Is it overstaying if under 6 mos ??? help

Hello,

Can anyone help me. I am not sure what exactly an "over stayer" is. Is that when you come in and stay more than the 6 months allowed on the visa waiver? Or does it also make you one if you come into the UK with a return ticket for a few weeks, but stay a few months (not over 6)? I am confused about this. How would they know you stayed over a couple of extra weeks (not exceeding the 6 month rule) and what happens then? Sorry, I am planning a visit for 3 weeks, but may decide to stay for another week or 2 and the return ticket may need to get changed while I am in the Uk and I don't want to jeopordize my future plans to move there in a few months on a fiance visa. We need to go over a few wedding details and it might take longer than I originally bought my ticket for. Please HELP!

You are an overstayer if you stay longer than the visa you have been granted allows you to.  

If you have a return ticket for a few weeks but decide to stay longer, you'll be okay as long as you leave before your 6 months is up  

Thanks so much for your reply. I am new to all this and I just want to do everything the right way. I appreciate the info.

For those of you who may have changed your tickets while there, did it cause any problems when you came back through immigration on a future trip?

D

I was there on a student visa that expired on 30 Oct 03 and had arrived on a one-way ticket (which of course i would NOT recommend on a tourist visa).  When I left I bought another one-way ticket to return to America in Sept, got a changeable ticket and moved my departure date back a week, but still left before my visa ran out.
In my situation, non of the authorities were (i assume) had any knowlege of my plane ticket flight date because I bought my ticket in the UK.

I would think, though I am no expert, that though they may (or may not) ask to see your return iterary on your way through immigration simply to verify that you don't intend to stay permanently.  Any ticket changes you make will be through the airline or your travel agent and as long as you do not overstay your visa, you should be fine.

When going in December of 2002, my return ticket was originally for 18 January, 2003.  I wound up staying on until 23 April.  Only thing was, we had to travel to the BA office in Birmingham to physically change my ticket.  Other than that, no problems whatsoever  (I'll be doing the same thing this time.. my ticket is actually for return 2 weeks later, but I'll be there for another 4 months.)