Hey guys, im back. No lies this time (and thanks for your help so far)

What experience have you guys/partners had with the UK Border, in coming to visit your boyfriend/girlfriend? Is there anything you can do to make the process easier, especially for a first time visitor?

Thanks

Johnny

When the question is 'Where are you staying?' and the answer is 'my boyfriend's house' then the interrogation level kicks up a bit. They'll want to know more about the return and what you do in the USA.

If it is a first time visitor, no stamp in passport, then best to prepare for a few questions. I would strongly recommend printing out a return e-ticket / passenger receipt, along with having some details on where they will stay. If they have a job to return to in the USA some proof of that, like a business card. Show there is something waiting for you back in the USA.

Thanks for the reply!

Shes only 17, im 19, so would a letter from her employer help? Secondly, ive visited her 10 times, would including any of my flight tickets to her be of any help?

Is travelling on her own to the UK aged 17 (18 in April) in March likely to cause issues? She lands at 6;30am, I arrive into Edinburgh from Amsterdam, returning from a vacation at 10;30am. Would giving her my flight tickets to show the border official that ill meet her there be beneficial?

Thanks and sorry for the questions, I just wanna make sure she doesn't get denied entry.

Thanks again

Johnny

There is no way to "make sure". I suggest minimizing the proof of your relationship, and focus more on her ties to the USA (work, school, financial) and that she won't be overstaying or working illegally in the UK.

Rene

Information only.

On the Amsterdam-Edinburgh route the staff used to keep a close eye on young/dodgy..whatever the profile was, people arriving from Amsterdam in case they were carrying drugs.

Thanks for your replies.

Rene, you recommend more focusing upon ties to the USA? When she comes to Scotland, she will be visiting me but also the University of St Andrews where I study but she has also been accepted, for a visit day. Would bringing letters of acceptance to US colleges along with a letter from her job (as a waitress) coupled with financial statements showing $3,000 in her account be more beneficial than proof of our relationship?

Hotscot, this will be my 4th trip to Amsterdam. I go to simply relax, not smoke or drink. I don't do either of them. I Just enjoy the vibe, the museums, the proximity to Den Haag and Rotterdam, along with the day trips to Brussels/Dusseldorf.

Thanks

Daniel

Well as you ask, and having worked alongside the immigration officers at Heathrow for a considerable number of years. I would say she is going to get questioned, be subjected to what we refer to as secondary inspection in the US, and quite possibly refused entry. She has a better chance of being landed at Heathrow rather than Gatwick.

In similar circumstances, several years ago, my sons girlfriend came for a visit from South Carolina, arriving at Gatwick. I personally spoke with the immigration officer, and vouched for her and assured them I was covering her expenses in the US, and would ensure she left when required, she was refused
entry. This while I worked in an immigration hall at Heathrow and immigration staff vouched for me.

I hope times have changed and my doubts are unfounded as she has no problems.

Ok, a 17-year-old girlfriend is going to go through quite a bit more than say a 30-year-old girlfriend, and a job as a waitress and $3k in the bank is not really all that convincing. Her college acceptances would be good, especially if she has accepted and is planning to enroll soon. Does she lease an apartment in the USA? Bank accounts are ok but $3k isn't all that much. A return ticket is a MUST I would say. Should be printed and all that. In fact all of this stuff should be organized into a folder of materials and with her when she walks up to the counter (i.e. not "oh, it's in my luggage" or a disorganized shamble of papers strewn all over the place here and there). Try to appear professional about the whole thing.

Any chance her parents could come with her? She'd breeze through as part of a family.

Maybe an itinerary of her trip, if she was doing some tourist things. Show that she is going to see such and such tourist thing (or even have tickets) to help show this is a short visit (how long is she coming over for?)

Acceptance to St. Andrews and your relationship with her would be negatives I would think. These are things that would indicate a desire to remain in the UK at some point in the future.

So, the acceptance to st Andrews and a visit day would appear in your eyes to be a negative?

Well she has acceptances to Ohio State so that would be a good idea to bring. $3k in the bank isn't massive no, but a letter from her employer saying they expect her back wouldn't be negative?

I agree, a folder worth of information can only be good. I just changed my flight so ill be in the airport overnight waiting for her arrival, so hopefully if any issues arise they will contact/find me in the airport.

I suppose then, if I give her;

my contact information
my previous tickets there (would that be unnecessary or would it show that this relationship isn't new and that this is simply her visiting me like I visit her?)
ohio state acceptance letters
bank statement
letter from employer

Do you see all that as being a comprehensive list or have I forgotten anything?

Thanks

Daniel

Oh and yeah, shes coming from the 27th March (arriving morning of 28th) until 8th April.

Does she have a visa for her place at St Andrews? Or at least one in progress? Personally I would put her place at St Andrews "front and centre" as the reason for her visit, and down-play everything else. "She's here to visit the uni, plain and simple. Yeah, she's staying with a friend for a few days, but she has a return ticket." I would certainly not recommend giving her anything that points to or proves a substantial or long term relationship with you; that is the exact opposite of what you need to do: ties to the US, "business reason to be in the UK, personal relationship: nah, nothing substantial. "

To Lansbury's experience, there are lots of foreign students in the UK, probably more than ever, so a young person traveling alone to visit a university shouldn't be that unusual. At her age ties to her own country are going to be few and "of poor quality". Is she currently studying? ... Perhaps a letter from the school principal stating that she is expected back on x date and needs to attend until y date in order to get the credits she needs to graduate should help both directly and give credibility to her story about visiting the uni. Does she have any correspondence from St Andrews, anything with her name on it? ETA I see you said she is working, so yes, a letter that she is expected back at work should help, and certainly won't harm.

Is it an official visit day arranged by the Uni? I thought you just meant she would 'visit' the school one day with you. If it is something formal (and documented) I would bring and show that.

How long is she staying?

Also I would agree with Pulaski. Your relationship with her is a negative in their eyes. Minimizing it is probably better

Pulaski, thanks for your incredibly reassuring response.

She doesn't have a visa no because the course at St Andrews is a four year course, commencing September 2015. The Tier 4 Student Visa, you cant apply any earlier than 90 days before the start of the course, so she cant apply until early June. She has several letters from St Andrews, including an unconditional acceptance letter and a letter showing her visit day on the 1st April. (yes it is an official visit day, as listed on the University of St Andrews website).

Her return ticket is for the 8th, one week after the visit, so we can do some travelling around Scotland.

A letter from the principal is a great idea, didn't think of that. On top of that, if the officer asks who she stays with, should she say friend or boyfriend? Is it better to say 'im staying with a friend' or 'im staying with my boyfriend who happens to study at the university of st andrews' ? Would the tickets from my 10 trips to visit her be of any benefit to the UK border official showing we have a habit of visiting and leaving and that its a bona fide relationship?

Along with the documents I mentioned before, I shall add;

Letter from school principal
All correspondence from St Andrews

Thanks

Daniel John Stephenson

"Staying with a friend" would be my recommendation. ...... And nothing that demonstrates a substantive relationship, so no tickets, definitely not. In the worst case that shows (i) a relationship, and (ii) you keep returning to the UK ..... "obviously with the intent that your girlfriend comes over and stays, remains in the UK." Do not leave that thought hanging, ready to be picked.

My only issue with 'staying with a friend' would be, what happens if they ask, how do you know this friend? how did you meet? etc etc..would it not be better to be honest up front rather than skirt around the edges?

Thanks

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