Help! Does it ever end?

Hello all..nice web site and forum!
    Just asking for a little advice.  My fiance and I were planning on getting married in 2005.  I am from the US and he is Scottish.  He has a well established career here, so in love as I am, I offered to move here.  We figured I would come here on the "6 month visa waiver" offered to Americans, apply for my finace visa in a few months from here (buy us time to plan a wedding) and I would go home for a little while in October then come back after a couple of weeks and get married next spring.  The lady at customs put a stop to those fairytale dreams, with a smile, of course.  After being pulled aside and interrogated for some time I was told I must be on my return flight in Oct. (only 4 months into my allowed 6)  and if I were to try to come back without a visa or clearance without some significant time away from the UK I will be "red-flagged" and may be refused entrance. 
  Please keep in mind I only said I was coming to visit my boyfriend and his family for the summer.  My passport has been stamped accordingly.
   Does anyone know the best route to take through all of this. 
   Can they kick me out?or refuse me entrance?
    Can a fiance visa for myself be issued from the UK or do I have to go home to do it? If so, what are the chances of me getting one approved after being in the UK for so long?

   Any help would be appreciated.  Much thanks in advance!

           Melissa.
           

You shouldnt worry Melissa. Fiancee visas are no sweat. I dont think you can apply for one from the UK, but getting one in the US from your local counsulate can be done in one day (last time I checked - its been 3 years since I did mine lol! Someone correct me if Im wrong, Im no expert these days). As long as you can show that you have genuine case of true love, intentions to marry and stay married, and that your husband-to-be will be able to support you financially, you'll have your visa in no time.

Now when I did my fiancee visa I had 90 days from the day I entered the UK on my visa to get married. That was plenty of time for us but theres nothing to stop you doing your homework for the event right now.

The fact that you've been to the UK a for a while is a good thing because it shows you have likely met your fiancee and that you've taken steps to spend time with him. As long as you havent previously overstayed any visa or visawaiver entrance you've been granted and dont overstay on your next trip - there's nothing to red flag the counsulate. So when you go back in October just take a day and hop on over to your counsulate in the USA and get that visa. While youre in the UK you can prepare for getting your visa by getting documents together. When I applied I had to provide a letter of intent signed by Martin that affirmed he knew I was applying for a visa and supported my application. I also had to provide his passport and a letter from his employer to show that he has sufficient income to support us. The requirements may have changed a bit, but you can get all the documents from your fiance while youre visiting.

Good luck!!
Sarah

I have to agree ....fiance' visa's are very easy. You do need to be in the US to apply and can do it via mail or in person. There are not many places in person so depends how close you are to one of the sites as to what is most convenient. A Fiance' visa is good for 6 months (and you can have them post date it to whenever you plan to fly over) so you would be able to go back and have time to plan your wedding once you obtain the fiance' visa. The site that has all the information you need is :

http://www.britainusa.com/visas/visas.asp

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more specific questions. I received my fiance' visa in May and am getting ready to head over in August and be married in October.
Helena

   Does anyone know the best route to take through all of this. 

Yes.  Enjoy your 4 months in the UK and then go back to the US in October and obtain your fiance visa.  Come back, plan your wedding and enjoy.

   Can they kick me out?or refuse me entrance?

Yes, they absolutely can.  There have been stories from members here who have tried to do what you are trying to do and have either nearly been refused or been refused entry.

    Can a fiance visa for myself be issued from the UK or do I have to go home to do it? If so, what are the chances of me getting one approved after being in the UK for so long?

No, you must return to the US to obtain a fiance visa.  Chances of it being approved are probably extremely favourable.  Referring again to another member, she was one of the ones mentioned above and was actually denied entry.  Found herself on a plane to NY with her children.  She obtained fiance visa and returned within a few days, I believe it was.  I do not see why you'd have any problem and if you apply in person you will have it in a day.

Best of luck Melissa and welcome to UKY!

Now when I did my fiancee visa I had 90 days from the day I entered the UK on my visa to get married.

Wow, Sarah, I find this unusual and fiance visas are usually good for 6 months and you have to be married within that time.  Do you know why you had such a stipulation?

hmmm... maybe it was that I had 90 days to actually use the visa, that seems more logical. I cant rememeber - it was 3 years ago nearly. There werent any conditions to my visa - it was box standard. *shrug*

When I got mine they said I had 90 days to use it (ie fly to England) and then once I was in England I had 6 months there...

makes sense.

Yes, they absolutely can.  There have been stories from members here who have tried to do what you are trying to do and have either nearly been refused or been refused entry.


Can you link to those? I don't really understand the reason..

Can you link to those? I don't really understand the reason..

Unfortunately, the threads referred to are 2 years old now and I do not remember where they were posted.  The 2 members I am referring to are Marlespo and Peedal, both who still actively post here.  Perhaps they will be willing to share their stories with you again.  The most recent case of someone sharing they were denied entry (than I can think of off the top of my head) was a guy who came over to spend 6 months with his online love who he had not yet met.  He intended to tell the truth when he got to the Immigration desk.  He instead lied about having met his lady and was found out.  They denied him entry and sent him back to the US.  This person doesn't post here anymore and he didn't share his story here but in an online journal. 

The reason is that the visa waiver is for people who are coming here for a visit, ie plan to return home at the end of their stay, that is why you have to have a return ticket.  If they get a whiff that you may be planning on staying longer, for whatever reason you can be turned around. This is especially so in the case of someone coming over to get married as there is a specific visa for that - ie a fiance visa. If you can show them you have something to go back to at home (eg a job, course of study) they would be less likely to turn you round.  Bottom line - you can't just up and move here on the visa waiver, that is not what it was intended for.