US Citizen visiting UK Husband. Will there be problems at the UK Border?

[Becky and Les 2]

Hi all.

I have a question specifically for the Brits of the group. I'm a US Citizen and am trying to bring over my husband who is in Scotland. Since I hear that it's hard for him to visit me, I'm considering going to him and visiting. However, I've heard that the UKBA is cracking down on non-EU spouses visiting because they think they're gonna stay illegally. So, my questions are:

1. Has anyone had this problem?

2. Would it be better to just say that I'm visiting friends (we were married in the UK but I never applied for a spouse visa so I'm not sure if they'll know that I'm married or not).

3. If I do say that I'm going to visit my husband, I've got my NOA1 and possibly a letter from my job/pay stubs. Would this probably be enough to prove my ties to the US?

4. Should I get a family visitor's visa to visit the UK even though I don't really qualify (I've never overstayed, don't have any convictions, haven't been told I need one, the US is a recognized country, etc.).

Thanks for your help and thoughts.

Becky

[2ndMessiah 184]

Why is hard for a UK citizen to visit the US? Fill out an online ESTA for $14 for two years. Travel under VWP and visit for up to 90 days. Only thin I can think of is that there maybe something in your fiances past that has caused an esta denial.

I also think the UK and US have reciprocal agreements so entry as a visitor to the UK for a US citizen to visit should just be as straight forward. Remember tho this is just to visit and for a maximum fixed time.

Edited October 2, 2013 by 2ndMessiah

[Vanitas 310]

Hi all.

I have a question specifically for the Brits of the group. I'm a US Citizen and am trying to bring over my husband who is in Scotland. Since I hear that it's hard for him to visit me, I'm considering going to him and visiting. However, I've heard that the UKBA is cracking down on non-EU spouses visiting because they think they're gonna stay illegally. So, my questions are:

1. Has anyone had this problem?

2. Would it be better to just say that I'm visiting friends (we were married in the UK but I never applied for a spouse visa so I'm not sure if they'll know that I'm married or not).

3. If I do say that I'm going to visit my husband, I've got my NOA1 and possibly a letter from my job/pay stubs. Would this probably be enough to prove my ties to the US?

4. Should I get a family visitor's visa to visit the UK even though I don't really qualify (I've never overstayed, don't have any convictions, haven't been told I need one, the US is a recognized country, etc.).

Thanks for your help and thoughts.

Becky

1. Not exactly. They tried to catch Amy out in March when she came over (see #2)

2. Amy's done that the past two times she's visited - in March they asked "Do you mean your boyfriend", but she responded in the negative.

3. Yes. The letter from your job certainly. I personally wouldn't trust UKBA with the NOA1 but again it proves that he's going to you and not the other way around.

4. Nope. If you don't need one because you're "clean" as it were, then don't get one.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I wouldn't worry so much. My husband is planning on flying into Heathrow a few days before I take my one-way flight to the US. He wants to start our life out together from the moment I set foot in the US

If you feel worried, take a letter from work expecting you back, copy of lease/mortgage, copy of your partner's confirmed visa application documents to the US. And say you are visiting your husband for X amount of days/weeks. There isn't much else you can do unless you plan to lie (which is not advised) or not go at all.

Chances are you'll be let in no problem. The US isn't a high fraud country.

[Becky and Les 2]

Thanks all! Your thoughts have been very helpful!

* 2ndMessiah - Just because he got an ESTA doesn't mean he'd be allowed entry to visit. I've read on various forums on here that it's hard to get a B1 visa and that it would be up to chance as to whether or not he'd be allowed to visit me here. As for me going to the UK, and the reason for the questions; not unlike the US, the UK has their own paranoia about foreign nationals coming into their country and wanting to stay illegally. I've read other accounts on UK forums where spouses were denied entry into the UK because they're going to visit their spouse while waiting on visas. That's why I'm asking here about other people's experiences cause I wasn't 100% sure if it was onesided or not.

* Ryan&Amy - I've read the accounts which is part of why I was asking . I wouldn't actually be lying if I said to visit friends...I lived there for 6 years as a student and would be visiting friends. Even if that wasn't necessarily the primary purpose of my visit. Thanks for your thoughts though. I gather from Amy's experiences that they didn't know you were married/engaged.

* Ketsuban - I want to do the same for my husband that he's doing for you. I had contacted a British immigration lawyer to see if they thought that it would be a problem for me to visit and help my husband make the transfer to the US once he got the greencard. They said it shouldn't be a problem if I had a copy of the greencard and itenerary for us leaving. But the wait's been long and I'm considering seeing him before the process is complete .

I'm sure I'm over thinking it, but at $1,000+ a wack to visit, it'd be horrible to be denied entry (let alone later consequences if I ever wanted to visit again).

But like I said, thanks for your thoughts.

Becky

Edited October 2, 2013 by Becky and Les

[BOS_LHR 829]

I'm a US petitioner who just came back from a visit with my UK spouse. I was nervous about being denied entry to the country (or at the very least, being given the third degree), so I brought along a copy of our I-130, the notice of receipt from USCIS, recent paystubs, and my most recent mortgage statement. I didn't need any of it. I was asked at the border how long I was staying and what the purpose of my visit was (thinking the usual "business or pleasure," I said "pleasure"). I wasn't questioned further. So much easier than I feared!

Definitely bring ties to the US but I wouldn't worry about getting a separate visitor's visa.

[Novembro 1,763]

The customs officials were kind of rude to me when I told them I was visiting my (then) fiance. Made extra-super-definite sure that I could not get married and stay in the country and then let me on my way.

[fcat 79]

"Just because he got an ESTA doesn't mean he'd be allowed entry to visit. I've read on various forums on here that it's hard to get a B1 visa and that it would be up to chance as to whether or not he'd be allowed to visit me here. "

Huh? why would he need a B1 visa just to come and visit you from the UK ?

Its no harder than anyone from the UK coming over at any time, ive been over and back 4 times this year without any problems at all. Its no different.

[emyardy 11]

I visited 3 times while our K1 was processing, and I just brought proof that we were trying to be together the legal way, and that we are going to end up in America, and not the UK.. I used my NOA1, NOA2, and a copy of the earnest money deposit we use to put an offer on a house. I've never had any problems.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to UK regional forum.

[SLCPLC 2]

When I visited my UK husband last spring, the IO at LHR asked the requisite "whats the purpose of your visit?" so I said "to visit my husband in Glasgow - we've applied for his green card, but its taking a really long time and I wanted to see him"

they only asked to see my return ticket (i always seem to get asked for that) then they stamped me and I was on my way.

I wouldn't worry too much. As others have said - have documentation that you're returning to the US. You should be fine.

[Kiwinyc 62]

My USC fiancé has visited the UK to see me 3 times in the last 10 mths, never had problems, he stays for a week at a time. Is arriving again this weekend to escort us all back next weekend.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Be as prepared as possible. My fiance stayed with me (UK citizen) for 3 months last year and got in fine, he has no convictions, no red flags at all. He came on July 23rd this year and I'd already sent him a letter with my number on to show at the border sponsoring him, prepared everything we could, and I got a call from the border officer giving me the third degree. I was 100% honest and said he is here to help me with my visa process and he had the NOA2 with him, but he was let in, though not without hassle. It never hurts to be prepared.

[Becky and Les 2]

Thanks all!!

[Kiwinyc 62]

Be as prepared as possible. My fiance stayed with me (UK citizen) for 3 months last year and got in fine, he has no convictions, no red flags at all. He came on July 23rd this year and I'd already sent him a letter with my number on to show at the border sponsoring him, prepared everything we could, and I got a call from the border officer giving me the third degree. I was 100% honest and said he is here to help me with my visa process and he had the NOA2 with him, but he was let in, though not without hassle. It never hurts to be prepared.

I thought this thread was about a USC visiting their fiancé in the UK?! This is the opposite.