Borderline Student Visa

Edited to add- when I was at Gatwick, the immigration officer stamped this in my passport- didn't say I couldn't work, but that it had to be authorized. 

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Rose, when the officer stamped that in your passport, did he write a date on it?  Or was it just implied that you would leave within 6 months?  Maybe that stamp inherently means that you will leave within 6 months?  I'M SO CONFUSED!!!

Luxie, he did indeed write a date- June 30th.  I came in on Feb 2nd, so my leave to enter was for less than six months, but this probably has something to do with the fact that I do not have a US passport (yet!) and the passport I do hold is from a "third world" country.  I showed him my plane ticket which said I was leaving on June 13th (my course ended on June 11), and he said, "well, if you change your mind and want to travel a bit, I'll give you till the end of the month."    I can't imagine that you would be given leave less than 6 months as a US Citizen, though.  Also doubtful they'd be willing to fudge it a few days in the other direction- that 6 month marker seems to be a consistent deliniation in immigration-land between short-stayers and long-stayers.

This is definitely a question for Garry or Victoria- hopefully they'll chime in with some advice!

  Also doubtful they'd be willing to fudge it a few days in the other direction- that 6 month marker seems to be a clear deliniation between short-stayers and long-stayers.

This is definitely a question for Garry or Victoria- hopefully they'll chime in with some advice!

Rose,
Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking.  And I figured out that I only want to stay about 6 months and 1 week!  I wouldn't make such a big deal about it and just leave after 6 months but I wanted to fly straight to Kansas where my cousin is getting married July 8 (I live in Michigan).  This means that if I have to leave after 6 months instead of staying a bit longer, I'll have to fly to Michigan THEN to Kansas (such much less convenient and more money).  Going to Kansas a week earlier wouldn't be an option.  AHH! So complicated.   

Thanks so much everyone for trying to help though, I really do appreciate it. 

I MIGHT have found the answer!!!

This is under visitor visas on this site:  http://www.britainusa.com/visas/other_show.asp?SarticleType=25&Other_ID=315

"With a visit visa you can usually enter and leave the UK any number of times while it is still valid. You cannot stay for longer than six months on each visit. Visit visas can be valid for 6 months, one year, two years, five years or ten years. You can apply for a visa valid for any of these periods. The Entry Clearance Officer may decide to make your visa valid for a shorter time than you have asked for, for example if are not a regular traveller or have never visited the UK before."

OK, so I don't qualify for a student visa over 6 months.  Maybe I could apply for the 1 year visitor's visa and show proof that I'm leaving in less than one year.  If I send proof of my wedding on September 2nd, maybe they would grant me a 1 year visitors visa?  I would just explain that I only want to stay 1 week more than 6 months and I want to make sure that I'm not overstaying a 6 months visitors visa.  I'm not sure how they would respond to this? 

Also, if I apply for a spousal visa later in 2006 and I still have a valid visitor visa would this cause a problem? 

It seems like the answer to apply for a 1 year visitor's visa.   I just do NOT want to get refused!

 You cannot stay for longer than six months on each visit.

DAMN!!!  Cancel that last post.. GRRRRRR IS THERE NO WAY AROUND THIS?!? 


I am going to Spain in March.. does that count for leaving the UK?!  Maybe that would work? 

yes, that sounds likely especially if you come as a visitor studying under 6 months... no need for entry clearance either.

how long will you be gone? at least long enough for you to return under your 6 months. just make sure you get stamped out and back in.

yes, that sounds likely especially if you come as a visitor studying under 6 months... no need for entry clearance either.

how long will you be gone? at least long enough for you to return under your 6 months. just make sure you get stamped out and back in.

 I dunno, I think I'm hopeless.