PLEASE HELP Boyfriend Coming Over In June, Don't Want Him To Go Back To USA

Hello,

Can someone please help me out?  My boyfriend lives in Indiana USA and I live in South Wales UK.  We've been together nearly 2 years, met up on 2 occassions 1 in Florida and 1 over here in my house in South Wales.  He graduates in May and wants to move here for good.

I've booked tickets for us to attend a festival together in June and we also have a potential holiday booked for July. My biggest question is can he come over in June and return back to his home in Indiana several months later, in say November time without applying for a VISA of any kind, just using his passport? US Passports allow you to stay in a country 6 months at a time don't they without any VISAs?  Plus can we still have the work permit process ongoing whilst he's over here so that way he technically doesn't have to go back to USA unless he wants to visit his family or should we really sort out the work permit 1st?

He has proposed to me but we won't be ready to marry for a number of years yet so don't want to go down the fiance/marriage VISA route as that ties you up to marry within a certain time limit.  Can't come over on a visitor VISA as that means you can't work right and I don't earn enough to support us both.  So we figured to go down the work permit route. I think we've found a potential employer but not sure and don't have a clue where to turn next!  How long does a work permit even last for?  Does part time work or just full-time apply?

Please help we're only young, both 19 and so confused.  All we want is to be together for good without having to seperate and not see eachother for months on end coz we're so in love and it's killing us...

About work permits- you can only get a work permit for jobs with a specific employer and the applicant either has to have a degree or several years of graduate level work experience.  And if the job in question is not on the official shortage list, the employer has to prove that they couldn't find anyone else in the UK/EU to do this job..many potential employers won't want to bother.

US citizens like your boyfriend are certainly free to holiday in Britain- they'd be stamped in as a visitor (and yes, right now visitors get six months of leave but if it's a trip of more than a few weeks it's best to be prepared to prove concrete ties to the US like a job or similar and have enough money to cover the entire trip since work isn't allowed as a visitor.)  But after that visitors need to return home, and immigration options are very limited, especially for someone without specialist skills or experience.

 Has he thought of coming over to the UK to study? That's a way to get a longer stay, but it's expensive.

 Or- is he currently a university student?  If so, look into www.bunac.org, but even that is temporary.

And I don't mean to imply that you weren't going to follow the rules, but I feel compelled to say...you really, really need to follow the rules on this one, as carefully as you can. Otherwise, you'll make it incredibly tough for yourselves later. And they're tightening up immigration procedures all the time, so you might even make it impossible for yourselves later.

Governments are big grinding machines and we're just squishy little mammals.

I think if you look around on this forum and probably others too you will see that he may be in for a grilling when he comes here. They will want to make sure he is not at risk of overstaying and will need to prove he has money available, a plane ticket home and er I don't remember what other things it's been awhile.

Thank you all for your replies.  I know I look like a complete loser with these things but that's why I'm here.  I don't want to break ANY rules I want it all legit and legal so everyone's happy but I don't know how to do that and have come to you guys for help.

I'm not going to do the work permit one any more definitely not but what other options are left for me? The studying VISA is an option but i'd probs have to take a loan out just to cover tuition fees for him. I just don't understand why everything is so difficult and why 2 people who love eachother can't be together.

What I need is someone to please tell me the fastest and easiest way to get my boyfriend over here LEGALLY to satisfy every criteria and for long term PLEASE give me your suggestions.  Can he just come over 6 months at a time on his passport initially?  When can you renew the 6 months after the 1st 6 months are coming to an end?  I'm sorry but I'm so lost here and really need help.

He can come over, but again he may have to prove he has money. How does he intend to pay for himself while he is here visiting, traveling etc. Have a look in this thread at AngelaK's post to give yourself an idea of what questions might be asked of him when he enters.
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=41203.0
It is entirely possible he won't be asked these questions but as the possibility is there, if not prepared he could be in trouble.

The safest, legal way is going to be a fiance visa.  I know it's hard, believe me, but these rules were created without what you want to do in mind.  He can try BUNAC immediately after he gets out of school.  That allows him to work in the UK for 6 months.  Other than that, a student visa seems to be the best option.  He can spend 6 months here, but he will be grilled,and possibly bounced (not allowed entry into the UK) if he says he is coming here to stay with his gf and he does not show proof that there is something waiting for him back in the US, plus he needs to show he can support himself for 6 months while here without working.  He can leave and try to re-enter to get another stamp for 6 months, but the more he does this, the more likely he is to be flagged in the system and then get caught abusing the system and it can be seen as deception as he's not on holiday but actually living in the UK.  Also, bear in mind the UK is looking to reduce the number of months a US citizen on a US passport with a tourist visa can legally stay in the UK to 90 days coming more in line with the US system.  Also, they are cracking down on those who overstay with lying to the Immigration officers or committing any kind of deception leading to him being barred for a certain amount of time.  The advocacy group is looking into the implications of this now, and will probably put information about this up later. 

The safest, legal way is going to be a fiance visa.  I know it's hard, believe me, but these rules were created without what you want to do in mind.  He can try BUNAC immediately after he gets out of school.  That allows him to work in the UK for 6 months.  Other than that, a student visa seems to be the best option.  He can spend 6 months here, but he will be grilled,and possibly bounced (not allowed entry into the UK) if he says he is coming here to stay with his gf and he does not show proof that there is something waiting for him back in the US, plus he needs to show he can support himself for 6 months while here without working.  He can leave and try to re-enter to get another stamp for 6 months, but the more he does this, the more likely he is to be flagged in the system and then get caught abusing the system and it can be seen as deception as he's not on holiday but actually living in the UK.  Also, bear in mind the UK is looking to reduce the number of months a US citizen on a US passport with a tourist visa can legally stay in the UK to 90 days coming more in line with the US system.  Also, they are cracking down on those who overstay with lying to the Immigration officers or committing any kind of deception leading to him being barred for a certain amount of time.  The advocacy group is looking into the implications of this now, and will probably put information about this up later. 

Thank you very much for all this persephone this is really insightful but what is BUNAC please?

http://www.bunac.org/usa/workinbritain/

A youth mobility work initiative.  It gives recent students an opportunity to live and work overseas gaining experience.

http://www.bunac.org/usa/workinbritain/

A youth mobility work initiative.  It gives recent students an opportunity to live and work overseas gaining experience.

Ahhh I see thank you.  I don't think this is applicable to us though as he is only finishing High School this May due to a major family grievance that meant missing a lot of school and losing credits owing to taking care of the family member so I guess we're back to square one any other suggestions please...

the fastest/"easiest" legal way (from an immigration standpoint, NOT a personal circumstances standpoint) is to get married and get a spousal visa.  

The next fastest/easiest way is a student visa (for an extended stay, not settlement.)

Neither of these options are truly easy if you're having trouble meeting the requirements of the rules (the financial portion especially trips up some people...including my fiance and I, incidentally.)

And these are if you're looking at long term options- a visitor's visa or even BUNAC are both very time limited so aren't suitable for extended stays.

Immigration really couldn't care less about your own personal circumstances and what you'd like to do- they care about the rules.  It's up to you guys to find a visa category to fit into if you want him to immigrate here.

Oh, and here's an off the wall suggestion if you're looking to spend some time together- how about both of you go on a year long working holiday to New Zealand?  I think that's about the only country that both Americans and Brits can get a long-ish (1 year for Americans, longer for Brits I think) working visa for without too much trouble.

apart from all the options (work/fiance/school/proving he has access to money while here on holiday) already given there is nothing else that I can think of sorry.

How old is your boyfriend? How old are you?


Vicky

[MOD NOTE]



Let's keep this to one topic, please.   You're not going to get different answers in different topics.  People are doing their best to help you.  I know it's stressful, but unfortunately it's one of those things where there are only a few options. 

the fastest/"easiest" legal way (from an immigration standpoint, NOT a personal circumstances standpoint) is to get married and get a spousal visa.   

The next fastest/easiest way is a student visa (for an extended stay, not settlement.)

Neither of these options are truly easy if you're having trouble meeting the requirements of the rules (the financial portion especially trips up some people...including my fiance and I, incidentally.)

Thank you Springhaze.

With regards to the marriage spousal VISA do you know what the conditions of that VISA are please?  I'm already engaged you see with the engagement ring to prove it and we're both VERY keen to get married for personal reasons not to satisfy immigration legislation BUT if we can satisfy it at the same time then happy days but we don't want to rush things you know so is there any sort of time limit you have to comply to?

Oh, and here's an off the wall suggestion if you're looking to spend some time together- how about both of you go on a year long working holiday to New Zealand?  I think that's about the only country that both Americans and Brits can get a long-ish (1 year for Americans, longer for Brits I think) working visa for without too much trouble.

This sounds like a very good idea indeed but what do you mean by a working holiday exactly?  Sorry I know I sound thick but I've never done anything like this before and want to make sure I get everey little detail right.

People keep mentioning proving financial stability whilst over here and I'm a little confused by this term.  I can support him as far as my wages will take me, he has a job in America and some saving does that satisfy this element of stability or not and if so, can someone please tell me what are they looking for as proof please?