (I know, what a Benedict Arnold, lol). I will be traveling alone, and I will be staying with a friend at her home in Nottingham, England during my visit. I have a Passport, a Flight, Parental Permission, and Sufficient Funds for my stay - all the things that I need.

However, I'm a bit confused on what exactly I need to show Customs in order to prove that I have Parental Permission. On the UK Border Agency website, it said:

"Unaccompanied child visitors

If you will be travelling to the UK without an adult (someone over the age of 18), we will treat you as an 'unaccompanied child visitor'. Your parent or guardian will need to provide:

their written consent for you to travel to the UK;

their full contact details; and

evidence that suitable living arrangements have been made for your stay in the UK."

I'm a bit hung up on this, and I have a few questions which I was hoping someone could give me advice on. I've asked friends who have traveled internationally in the past, I've done research online, and I am also going to call the British Embassy in Boston tomorrow. But, I was just wondering if I could get a second opinion on this, just to calm me down, haha.

My questions are:

1. By "written consent" do you think they actually mean "written?" Or would a typed out letter with an ink signature suffice? I know it sounds like a bit of a stupid question, but I don't want to get all the way there and then be told that my understanding wasn't correct.

2. What exactly would I need to show as "evidence that suitable living arrangements have been made?" Does that just mean I need a letter from my mother saying "Yes, I grant my daughter permission to travel from Boston to Manchester, etc. etc. etc. I understand that she will be staying with a friend, [insert name here], at the following address, [insert address here]. This individual can be contacted at [insert contact details here]." Or would I need further evidence from my friend's mother?

Thank you very much in advance!

[Chris921 13]

Typed with ink signature would be fine....a letter from your friends mother almost like an invitation to stay there/saying it is ok...and in the written permission something saying that you'd be staying with this friends parents should suffice.

[Anh map 2,098]

Written meaning not verbal. Typed and signed is fine.

Its requiring your parents' contact details.

A letter from your hosts would be something that would prove the suitable arrangements. Not a statement from your parents that you'll be staying at xyz's home. The hosts should give their contact info as well.

[ihopeyoudontmind 1]

Would this have to be a letter I received in the mail with a signature on it, or would an email be good enough? It's a bit difficult considering the flight's in 3 days and there's a huge location issue!

Thanks for the information on the written consent issue.

[ihopeyoudontmind 1]

I'm a bit concerned about the proof from my friend's mother. On another website, they recommended a letter from my friend's mother, which is obviously not possible considering how close I am to departing. Would an email including her name, address, permission, contact info, etc. suffice?

[ihopeyoudontmind 1]

Would a scanned letter be okay?

[photomile 101]

I hate to say this and seem rude but, you might be better off asking on a UK immigration specific forum. http://www.uk-yankee.com/ specifically deals with American immigration TO the UK and might be able to provide you with some more helpful information.

Originals are almost always better when it comes to immigration matters even if it is just a tourist visa. UK immigration officials need to be satisfied that you'll be safe and looked after. Do not be surprised if you are held for additional immigration queries and your friends mother gets a phone call to ensure things are 100% though

Edited July 2, 2012 by photomile

[ihopeyoudontmind 1]

Yeah, only came on here because I was having difficulties with finding a proper forum.

I'm not applying for a visa. I'm staying in the UK for two weeks, so I'm really not sure on how it differs, but I'm almost positive I'll have slightly less of a mess to deal with than someone applying for an extended stay.

[photomile 101]

Yeah, only came on here because I was having difficulties with finding a proper forum.

I'm not applying for a visa. I'm staying in the UK for two weeks, so I'm really not sure on how it differs, but I'm almost positive I'll have slightly less of a mess to deal with than someone applying for an extended stay.

You're right, you're not applying for a visa, but you are undergoing immigration screening at the border. The stamp in the passport then is literally, a visitor visa.

Are the airlines aware that you are travelling unaccompanied?

[ihopeyoudontmind 1]

I'm not extremely experienced in this. I understand that it's technically a visitor visa, as it says that directly on the passport. What I mean, however, was that my process is presumably a bit different considering I do not need the same amount of sufficient funds or documents etc as someone staying under an extended stay visa.

Yes, they are aware. And I don't believe this to be an incredibly impossible operation considering minors travel unaccompanied all the time ... my only concern, really, is the situation of my friend's mother providing evidence of my stay.

Obviously, a letter sent through the post is not possible at this point. So, a scanned copy is currently the very best that I can do. However, and I'm not sure if you have any knowledge on this so a guess at the very least would suffice, but, do you think it would be possible for my friend to perhaps mail this original letter to customs? I'm not sure how that would work out with all things considered, i.e. customs being so incredibly busy.

Basically, what are my options other than having the original letter mailed to me? A scanned copy sounds like the only option, and I would be perfectly content with customs calling up my friend's mother.

[photomile 101]

The reason I asked about the airlines knowing is that customs and heathrow have been known to make arrangements in advance so that minors are accompanied. Not sure on the specifics but have seen it happen many times where a minor is greeted by a member of customs or the airline staff and escorted. This can make things easier as they can certain things in advance and provide a chaperone in the knowledge that someone will be there to collect you at the airport. This obviously shows border control that someone will be there which could partly negate the need for a letter.

A scanned letter is possibly the only option as you say, but I simply don't know more than that. If you haven't already, I would strongly advise asking on a forum that's specific to UK immigration and / or contacting the UK border agency yourself. They may allow someone to fax something to the US which has been sighted and certified as genuine for you to pick up?

Edited July 2, 2012 by photomile

[Holly2234 66]

I actually dont think that it matters. A child visitor means under 16. When you are 17, you can fly alone without consent. I have been flying alone with no consent since i was 17 and never had any problems. Maybe try calling the UKBA for specific information. Or maybe even your airline. I contacted my airline the first time i flew with that same question!

Unaccompanied child means somebody under 16. Adult means 18+. 16 and 17 you can fly alone, but not act as somebody else's guardian.

Also, if you need any information on Nottingham or Manchester airport feel free to ask. I live in Nottingham and always fly out of Manchester!

Edited July 2, 2012 by Holly2234

[ihopeyoudontmind 1]

I actually dont think that it matters. A child visitor means under 16. When you are 17, you can fly alone without consent. I have been flying alone with no consent since i was 17 and never had any problems. Maybe try calling the UKBA for specific information. Or maybe even your airline. I contacted my airline the first time i flew with that same question!

Unaccompanied child means somebody under 16. Adult means 18+. 16 and 17 you can fly alone, but not act as somebody else's guardian.

Also, if you need any information on Nottingham or Manchester airport feel free to ask. I live in Nottingham and always fly out of Manchester!

Thank you! Do you think I'll be asked to present my letter when I go through UK customs at Manchester airport?

[Holly2234 66]

I doubt it. If you were 15 or under, it would be very different. But at 17 it really doesnt change things. I made several slights between the UK and US when i was 17 and nobody ever mentioned a thing. Its always best to take the letter just in case. Its best to cover your back than be denied entry. Make sure you have your friends address and phone number in Nottingham too when you enter. Will somebody be picking you up from the airport? You are very unlikely to have problems if somebody comes to get you and they can contact who you will be staying with.

[ihopeyoudontmind 1]

My friend is going to be picking me up at the airport. Her mom scanned and emailed to me a letter basically saying that anyone who is concerned about it can contact her, and she gave her address as well, and also stated in the letter my reason for being there. I think I should be more than safe, because I have a letter from my mom stating that she allows me to fly alone, has made proper arrangements for me to stay somewhere, explained why i'm going there, and has given me sufficient funds to take care of myself. I mean, all the necessary information is in both of the letters, and I've also printed out my scheduled bookings for universities I'm going to visit while there just to sort of be the icing on the cake.

Tbh, I think I'm just overthinking it because it's my first time out of the country alone and I haven't traveled since I was really little!