Visa and the Entry Clearance

Ok, correct me if I'm wrong (please!) but I can't find anything about this in this forum.  I can imagine it must get annoying to all of you veterans who have seen the same questions answered over and over and over (although amazingly you're still have helpful after the 100th time). 

Anyway... I'm still confused.  I've read through this site:  http://www.britainusa.com/visas/visas.asp

Is the visa the entry clearance?  Are they two separate things you must apply for?  When you are approved for the visa are you automatically approved for the entry clearance?  I'm confused because I know relatively recently the UK has implemented this entry clearance thing and I'm not understanding how it was different than before (besides more government checks on their part).    I must be totally just missing something here?

the way I think of a visa is the actual little stamp/sticker in your passport... each country have different rules on how you can get them. So to settle in the UK, for example (as there are many other reasons for a clearance), you need to have an entry clearance which is the okay that you statisfy whatever they are asking. As you have probably read, even a clearance doesn't mean you are definitely allowed it. That would be up to the immigration officer upon arrival who then issues your "visa" the lovely little stamp hello, welcome to our country!

make sense? perhaps my terms are incorrect, but that's my understanding.

the way I think of a visa is the actual little stamp/sticker in your passport... each country have different rules on how you can get them. So to settle in the UK, for example (as there are many other reasons for a clearance), you need to have an entry clearance which is the okay that you statisfy whatever they are asking. As you have probably read, even a clearance doesn't mean you are definitely allowed it. That would be up to the immigration officer upon arrival who then issues your "visa" the lovely little stamp hello, welcome to our country!

make sense? perhaps my terms are incorrect, but that's my understanding.

Your answer makes sense becuase I've seen some pictures (Googled) for a student visa that say "UK Entry Clearance" right on the top of them.  I guess I got confused because the US student visas say "VISA" right on the top of the half page sheet with the picture glued right in the passport (my DF had one).  Hmm... maybe the two countries are different then in what they call an actual "visa"?

For example--

UK Student:
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Prepare/Visa/StudentVisa.jpg

US Student:
http://seattlecentral.org/international/immigration_images/visa.jpg


  You see what I mean

okay think of it this way...

to enter the UK you need a reason i.e., tourist, fiance, work permit holder, spouse, dependent, etc

not all of these necessarily need an "entry clearance"

for example, when I entered the UK in the past, I was a tourist. My visa stamp said I could stay up to 6 months, can't work or seek public funds.

now someone is requesting to stay (or were denied entry in the past or require a clearance etc etc) in the UK so they need some sort of proof that they will take care of themselves or have someone to help them out. I look at the entry clearance as another hoop to jump before you get to the country so if you need to sort anything out before you get there it is done... instead of in a crowed immigration line.

I see what you mean though by the sematics of what is actually on the sticker or stamp. I am going over on a work permit and from what I heard last it is just a stamp... no fancy little pictured sticker like some of the other visas.

the way I think of a visa is the actual little stamp/sticker in your passport... each country have different rules on how you can get them. So to settle in the UK, for example (as there are many other reasons for a clearance), you need to have an entry clearance which is the okay that you statisfy whatever they are asking. As you have probably read, even a clearance doesn't mean you are definitely allowed it. That would be up to the immigration officer upon arrival who then issues your "visa" the lovely little stamp hello, welcome to our country!

make sense? perhaps my terms are incorrect, but that's my understanding.

Hi
So are you saying that once you have mailed your application (we are doing un-married partner) to immigration and hopefully get approved, there is still no guarantee you will get in until you are at the airport in front of an immigration officer there to stamp the passport ?
As I was once told on this site that the Entry Clearance and visa is one of the same.
Thanks

so I have heard anyhow... the ultimate discretion is up to the immigration official upon arrival. The entry clearance helps move things along. 

Lou31, I notice your posts show quite a bit of concern for the visa process. As long as you are honest throughout the entire process and can prove your relationship according to the standards asked by the UK then you should be fine.

Good luck to you.

Thank you.
It is such a big move that I just want try and  get it alright and have no problems

so I have heard anyhow... the ultimate discretion is up to the immigration official upon arrival. The entry clearance helps move things along. 

Not really. 

This is the way it worked prior to the Immigration Service being reorganised under the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.  After that they changed the rules because it doesn't make sense to have two departments contradicting each other when they both report in at the same level to the same entity.

So refusing entry to someone with an entry clearance is not as straight-forward as it used to be, and the allowable circumstances are quite restricted.

And it has to be approved by someone at the rank of Inspector or above.

so for example, they won't just turn you away because you are wearing white sneakers and bermudas in January but would if you said things that could be construed as a terriorist threat... or violently ill with bird flu, etc