Im kinda in a mess at the moment.. I got refused a visitors visa to the US because apparently I dont have sufficiant ties to the UK.. I have my own place.. I have 2 jobs.. and all my family and friends are here.. The consular office I saw didn't explain anything to me.. Just handed me a piece of paper and said that will explain everything and that I can reapply tomorrow.. Well. The piece of paper didn't explain anything just told me i'd been refused.. I took everything I needed to the embassy with me.. Rent book, bank statements I also have a contract phone which is a 18 month contract.. I'm just at a loss for what to do.. Theres no point in reapplying because its just going to happen again and now its on my records that I got denied.. My other half (Louisiana) was denied entry into the UK last August and we havent seen each other since.. Hence me wanting to go over there.. but now we are both in the same position and we're really worried things are not going to work out to even see each other again let alone have the future we want..
Any advice?

Sorry to hear you got a denial..... can you not visit the USA using the VWP?? that allows for stays upto 90 days....

Kez

I was just thinking that... Why did you apply for a vistors visa?

Before I applied for the K1 visa, I was thinking about going to the States for 6 months (So the visitors visa would have been a good option) I enquired about it and the lady I spoke to told me that if I was denied, there could be problems in the future using the VWP. She said that I would have to declare it on the I-94 form on the flight and that it would be up to immigration if they were going to let me through or not.

I figured that it wasn't worth the risk and just went for the 3 months instead using the Visa Waiver Program.

So.. The above doesn't necessarily mean that you won't get in... But just be prepared incase.

I had to apply for a visa because i have been arrested in the past.. therefore needing a visitors visa =(

If you are not available for the VWP (like my wife, who is Bolivian), perhaps I understand. Visitors visas for foreign nationals with more ties to the US (aka your Louisianan spouse) than another country are likely to be denied. This is why we decided to go the Green Card route.

Visitors visas are almost impossible to get.....

But if you go for the Green Card you have to establish residence in the US....you don't have to necessarily live there, but you have to basically be a "resident," ie, have an address, bank accounts, pay taxes, and show that you are only in other countries on temporary assignments for work or school.

That's what we are doing.....but we don't yet know how it will work out!!!

Sorry to hear about that. It must be very distressing. You are definitely in the right place to have your questions answered.

Thomas

Aah ok then.

Well, you could try again... Just because you have been denied once, doesn't necessarily mean they will deny you again.

Just try and get as much evidence as you can... I know you supplied a lot, but try and get more. Get letters from your employer stating your travel dates, get a letter from your bank saying that your account is in good standing and there are regular payments going in and out. Get a letter from your phone company too if you have to. Also get your landlord to write a letter and maybe throw a couple of character references in there too!

Where there is a will there is a way!

IM worried about trying again though.. I spent about £250 in total getting all the stuff together for that appointment and getting there.. and thats alot of money to throw away for me..
We're finding out somewhere else where we can meet up for a bit.. Even if I do apply for another visitors visa its going to be months until I get an appointment.. I was waiting for this one since January..

Eeek

Then, yes. I would suggest meeting up somewhere else.

Thing is though.. Where? I was thinking Germany.. Because he has family in Germany.. Cause his mothers german.. But its an EU country... so he'll need a visa cause he was denied entry to here and got a black mark put in his passport..

Canada or Iceland?

If I was in your shoes I would get the K1 visa ball rolling. Though reading your posts you say you've been arrested. You can get waivers for that. Unless its a drugs related crime which seems to make it impossible to get a US visa.

All the best.

Well, it's kind of a round-about way of doing things, but if his mother was still a German citizen at the time of his birth I think it's possible that he could claim German citizenship... which would allow him to travel there freely. No idea how long that would take, and it seems likely that applying for the K1 is the best thing that you can do at this point in terms of seeing each other again soon - which seems like the way to go since he was intending on getting formally engaged to you last summer.

It seems ridiculous that you were turned down for a visitors visa given all the evidence you provided, but all you can do now is either reapply or just go for the K1.

You could always meet somewhere tropical in the meantime... it would make a romantic setting to get engaged!

Have a visit in Canada. You both only need passports for that.

Why was he denied entry to the UK? I know I have heard of someone who was denied entry to the UK, but then tried again 6 months later and was allowed entry.

Can I just ask... What were the reasons they gave to your boyfriend for denying him entry into the UK?

He was coming back too soon after he left, they didnt believe he was going to leave the country at the end of his visit because they found an engagement ring on him.. he proposed to me in the detention center they locked him in over night =(

When you say somewhere tropical.. where could we both go visa free?

Somewhere in the Caribbean would work. No visa for USC required at any islands.

I would go to Canada. Thats what me and my american fiance did. All depends in what part of Canada is nearest to your fiance. I didnt visit my fiance in the states as i was already married to an US citizen. I didnt want to take the chance to enter the USA and get denied. She flew upto Toronto and i flew from Glasgow. If you look at zoom airlines or iglucanada.com you can get cheap flight there. We also booked our hotel through hotwire.com Got the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Toronto for less that $50 per night. Good luck.

Is that no visa needed for either of us? cause we are both in the same situation at the moment apart from the fact I can go into any EU country..

I need a visa to go to canada too.. >.< Exactly the same thing as America.. and Mexico is the same as well.. Any country surrounding the US I need a visa for

Slightly OT, but relevant I think.

A UKC friend of mine has a pot arrest from about 5 years ago. He recently booked a flight to St. Maarten which changed planes in Philly. He had to apply for a visitors visa, just to change planes there. He was denied & had to pay a sh*tload to rebook it.

I was just looking on the US Customs and border protection website to see if there is any kind of waiver that you can get so that you can still travel under the Visa Waiver Program....

It says:

****

Question: Can I be admitted into the U.S. if I have either a misdemeanor or criminal record?

Answer: The U.S. does not deny entry to persons with a "Driving Under the Influence" conviction - although if there are multiple convictions for this and or other misdemeanors, you could be denied entry.

Generally, any convictions for drug possession can result in denial of entry. If the conviction was long ago, you might contact the U.S. Embassy, Office of Consular Affairs in your country to obtain a waiver. Other misdemeanors may result in denial if they were recent.

****

I looked on the embassy website and found this:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/vwp.html There are instructions on there about what to do if you have been either denied a visa or if you have a criminal record.

Hope this helps a bit!

I rang the embassy about getting denied and they said that I'll just have to try again and get stronger ties.. How?!?! >.< Having some problems with Germany now.. His mothers german yes.. and was a German citizan when he was born.. But he cant state that he has family in germany as his mums green card ran out last year and she hasnt renewed it.. so if they ask who his mum is.. and he gives her name she could be deported.. or so has been said...

I would suggest Iceland as a possible meeting point too - flights leave from Heathrow. Not a particularly cheap place to visit though.

Or maybe you could both fly somewhere like Thailand - at least it's cheap when you get there.

Some questions which might help other members give you some advice:

1) Is there a reason why you are not applying for the K1 visa? It would seem to be the way to go if you are eventually planning to get married and reside in the US.

2) It would help if you could state why you were arrested and what (if any) conviction you have on your police record.

3) Is your fiance a US citizen? Is his mother in the US or Germany? You mentioned her having an expired green card which makes me think she is in the US.

It is possible your fiance could try to come again to the UK but he will need rock solid proof that he has binding ties to the US - I would suggest that he contacts the British Embassy in the States to see if he can apply for a visitors visa there rather than risking arriving and being turned back again.


Sorry to hear that you are having these problems

Next time he goes to see you he should fly in through Dublin and then take a Ryan Air flight to your UK destination. Irish customs tend not to ask many questions, and then the flight into the UK from there is considered domestic so no customs to go through.

His passport (him) will be flagged as having been denied entry to the UK so I doubt it would work.

I don't even get stamped half the time going through. Then again, it could be because my last name is as Irish as the day is long (and I look it to boot) and they think I'm visiting relatives or something.

But when you check in and/or at customs, they scan your passport.

I have actually read on VJ a story of someone denied entry to the UK for lack of ties, but on a subsequent visit was allowed in. I think it was Courtney and she told all of this in one of the K1"filer threads". When I have a minute, I will look around for her story.

Yes, but the OP said her hubby was locked up overnight!

He was coming back too soon after he left, they didnt believe he was going to leave the country at the end of his visit because they found an engagement ring on him.. he proposed to me in the detention center they locked him in over night

I think that's a far cry from entry refusal.

Hi - not sure about you going over there, but from my experience, just because your partner was denied previously, does not mean he will be denied coming to the UK again. They will hold him up, but as long as he shows definite ties back to his place of residence, intention to live where he lives and for you to be there with him, a return ticket, a job back home, anything...he will be allowed in. Just have all the evidence...they only refuse if they suspect that he wont leave, and your partner must be sure to show that he will return. They may curtail his permission to stay here until the return date on the ticket, and will check he returned, but as long as you are legit, you will have no major probs.

And don;t try the Ireland route or anything else that is dodgy....if you're caught, you'll both be in a lot of trouble...be up front and honest, and dont be nervous - you;re not doing anything wrong, as long as he leaves!

(By the way, EU citizens dont get stamped, so there is no record of EU citizens comings and goings, unless you've been naughty - Treaty of Rome...)

He was denied entry to the UK based on the engagement ring, and his relationship with you. There is no reason for Ireland to refuse him entry, he has no ties there at all. He would not need a visa:

http://www.embassyofireland.org/home/index.aspx?id=30814

you can travel freely to Ireland because you are a UKC

How about going to Ireland, and just staying there for the trip?

Well, Courtney described herself as being locked up all day! And she was permitted entry this past October. I'm not saying to attempt it one way or the other, just relating an experience that appears to be a similar situation. (IMO)

There is absolutely nothing dodgy about going in through Ireland. They may track you, but you certainly don't get the 3rd degree at customs going via Ireland as you do going directly into Britain. I have done this several times...when you go into Ireland tell them you are flying on to the UK. I've never been asked any further questions other than if I'm flying out through Ireland or UK. When you fly into the UK from Ireland you do not go through British customs as it is considered a domestic flight. I didn't write the laws of Irish/British travel, and it has in my experience always been a quicker and more pleasant route of travel than flying directly into the UK.