Tourist Visa

Hi peeps

Got a  couple of questions regarding the UK tourist visa. Hopefully someone can guide me.

I have a friend (US citizen) who would like to come over for an extended visit of up to 6 months. She would stay with us for the duration. She is married but separated and will come for a visit when her job finishes. She has a house in the US.
I am a UK citizen, own a house and have a good job.

1. How easy are 6 month tourist visas to obtain? Should she apply for a tourist visa in the US or can she just show up and ask/apply or whatever tourists do upon arrival?

2. If she were given a 3 month visa, at the end of the visa time could she apply to stay longer within the 6 month limit or would she need to leave the country and reapply/re-enter? She intends to visit France and Germany for a week or two during her trip over here.

2. Should she apply for less than 6 months and ask for an extension (up to the 6 months limit) while here? Is that possible?

3. Should I provide her with any documents to support that she will not require state support or health care and will have access to funds. She will have her own medical insurance while on holiday. She will have a return ticket (return date would be determined by respones to this post).

4. What documents should she send/bring with her?

Thanking ya'll in advance

If she's a US citizen and hasn't been denied entry into the UK before, there's no need to apply for a tourist visa (they wouldn't process any application). 

If her tickets show that she's leaving in six months, she'll need to show proof that she intends to return to the US and that she'll be able to support herself financial during the trip.

When I came on a tourist visa, I didn't apply for anything. I bought a ticket and that's it. I didn't have to prove anything to anyone. A tourist visa in the UK is 6 months. Anything past that, I have no idea about.

Thanks Lola and HappyUtopia

Do they stamp the passport with a time frame or is it stamped for 6 months?

Should I provide her with a letter of a invite and documents to show I own the house where she will be staying? How do you show ownership of a house that is under a mortgage?

Thanks again

Do they stamp the passport with a time frame or is it stamped for 6 months?

They stamp the passport with the date of entry and a stamp saying "leave to enter for six months."

Thanks Lola and HappyUtopia

Do they stamp the passport with a time frame or is it stamped for 6 months?

Should I provide her with a letter of a invite and documents to show I own the house where she will be staying? How do you show ownership of a house that is under a mortgage?

Yes they will stamp it will a stamp that says "leave to enter for six months, employment and recourse to public funds prohibited" or something like that.

Again, you are probablly overthinking this.   If she is an American, who hasn't been to the UK a huge amount, they simply are going to ask "What are you here for?" She will say "To visit some friends" and they will say "When are you leaving?" she will say "In 2 months" and they will say "Oh, that is great" STAMP STAMP.  She does need a return ticket and should have that on her.  Even if she plans on changing her ticket possibly, as long as she stays less than 6 months she is fine, but it is best to tell the ECO the date on her tickets.

She will be presented with a landing card on her way over.  That will ask specifically where she plans to stay and for how long etc, so she should have your address handing when landing.

The ECOs will only get worried if she has been coming over every 6 months for 2 years, or she says something like "I'm here to get married"... or "I just can't wait to get on the dole."  The horror stories you sometimes read on this board have to do with people coming in on multiple entries and trying to streach the rules, or coming from an economically disadvantaged part of the world.  And even then, the horror stories aren't that bad.