Gatwick Experiences

Just wondering if anyone else has landed or will land at Gatwick when coming in with your spouse visa?

I would rather land at Heathrow but the tickets that we are able to find all seem to be landing there....unfortunately I have some bad memories associated with my previous entry refusal.as a visitor there. I know I have gotten my spouses visa this time and things are differently but if anyone else can share their knowledge or experience, I would appreciate it!

I seem to always fly in and out of Gatwick.  They are great.

Your first time through they'll ask you the name of your spouse, how long you've been married, things like that.  Just making sure you are who you say you are.  They'll ask you those questions while they scan in your passport.  They'll then look at the vignette while you do your fingerprints.  Then they'll stamp your visa and send you on your merry way.  They might even say something nice!   

Should be a breeze compared to every other trip you've ever made to the UK!

So glad to hear that you've got your visa.  I've flown through Gatwick several times and never had any problems, especially now that I have my visa. 

Your first time going through with the visa will have a few more questions than subsequent entries, but it should be nothing compared to entering as a visitor.  Is your SO travelling with you?  Mine came through the line with me but it's not a problem if you enter alone (as long as your SO is already in the UK).  I just told the officer that it was my first time entering on the visa.  He checked it over, took my fingerprints (might have taken a photo, I can't remember), asked me if we were still married, stamped my visa, and sent me on my way. 

Every entry after has been very simple.  I don't have a BRP so I just say that I have a visa on my landing card.  Sometimes they ask me what I do in the UK, if I am still married to my husband, etc.  The last entry (Saturday evening), the only question was about the weather.  Just remember that you've done the hard part already.  You have the visa, it should be smooth sailing from here!

Mev33 my husband and I are in London currently to pick up my BRP. We landed at Gatwick on Monday afternoon and had no problem getting through immigration. The immigration officer didn't ask me any questions. FYI we went through the UK/EU line. Based on my experience I don't think you will have any issues.

Mev this is unrelated to Gatwick but wanted to share since you did have a prior refusal. I did too as a visitor and when I came through with my husband and my vignette the refusal popped up and they asked me about it. I explained it was prior to me applying for spousal and they made me go sit in the roped off area while he took my passport. I started getting scared bc that's what they did when they refused me too. He came back handed me my passport and said they removed the flag so it shouldn't be an issue in the future. But since he didn't take me back to his desk and handed me my passport I didn't think to look if he stamped it. He did not. I was able to pickup up my BRP card but they questioned me a about when I landed since I didn't have a stamp. I emailed my attorney and he says it should be fine and he's made a note of it.

Hopefully you won't have a similar experience but I just didn't want it to unnerve you like it did me.

Best of luck to you!!

Just wondering if anyone else has landed or will land at Gatwick when coming in with your spouse visa?

I would rather land at Heathrow but the tickets that we are able to find all seem to be landing there....unfortunately I have some bad memories associated with my previous entry refusal.as a visitor there. I know I have gotten my spouses visa this time and things are differently but if anyone else can share their knowledge or experience, I would appreciate it!

Thank you guys all for the info. Yes will be traveling with my hubby so we will go through together in the UK/EU line. My previous visitor refusal may indeed pop up LKK, thanks for sharing your experience bc it would have for sure unnerved me and brought back horrid memories. I'm just glad my hubby will be with me. When they pulled you aside, did your hubby stay with you or did he have to go on without you for that moment?

Anyone else had previous visitor refusals and then be pulled aside when entering with your official spouse visa?

But since he didn't take me back to his desk and handed me my passport I didn't think to look if he stamped it. He did not. I was able to pickup up my BRP card but they questioned me a about when I landed since I didn't have a stamp. I emailed my attorney and he says it should be fine and he's made a note of it.

The stamp evidences the date you entered the country and it's important because that's the date that starts the clock towards your FLR and ILR.

If you don't have the stamp, I think you would have to provide some other evidence of when you entered. Do you still have your boarding passes?

He was able to come with me so I was very thankful for that.

Thank you guys all for the info. Yes will be traveling with my hubby so we will go through together in the UK/EU line. My previous visitor refusal may indeed pop up LKK, thanks for sharing your experience bc it would have for sure unnerved me and brought back horrid memories. I'm just glad my hubby will be with me. When they pulled you aside, did your hubby stay with you or did he have to go on without you for that moment?

Anyone else had previous visitor refusals and then be pulled aside when entering with your official spouse visa?

I have my online boarding passes. They did scan my fingerprints so won't they have some way of showing I came into the country?

I'm going to the US soon for a week so if they don't count my September entry will the November return be able to count?

The stamp evidences the date you entered the country and it's important because that's the date that starts the clock towards your FLR and ILR.

If you don't have the stamp, I think you would have to provide some other evidence of when you entered. Do you still have your boarding passes?

I have my online boarding passes. They did scan my fingerprints so won't they have some way of showing I came into the country?

I'm going to the US soon for a week so if they don't count my September entry will the November return be able to count?

Keep everything.  You'll need it for your next visa, ILR, and citizenship (should you choose).  A real shame they didn't stamp it!