Disneyland Paris -- re-entering UK

My fiancee is planning on taking me to Disneyland Paris (yayy!!  ) when I come over during my winter break from school.  I was wondering what kind of documentation I should take over with me to Paris, for on the way there and on the way back, to make customs go as smoothly as possible?  I don't want any hassle or anything about them thinking I'm leaving the UK and coming back trying to stay longer...I do have to return to school for spring semester, after all! (It's my last semester starting in January, why would I want to miss it? lol)

But anyway, yeah, I don't plan on having any trouble getting through into England when I first get there, seeing as I've never overstayed a visa, and the last time I was there (when I left last) was August '05, so by the time I get back there I'll have been gone a year and a half.  (Does anyone see any trouble with that?  Even something like if they asked where I was staying...would saying "with my fiancee" raise any flags?  I'm scared about that  )  I just want to know what kinds of things I should take besides my passport to France.  Thanks!!

It shouldn't be much of a problem.  I did the same (although not for Disneyland Paris, but just for a week's stay in the city) and traveled via Eurostar.  I didn't find entering customs there anywhere near as intimidating as anytime I'd travelled to the UK.  Just be honest.. say you're there for a few days' time sight-seeing.  Have the address of the place you'll be staying while there, and you should be set.  French customs shouldn't be too concerned as your fiance is a UK citizen (I assume) and therefore not particularly a threat that you'd try to overstay.  Upon re-entering the UK, just make sure you have your return ticket to America sorted and perhaps avoid using "fiance"

What type of visa are you coming on over?  Are you saying you are just a visitor's visa or are you saying that you have a student visa?

French customs is not likely going to be a problem, but coming back from France on a visitors visa can depend on what type of IO you come across if you are on over with a visitors visa.  If you have been on a visitors visa > 6 months out of the last 12, they may very well assume that you are not returning to the UK as a visitor.

Depending on what type of visa you have, answering "with my fiancé" might very well raise some flags.  If they think that you are trying to trying to enter as a visitor when in fact you are a fiancée might cause some problems.  I am not saying that any of this will happen, but it is possible and there isn't really any sort of defense for it.

There are horror stories of IOs going through peoples personal belongings and reading diaries in order to sniff out those that are "subverting the process".  Again, for as many stories that have gone horribly wrong, there are 10 that have gone just fine.  I hate to say it though, but IOs love picking out young women to pick on about these sort of things.  If you were a middle aged male in a business suit, they wouldn't give you a second look.

I'll be entering on a visitor's visa, and I haven't been on one for any months out of the last 12--I haven't been there for 18 months.  I'm only staying for 3 weeks, too, so I'm not even staying anywhere near a full visitor visa allowance.  I don't keep a diary or anything, so if they went through my bag, all they'd find is like...a cd player and some books 

I'm wondering what I do if I don't have a return ticket in hand.  I bought my tickets from a travel agent and this is the first time that they didn't hand me paper tickets--I have to check in at the airport to get them.  When my fiancee did that coming over, he only got tickets for his flight coming one way, and didn't get his return tickets until he went to the airport to go home.

You should be fine re-entering the UK.. as long as you have return travel arrangements already made and 3 weeks' time doesn't raise any flags.. but I'd caution against saying "fiance"

Is an itenerary valid proof for return flight, especially if I don't get given my return flight tickets when I check in to leave the US and go to the UK?

What would I say instead of fiancee then    I wouldn't want to lie and get caught doing it--that'd be a load of trouble.  I do have a rock on my finger, after all.  He's said fiancee the last couple of times he's come to the US and been fine, but that's just him.

I thought about having handy my itenerary and a copy of my school schedule for the spring, and maybe a copy of the lease to my apartment, just in case I get hassled coming in.

Is an itenerary valid proof for return flight, especially if I don't get given my return flight tickets when I check in to leave the US and go to the UK?

Yes, an official travel agent or airline itinerary would be sufficient proof of return travel plans.

What would I say instead of fiancee then    I wouldn't want to lie and get caught doing it--that'd be a load of trouble.  I do have a rock on my finger, after all.  He's said fiancee the last couple of times he's come to the US and been fine, but that's just him.

Well, I hope he is also your friend, right?  He would be a close friend that one day you might consider marrying.

I thought about having handy my itenerary and a copy of my school schedule for the spring, and maybe a copy of the lease to my apartment, just in case I get hassled coming in.

More info is always good, especially if you get a grumpy IO, but again, only share what you are asked to share.  If you walk up to the IO and plop down a bunch of paperwork, they are likely to think you are hiding something.  From what you said, there should be no issues at all with your plans!

Thanks everyone.  I'm just super nervous about being told to turn around and go home, I guess.  I have only been to the UK twice, once in 2003 (3 weeks) and once in 2005 (3 months.)  This time will be in december for 3 weeks during my winter break from school.

I was never worried about getting in before.  The first time I went I was naive and never dreamed of being turned away.  The IO that time had me sit aside until everyone was through, asked me what I was doing (travelling and visiting), whom was I visiting (my boyfriend), how did you meet (online), don't I think I'm taking a risk (no, I fully trust him), how much money did I have ($550 for the 3 weeks), where was I staying (with my boyfriend), do my parents know where I am (of course they do), what is his name, where does he work, etc...and they even called him and grilled him too (he was waiting at the airport with his grandparents to pick me up).  The next time I went (for 3 months) all I got was what was the purpose of my visit (travelling and visiting), was I visiting the same boyfriend from last time (yes), was told that we'd been together a really long time then and was told to have a good summer trip.

So obviously they know that he is not merely a friend if they asked if it was the same boyfriend.  I know saying I'm visiting my fiancee and his family for the holidays could cause a heap of trouble, but so could me saying my boyfriend and them finding through questioning that he is more.  It's so stressful it drives me insane    I don't want to be turned around because I've been waiting to see him since he left in July, I've spent $700 for the tickets, we have plans to visit York/Haworth/Edinburgh/Paris, it'll be a great break before I have to crack down on my senior thesis, and because this will be his first christmas without his grandpa, and his grandma's first christmas without her husband, because he passed away recently (in september) and I really want to be there for them.

Gah, I need to stop worrying so much! 

I'm sure you'll be fine... But.. Make sure you get to Cafe Mickey, it's SO much fun! Jamie and I went a few years ago and went for dinner. We sat downstairs and got to see all of the character dance. We got pictures with Eeyore, Mickey, and the Sheriff of Nottingham (I think it's who it was) sat with us for a little. That was the highlight of the holiday. That and the Aerosmith rollercoaster, which we went on about 100 times.

don't just bring a copy of your school schedule- get the registrar's office to type up an official letter on university letterhead saying something like "this is to confirm that kawaiimidori is enrolled in such-and-such degree program and will continue to be studying at xxxx University full-time in the Spring 2007 semester."

Do you have a job? If so, get them to write a letter as well, saying that you're expected back at your job on xxxx date.

Bring bank statements that show you have enough money to support yourself for 3 weeks.

Make a travel itinerary (not talking about your flight here but something that details all the traveling/sightseeing you'll be doing over the three weeks) and then maybe proof that you've made traveling arrangements (like train tickets to Edinburgh, a flight itnerary to Paris, a hostel reservation in York...etc.)  I don't really know whether all of that will actually make a difference in the end, but if you get into trouble it might help convince the IO that you really are following the rules and are a genuine visitor.

And finally...let the IO's do the talking.  When you get up there just hand them your passport, and wait for them to ask the questions and then answer them truthfully and succinctly- don't volunteer extra info.  It's completely possible they might not ever put you in a position where you would have to say "I'm visiting my boyfriend" or "I'm visiting my fiance."  Have the supporting documents ready if you need them, but don't give them to the IO right away- only hand them over if 1) they ask for it (like your flight itinerary) or 2) they start asking loads of questions and seem suspicious of your intent.

Andrea is right about all the documents and such. Having backup just gives you what you need in case they question more.

I can say this, they are only doing their jobs when they grill you like that. It happens to most people. I was in NY on holiday for 2 weeks and came back and watched everyone ahead of me being asked those questions. Once an answer is given, they ask more because they have to.

Once I got up there and showed my visa, he didn't even care. He just told me to have a nice day.

My point is, just have documentation and be calm and don't worry. You'll be fine. Have a nice trip 

Yes, I do have a job (university dining services  :\\\'( bleh, but it's what pays my rent/for my tickets, so  ). I am going to get a letter from the head manager at the unit when it's closer to the end of the semester.  I also thought of going to my rental agency and asking for an official copy of my lease with a signature from someone who works in the agency.  I have a few recent bank statements so I'll be sure to pack those along, too.  And I don't have any of the tickets or iteneraries for any of our trips because my fiancee is sorting out Paris, and we don't buy tickets for trains in advance--we just go and buy them that day, so I don't know what to do about that.

I've never been asked to show documentation before (never even thought of bringing any) but I figure it's time to start taking it, just in case.  This should be my last time travelling without a visa anyway!

Sounds like you'll have MORE than enough but it's always better to have too much than not enough. No worries. You'll get through without a hitch

Thanks so much, guys.  I can't wait to be back! (and away from school!)