Please help me, Visiting the UK (Scotland) for the first time for 3 months.

[Scott & Kath 0]

Hi, I'm an American and I've been digging around through Google and the forums and found answers for many of the questions I've had, but there's still a few things bugging me that I couldn't find a clear cut answer to, especially for my specific situation. I hope you guys can help us out, it all has me really anxious.

1. I'm coming from the United States to visit for 3 months in the UK (Scotland) to finally spend time with my girlfriend who I've been with for almost 4 years. Will I automatically receive a tourist visa or anything upon arrival at the airport granting me permission to visit the UK? Or will I have to apply for a visa beforehand?

2. The visit will take place at my girlfriend and her mother's home in Scotland, thus: room and board, food, and travel will already be covered. However I will be bringing a few hundred dollars/pounds with me (e.g. $300-$500) for any additional expenses. Will the funds be seen as enough or do I need more?

3. What proof of ties will I need in addition to my return flight ticket, ID, and U.S. passport? As I'm currently unemployed and do not have a driver's license, nor am I a student of any school, but currently living with my mother.

4. We are also planning to get engaged (NOT to marry) and have an engagement party during the visit, then apply for the K1 Visa/I-129F Petition once I return to America so my girlfriend can immigrate into the US. Will I be allowed to propose during my visit (I'm bringing the ring with me) so long as I DON'T intend to marry within the UK, or will I potentially end up getting denied entry due to the UK Border Agency assuming the worst?

[mitchanme 18]

I've never had trouble entering the UK, even for a few months. I don't think I've ever been asked how much money I had either. Mind you, that's coming from Canada. They do come across as quite stern though.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

Hi, I'm an American and I've been digging around through Google and the forums and found answers for many of the questions I've had, but there's still a few things bugging me that I couldn't find a clear cut answer to, especially for my specific situation. I hope you guys can help us out, it all has me really anxious.

1. I'm coming from the United States to visit for 3 months in the UK (Scotland) to finally spend time with my girlfriend who I've been with for almost 4 years. Will I automatically receive a tourist visa or anything upon arrival at the airport granting me permission to visit the UK? Or will I have to apply for a visa beforehand?

2. The visit will take place at my girlfriend and her mother's home in Scotland, thus: room and board, food, and travel will already be covered. However I will be bringing a few hundred dollars/pounds with me (e.g. $300-$500) for any additional expenses. Will the funds be seen as enough or do I need more?

3. What proof of ties will I need in addition to my return flight ticket, ID, and U.S. passport? As I'm currently unemployed and do not have a driver's license, nor am I a student of any school, but currently living with my mother.

4. We are also planning to get engaged (NOT to marry) and have an engagement party during the visit, then apply for the K1 Visa/I-129F Petition once I return to America so my girlfriend can immigrate into the US. Will I be allowed to propose during my visit (I'm bringing the ring with me) so long as I DON'T intend to marry within the UK, or will I potentially end up getting denied entry due to the UK Border Agency assuming the worst?

1) You don't need a visa if you're an American citizen. You turn up and ask for your stay and you'll hopefully be given the usual 6 month stamp.

2) That money might not be enough, but they never asked my husband on any of his visits about money. That's not to say they won't ask you.

3) You can only bring what you have. My husband was unemployed all the times he came to see me and was fine.

4) You're allowed to propose!

[Scott & Kath 0]

I've never had trouble entering the UK, even for a few months. I don't think I've ever been asked how much money I had either. Mind you, that's coming from Canada. They do come across as quite stern though.

Thanks for the info, gives me more confidence. Hopefully I'll get to be as lucky as you.

1) You don't need a visa if you're an American citizen. You turn up and ask for your stay and you'll hopefully be given the usual 6 month stamp.

2) That money might not be enough, but they never asked my husband on any of his visits about money. That's not to say they won't ask you.

3) You can only bring what you have. My husband was unemployed all the times he came to see me and was fine.

4) You're allowed to propose!

Very much appreciated, hopefully I won't need too much money though, but I can try and get more. Fingers crossed they won't ask me. I think I can get some bank statements before I go for the visit to help with the ties, but other than that I can't really think of anything. Very relieved about the proposal.

The responses definitely made me feel better, thank you both.

[mitchanme 18]

I wouldn't stress about money, their main concern seems to be terrorists,and foot and mouth disease. Even when moving to Scotland on a visa they apparently don't worry too much about money. Relax and enjoy, be sure to see the gorgeous beaches, it's a very very beautiful place.

[shell20 746]

Hi, I'm an American and I've been digging around through Google and the forums and found answers for many of the questions I've had, but there's still a few things bugging me that I couldn't find a clear cut answer to, especially for my specific situation. I hope you guys can help us out, it all has me really anxious.

1. I'm coming from the United States to visit for 3 months in the UK (Scotland) to finally spend time with my girlfriend who I've been with for almost 4 years. Will I automatically receive a tourist visa or anything upon arrival at the airport granting me permission to visit the UK? Or will I have to apply for a visa beforehand?

2. The visit will take place at my girlfriend and her mother's home in Scotland, thus: room and board, food, and travel will already be covered. However I will be bringing a few hundred dollars/pounds with me (e.g. $300-$500) for any additional expenses. Will the funds be seen as enough or do I need more?

3. What proof of ties will I need in addition to my return flight ticket, ID, and U.S. passport? As I'm currently unemployed and do not have a driver's license, nor am I a student of any school, but currently living with my mother.

4. We are also planning to get engaged (NOT to marry) and have an engagement party during the visit, then apply for the K1 Visa/I-129F Petition once I return to America so my girlfriend can immigrate into the US. Will I be allowed to propose during my visit (I'm bringing the ring with me) so long as I DON'T intend to marry within the UK, or will I potentially end up getting denied entry due to the UK Border Agency assuming the worst?

My fiance came over at Christmas to visit for the first time. He didn't need a visa. I wasn't sure about that when we first booked the air ticket as I normally travel to see him, due to the fact he hardly gets time off work. Any way he asked a travel agent and they said you don't need one and they were correct.

When he arrived they asked him who he was visiting and he said I am visiting my fiancee for Christmas, he had a return flight so there was no problem with that either, no secondary questions no nothing. Money was never bought up in the questions, but they might ask, they might not.

I've seen many programmes about border control here on television and if you have very little money they don't deny you, they just ask who will support you whilst you visit. I doubt they will even go into it in detail. My fiance bought a letter from his employer, wage slips the whole lot and they were never asked for, not even mentioned! He did come for only a week, so 3 months they may ask who is going to sponsor you, they just want to make sure you wont work whilst you are visiting.

Finally, its fine to propose we do allow it!!! Lol. I doubt they will be looking through your bag for signs of an engagement ring. I think the key thing here is your return ticket but I would advise to have your girlfriends/fiancee ( to be) phone number, in case they want to ask questions about her supporting you during your visit. Enjoy your time in Scotland and congrats on your forthcoming engagement.

[Boiler 43,805]

That amount may be marginal for a few weeks, for 3 months no way.

[Scott & Kath 0]

I wouldn't stress about money, their main concern seems to be terrorists,and foot and mouth disease. Even when moving to Scotland on a visa they apparently don't worry too much about money. Relax and enjoy, be sure to see the gorgeous beaches, it's a very very beautiful place.

Heh, yeah I'll try to be as calm as I can be as it's also my first time flying so that'll be an entirely new experience in itself. Definitely looking forward to the scenery, thank you.

My fiance came over at Christmas to visit for the first time. He didn't need a visa. I wasn't sure about that when we first booked the air ticket as I normally travel to see him, due to the fact he hardly gets time off work. Any way he asked a travel agent and they said you don't need one and they were correct.

When he arrived they asked him who he was visiting and he said I am visiting my fiancee for Christmas, he had a return flight so there was no problem with that either, no secondary questions no nothing. Money was never bought up in the questions, but they might ask, they might not.

I've seen many programmes about border control here on television and if you have very little money they don't deny you, they just ask who will support you whilst you visit. I doubt they will even go into it in detail. My fiance bought a letter from his employer, wage slips the whole lot and they were never asked for, not even mentioned! He did come for only a week, so 3 months they may ask who is going to sponsor you, they just want to make sure you wont work whilst you are visiting.

Finally, its fine to propose we do allow it!!! Lol. I doubt they will be looking through your bag for signs of an engagement ring. I think the key thing here is your return ticket but I would advise to have your girlfriends/fiancee ( to be) phone number, in case they want to ask questions about her supporting you during your visit. Enjoy your time in Scotland and congrats on your forthcoming engagement.

I remember reading elsewhere that the longer you intend to stay, the more likely you are to get questioned about things which is why we ended up avoiding the near 6 month visit, as much as we wanted to go for it (plus it would be more money). So hopefully 3 months won't be a big deal. Also it's funny you should mention the tv shows as I recently got interested in watching some of UK Border Force on Youtube, which was quite eye-opening lol. And I'll definitely be giving them her phone number, thank you very much and I will.

That amount may be marginal for a few weeks, for 3 months no way.

Even with them covering all my living conditions and travel? I can go higher, but I don't think I can go over $1,000 at the moment as I'm not currently working.

[MacUK 983]

My girlfriends sister works for the Border Agency and I think (purely an opinion) that your main problem with taking so little cash for a long stay is that they'll suspect you are coming over to work illegally.

Even with food and accommodation being provided they would expect a visitor to have money for incidental expenses.

[Boiler 43,805]

Its less than a Fiver a day?

What will you be doing?

[Scott & Kath 0]

My girlfriends sister works for the Border Agency and I think (purely an opinion) that your main problem with taking so little cash for a long stay is that they'll suspect you are coming over to work illegally.

Even with food and accommodation being provided they would expect a visitor to have money for incidental expenses.

I had a feeling that's what they would think, even though I have zero intentions of such as I'm well aware of the terrible consequences it would cause along with ruining our future with the immigration to the US. I'd imagine I'd get to explain my situation if the questioning ever got that far, or do you think it would just be hopeless? If they call her while she's down in arrival would her and her mother explaining things over the phone do any good?

Its less than a Fiver a day?

What will you be doing?

Nothing extravagant and it wouldn't be made use of every single day, only really planning on seeing the sights around her hometown of Tain which would be on foot, a few resturaunt visits (none of the expensive ones) and a possible drive down to Inverness to see the sights, then drive back to Tain the same day. The engagement party would be at her grandmother's house which is only a few blocks away with other family members, other than that and just spending personal time together at her home, there's nothing else.

Edited February 11, 2014 by Scott & Kath

[MacUK 983]

I had a feeling that's what they would think, even though I have zero intentions of such as I'm well aware of the terrible consequences it would cause along with ruining our future with the immigration to the US. I'd imagine I'd get to explain my situation if the questioning ever got that far, or do you think it would just be hopeless? If they call her while she's down in arrival would her and her mother explaining things over the phone do any good?

Nothing extravagant and it wouldn't be made use of every single day, only really planning on seeing the sights around her hometown of Tain which would be on foot, a few resturaunt visits (none of the expensive ones) and a possible drive down to Inverness to see the sights, then drive back to Tain the same day. The engagement party would be at her grandmother's house which is only a few blocks away with other family members, other than that and just spending personal time together at her home, there's nothing else.

Of course it's not hopeless, you should just be aware of what they will be thinking.

Try to look at it from the point of view of an outsider. Not many tourist's would spend three months just pottering around the house with just an occasional day trip to civilisation (just looked at the map, Tain really is in the ####### end of nowhere!)

Even when I go away for a few days, or a week I try to have a few hundred quid spending money. I'm by no means wealthy but the UK can be expensive. Just the petrol for your day trip to Inverness and back could be anywhere between £30 and £50, although I do grant you that it's well worth it to be driving through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world in my opinion.

Basically you need to avoid giving the Border Agency any reason to be suspicious about your intentions.

Good luck and enjoy Scotland, your first purchase with that money could be one of the national delicacies, deep fried, battered candy bars

[Scott & Kath 0]

Of course it's not hopeless, you should just be aware of what they will be thinking.

Try to look at it from the point of view of an outsider. Not many tourist's would spend three months just pottering around the house with just an occasional day trip to civilisation (just looked at the map, Tain really is in the ####### end of nowhere!)

Even when I go away for a few days, or a week I try to have a few hundred quid spending money. I'm by no means wealthy but the UK can be expensive. Just the petrol for your day trip to Inverness and back could be anywhere between £30 and £50, although I do grant you that it's well worth it to be driving through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world in my opinion.

Basically you need to avoid giving the Border Agency any reason to be suspicious about your intentions.

Good luck and enjoy Scotland, your first purchase with that money could be one of the national delicacies, deep fried, battered candy bars

To clarify, google maps is kinda awkward with Tain, she's from Tain, Ross Shire which is about 40 miles (I think) from Inverness as opposed to the Tain thats way up near Thurso. Sorry about that.

But yeah, I know what you mean they're just trying to narrow out the scammers. I wish it didnt have to affect the honest people though, but I'll make sure I'm truthful about everything and try not to get nervous and such. Thank you and I'll definitely look into those.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Personally, I would get a letter of sponsorship from your girlfriend. My husband (then fiance) came to the UK to stay with me in England for 4.5 months last year (he is American), and he is unemployed. He did so the previous year also for 3 months. The first time the UKBA guy was really lax (my husband forgot my address the first time around) and let him through. He asked him how he'd be supporting himself and he said he had a credit card for emergencies but room and board would be paid for by me.

The second time, we were a bit more cautious and I scanned into my PC and sent him a signed letter of sponsorship from me, saying I would be paying all of his expenses, my employment information, how much I earn, the reason for our stay and that we would be returning to the US together. I put my mobile number and told them to call me if they needed anything from me when he passed at the border. I also put I would be waiting for him at the airport as the UKBA site recommends that I do. Sure enough, the Border Agent called my mobile when I was waiting at the airport, took my husband into secondary and grilled him. He has bad social anxiety so he panicked and froze up and couldn't answer the questions properly, so they called me and grilled me instead. Even asked how we will support ourselves in the US when we get out there and what our immigration plans were. Asked if he had to be in England "so long" to finish up my K1 visa process. Probably to make sure my man wasn't trying to stay in the UK illegally. In the end he just said "thank you, you've answered all of my questions" and then hung up. My husband came through the gates about 20 minutes later at which point I was freaking out and my mum was shouting at the airport staff and threatened to go through the "No Entry" gate to find out what was going on XD.

So, word of advice - as you're unemployed and just to be safe, get a sponsorship letter from your girlfriend and have her pick you up at the airport. The UKBA website recommends this. You can also find other suggestions on the UKBA website. I spent an hour or two looking at it before hubby flew up and sent him everything/brought everything with me that they could possibly ask for. If they hadn't had my phone number and been able to speak to me, my husband is certain he wouldn't have been allowed in. You could get through easily, but there is always the chance you could get someone with their nuts in a twist like we did the second time.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Have you thought about staying for maybe just a month or so or maybe less? This might be better from a border perspective, but also because staying with someone else so long without helping out financially can be quite a burden on them. I assume you are young, but very extended houseguests are expected to buy groceries and contribute in a monetary capacity. I'm a little worried that despite what they've said to you about this, that it might be perceived rude not to.

Just some food for thought.