Stressing!!!

First off, I am new here. Name's Beth. 20 years old.
From the US. And I have a wonderful boyfriend in the UK.

So, with that being said, I have plans to travel to England in January to see him
for his birthday. I want to travel on a slow day, because this will be my very first
time flying on a plane AND going outside of the country. But he would like me to be
there for his birthday AND Valentine's Day. So that would total up to almost, if not,
3 weeks.
I have no idea what to expect. My mother married a man from England and he told
me that my age, marital status and reason for going there is going to set off some
radars. So, I've been trying to prepare for this as best I could.
I have a job. I am a shift manager where I work. I will be getting a letter from my
employer stating that they know when I'll be leaving and when they expect me to
return back to work. I am also planning on bringing a bank statement to show them
my earnings so that they see I have money for when I will be in the country.
I will be staying with him when I'm there.
I didn't meet him online, I met him right here, at my house. He is good friends with
my mother's husband's brother. So he came with them when they visited over the
summer.

I am so terrified of being denied entry! I don't know what else I could bring to show
proof that I do plan on coming home. I live with my mother, so I do not own property
or rent a place. And I don't know whether 3 weeks is too long to stay there.
Any input would be so greatly appreciated. 

Hi Beth, I'm sure there are people who know more about this, but I think you will be fine.  Especially with the letter from your employer.  Also your return ticket is another way to prove you are going back.  Three weeks is not a long time (I went for a lot longer) to be visiting.

Good luck on your trip.

Yes, I think you will be fine.  You'll have the letter from your employer and your return ticket.  Your mom is right that young single American women are singled out because they are the biggest abusers and often try to immigrate without going through the proper channels.  But 3 weeks is a reasonable amount of time.  If it was 3 months it may raise some eyebrows, though, but even so others here come for longer visits with no troubles.

I agree with Stacey and Andee, you should be fine.  Short visits like yours are often done without the IO blinking an eye, just be calm and honest during your interview.  Have a great trip!

I've been hopping back and forth several times a year for a decade (ugh! I feel so tired). The most hassle I ever got coming through was a "you're not here to get married, are you?"

Hi Beth,

As has been said previously you should be ok with all docs that you have. Try not to get too stressed and answer any questions you are asked to the best of your ability. Enjoy your stay! 

Hi Beth and Welcome!
  I did a lot of visiting my now husband before we were engaged and they didn't ever hassle me other than to ask if I have a job at home and when I am to return back to work.  They just want to make sure you aren't going to enter and then disappear for the most part.  You should be just fine.  3 weeks seems like a lot to some of us who don't really take vacations, but it is totally reasonable.  Don't sweat it!

First of, hello and welcome Beth.

My husbands 19yr old son came over to visit in the summer and I stressed that as a single bloke coming to visit his father who is settled here would raise eyebrows.  He brought a letter from his mom stating that he was fully intending to return to live with here...and aside from that (he didn't have a job or any bank statements) all he had was his return ticket.  In the end he didn't even get questioned.  It sounds as though you have enough evidence that you plan to return, certainly you have way more than he did, so you should be fine.

Good luck with your visit.

Hi Beth!

Don't sweat it! I'm sure you'll be ok...I spent every summer in undergrad (three months of summer vacation!) visiting my now-husband and his family. Funny thing is, I never had any questions asked of me at all! The only time I was questioned was the first summer (when I was studying abroad).

Sounds like you have  your bases covered.With your return ticket and your letter from your employer you  should be ok  but to be honest it just depends  who your  IO  is and how bored they are that  day.. :\\\'(

I want to travel on a slow day, because this will be my very first
time flying on a plane AND going outside of the country.

I was going to say midweek. 

Have a return ticket, your friend's address and money and you will be fine. I think people sweat it too much.

Welcome to UKY!

Slowest time of the week to travel is during the middle of the week. I tend to leave on Wednesdays (was told by the travel agent that this also happens to be the cheapest time of the week to travel)

to be honest it just depends  who your  IO  is and how bored they are that  day.. :\\\'(

VERY true

You going for a 3 week visit isn't going to set off any radar if you arn't married. When I went there last may I was questioned by the IO for about 15 mins. She was really nice...just be yourself and answer all the questions honestly. Do you plan on taking money with you? I took $1000 and she ended up counting it. I also had a letter from my employer...they didn't even read it. I also had a letter from his mom stating that I'd be staying with them and they'd be supporting me throughout my trip...they didn't read that or ask for it.

You'll be fine! It's only a visit and you are returning to the US.

Good luck! Just relax and enjoy

Sounds like you've had your basis covered. One other suggestions I've heard is to not put a journal in your carry-on in case it has something they don't like and they read it.

I was never questioned for more than a minute or two and I traveled over there three times within 9 months.

I plan on taking nothing like that with me. I'm only taking the necessities.
And a few personal belongs that I don't travel without. Just a picture of my dad
and a teddy bear that he got me. Lol.

I was also wondering if maybe a letter from my boyfriend stating that he'll be
supporting me during my stay there would help in any way? Or if it would be needed?

No!  Don't do that.  You need to show you can support yourself in those three weeks if asked, not be supported by others.  Just bring what you were planning on, tell them you are here on vacation (you are) and things will be fine!