Visiting

[Damian&Kelly 16]

We haven't filed AOS yet, so it's a bit soon to be worrying but I'm worried about the next time I travel to England with my husband. Every time I went to England, I had problems getting in. They never believed I wasn't going to stay. I got held for hours and questioned. I had every proof I could possibly need that I was returning to the US and never once over stayed. Never did anything wrong when I was there and left the day I said I was leaving, yet every time I have gotten harassed. Now that I'm married I feel that they'll think I'm going to stay even more so. My husband says it's better being married but I just don't believe it. We won't be visiting for long but I had the worst time when I said I was only staying 2 weeks! So I'm dreading this!

I was wondering if anyone has experience visiting after marriage.

Is there any type of visa I can get or I need to get just to visit?

[Brit Abroad 166]

Take copies of your AoS paperwork with you, to prove that you intend to live in the US. If your hubby is travelling with you and you both have return tickets, there shouldn't be an issue. Everyone's entitled to visit their family, after all.

Just show them previous passport stamps where you've left within the visitor visa period and you should be fine. Have a great holiday!

PS When my husband came to visit me while we were engaged, they held him up for 45 minutes, despite being military and HAVING to return to the US on a fixed timetable; so don't think it's something personal with British Customs.

Oh, and are you intending to file paperwork in the UK as well, in case you want to live there later? Hubby and I are undecided where we will live in future, so are thinking about looking into the UK paperwork just in case.

Edited December 19, 2008 by Brit Abroad