Visiting the UK

[Kaden 0]

Hey all!

Hello everyone, I'm pretty new here and come bearing a question!

I met my current girlfriend over the internet 2 years ago, and as it stands, she has spent the last 2 months in the US with me. We booked a ticket for me to come over in November to spend time together (2 months) during Christmas and New years (as well as get to know her parents). She got through the US POE relatively easily, and was wondering what its like to go through UK Immigration. I'm 23, and she is 20 if that helps or means anything for the discussion. I posted here before and the advice really helped settle my nerves, so I'm hoping It'll work again. This will actually be my first trip overseas!

I plan on bringing.

1. Bank statement showing funds ( I hope to have about $1800 (1174 GBP I think) in my account by the time I'll be leaving)

2. Letter from my Landlord stating that I've paid off my apartment and all my utilities for the time I'll be gone (This took a big chunk of my spending money, sadly)

3. Letter from my employer stating that I've been granted the time off and will be required to come back to work.

4. Return ticket and Passport

5. Non specific Itinerary showing travel plans

Is there anything I should be aware of when I step off the plane, or anything else I need to bring?

All suggestions are welcome!

Thanks

[Que Saudade 284]

You will be fine, you won't need all that. It is much easier to enter the UK than someone entering US. We are the ones with the extremely painful process to visit.

Make sure you save your boarding passes and all receipts while you are there. You will need the evidence later.

Enjoy your visit..!

Here is a quick link to ease your mind Visiting UK

[Holly2234 66]

You will be fine with that. You wont have much trouble.

[Elora & Rob 15]

what visa are you applying for?

[Krikit 1,164]

Pack appropriately. If you are going for a week, don't pack a month's worth of clothes. Be honest when questioned, but don't answer more than is asked of you. Keep it short and sweet. And have a lovely holiday!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Is there anything I should be aware of when I step off the plane, or anything else I need to bring?

All suggestions are welcome!

Thanks

Have the address of where you are staying handy unless you have it memorized.

Follow everybody else to Immigration and get in a visitors line. Wait until called forward to a podium when you make it to the front of the line. Present your passport. Answer questions truthfully, but briefly. Example:

Q: What is the purpose of your trip?

A: I'm on holiday.

Q: How long are you staying?

A: Until the New Year. I have a return for [date].

Q: Where are you staying?

A: With a friend in [name town]. Or a family in [name town].

Go pick up your luggage.

Look where everybody else is exiting. There is usually a "Customs" as well as "Nothing to Declare". Look for the signs. Go through Nothing to Declare and you're out to find your GF.

Other tips: I personally never exchanged money at airports, etc. Your ATM card will work to keep you supplied with cash as you need it. If you have more than one credit card, call them and ask their fees for foreign transactions. Some are cheaper than others, so use the one with the best rate. Inform the credit card companies of the dates and destination before you leave. Otherwise your card may quit working because it's suddenly being used overseas so a fraud protection kicks in.

[Darkmoonfaerie 19]

Have the address of where you are staying handy unless you have it memorized.

Follow everybody else to Immigration and get in a visitors line. Wait until called forward to a podium when you make it to the front of the line. Present your passport. Answer questions truthfully, but briefly. Example:

Q: What is the purpose of your trip?

A: I'm on holiday.

Q: How long are you staying?

A: Until the New Year. I have a return for [date].

Q: Where are you staying?

A: With a friend in [name town]. Or a family in [name town].

Go pick up your luggage.

.

Everyone says getting into the UK is a breeze and that you should answer these questions truthfully and briefly. I did not have such luck at Heathrow in November 2011, so want people to be aware that you can run into snags and do need to have proof of ties to the US. I'm a small woman, mid 30's, professional, dressed well, carrying a small carry-on and laptop bag and was using airport transport (buggy/wheelchair) due to an illness/injury so don't look real threatening. I answered these questions as recommended on my last trip:

Q: "nature of the trip?" A: "A much needed vacation"

Q: "how long are you staying?" A: "two weeks"

Q: "where are you staying?" A: "with friends in Skelmersdale"

And then I got asked things like "how do you know your friends?" "how did you meet?" "what's the nature of your relationship with them?" When I finally said I was visiting my fiance and his family I got lectured that he is not "a friend" and it was quite different. I thought it was best to be truthful about who I was staying with but her attitude really got to me. I was asked for bank records (had on me), proof of employment back home (I was able to pull up my contract through the college and my patient schedule for the month following me return online and I showed her my paperwork for the courses I was teaching online while in the UK. I even gave her a business card for my practice.), and return itinerary, I was given a talking to about how I should not think about moving to the UK, and I replied politely that I love the country but I had no plans to give up my business in the US and that we were applying for the K1 visa in the spring (Feb 2012). The woman was very unpleasant from the start but she looked through everything that I gave her, again reminded me not to overstay and let me through. Even the guy who was pushing the wheelchair was a little shaken by her attitude. I don't want to scare anyone, but all I ever read is how easy the UK is to get through and wanted to make sure people do go prepared just in case. I know it was the word "fiance" that did it, and don't know if I should have danced around it or if being truthful and prepared was good. I do believe that if I did not have my return flights and bank info on me, and my work info on the wifi/laptop, she would have denied me entry.

[Kaden 0]

I had planned to be honest from the get go and just present all my documents and such afterwards. Will it be slightly easier since we've met already and it isn't a "We are meeting for the first time and spending two months together" sort of ordeal.

There was also talk of going to Paris for a week and was wondering if I have to go back through UK immigration afterwards?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I had planned to be honest from the get go and just present all my documents and such afterwards. Will it be slightly easier since we've met already and it isn't a "We are meeting for the first time and spending two months together" sort of ordeal.

There was also talk of going to Paris for a week and was wondering if I have to go back through UK immigration afterwards?

I think you will go back through immigration. We took a couple of trips to France and beyond and now i can't actually remember. If so, it was at the train and ferry and not much of a big deal.

You didn't say you were engaged so friend seemed an appropriate response to me. I never said boyfriend because that sounded too Jr. High to me as an adult woman. Good luck to you. Hope you don't get the grouchy one.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

You will be fine, you won't need all that. It is much easier to enter the UK than someone entering US. We are the ones with the extremely painful process to visit.

Make sure you save your boarding passes and all receipts while you are there. You will need the evidence later.

Enjoy your visit..!

Here is a quick link to ease your mind Visiting UK

UK immigration can be pretty tough. I don't think it's correct to say the US is "harder" to enter than the UK.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

I had planned to be honest from the get go and just present all my documents and such afterwards. Will it be slightly easier since we've met already and it isn't a "We are meeting for the first time and spending two months together" sort of ordeal.

There was also talk of going to Paris for a week and was wondering if I have to go back through UK immigration afterwards?

Have you been there recently? The ease of entry has a lot to do with whether you go in and out of the country often.

PS - I usually just say I am on holiday. I am only there every couple of years or so. I don't feel compelled to give them my entire itinerary. I got hassled once at the Irish border in Dublin (not a UK border of course) after saying I was visiting my husband's family. I was admitted but stamped in only for the duration of my flight itinerary.

Edited September 4, 2012 by Rebecca Jo

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Everyone says getting into the UK is a breeze and that you should answer these questions truthfully and briefly. I did not have such luck at Heathrow in November 2011, so want people to be aware that you can run into snags and do need to have proof of ties to the US. I'm a small woman, mid 30's, professional, dressed well, carrying a small carry-on and laptop bag and was using airport transport (buggy/wheelchair) due to an illness/injury so don't look real threatening. I answered these questions as recommended on my last trip:

Q: "nature of the trip?" A: "A much needed vacation"

Q: "how long are you staying?" A: "two weeks"

Q: "where are you staying?" A: "with friends in Skelmersdale"

And then I got asked things like "how do you know your friends?" "how did you meet?" "what's the nature of your relationship with them?" When I finally said I was visiting my fiance and his family I got lectured that he is not "a friend" and it was quite different. I thought it was best to be truthful about who I was staying with but her attitude really got to me. I was asked for bank records (had on me), proof of employment back home (I was able to pull up my contract through the college and my patient schedule for the month following me return online and I showed her my paperwork for the courses I was teaching online while in the UK. I even gave her a business card for my practice.), and return itinerary, I was given a talking to about how I should not think about moving to the UK, and I replied politely that I love the country but I had no plans to give up my business in the US and that we were applying for the K1 visa in the spring (Feb 2012). The woman was very unpleasant from the start but she looked through everything that I gave her, again reminded me not to overstay and let me through. Even the guy who was pushing the wheelchair was a little shaken by her attitude. I don't want to scare anyone, but all I ever read is how easy the UK is to get through and wanted to make sure people do go prepared just in case. I know it was the word "fiance" that did it, and don't know if I should have danced around it or if being truthful and prepared was good. I do believe that if I did not have my return flights and bank info on me, and my work info on the wifi/laptop, she would have denied me entry.

I've always read that they tend to hassle female USC's. Apparently we have a history of going over and not leaving.

[Kaden 0]

UK immigration can be pretty tough. I don't think it's correct to say the US is "harder" to enter than the UK.

This will actually be my first trip over. Hopefully its one of many! I tried reading some stories, but most seem negative which has me nervous. Is the UK really that hard to get in to?

Edited September 4, 2012 by Kaden

[Krikit 1,164]

Only if you give them reason to be suspicious that you're not leaving.

[Holly2234 66]

My husband (we were not married during these trips) has been let in 3 times for a 5 week stay, 3 months then another 3 months. The third trip he didnt leave. We did the UK version of AOS on the advice of a lawyer.

He never had any problems and never showed any documents with ties to the US. The third trip when asked the reason for visit his answer was "My girlfriend is having my baby" because i was! All they were concerned about was how much money he had.

Just tell the truth and take proof of ties to the US.