I watch too many romantic movies!

This may sound bad, but I never say I'm visiting my bf.  Just that I'm on holiday and seeing friends.  (Which is always true!)  It seems like throwing the whole bf or fiance into the mix just makes for certain you're getting crammed into a hot little room.  I don't know, I feel bad about not saying everything as I feel honesty is the best policy, but I also don't want to be bounced.

This may sound bad, but I never say I'm visiting my bf.  Just that I'm on holiday and seeing friends.  (Which is always true!)  It seems like throwing the whole bf or fiance into the mix just makes for certain you're getting crammed into a hot little room.  I don't know, I feel bad about not saying everything as I feel honesty is the best policy, but I also don't want to be bounced.

I don't know about that.  Vicky, WebyJ, garry, ksanduk (all people who's opinions I trust in these matters), etc. ALL say that you should never lie to the I/O about who you are visiting. It's also been pointed out that if you're going to go at anytime for a fiance or spousal visa that things like only "visiting friends" will come back to bite you in the butt.

I am, for the first time, worried about being bounced on my next trip, too.  I just got married and so this time will have to say "I'm here to visit my husband" AND I am pretty sure I'm about to get laid off, so I will have to say I am unemployed... I am hoping that my mortgage agreement and the fact that my dog is still "quarantined" at home will be enough to convince them.  Since we are on the subject, anyone have any other suggestions on what I can bring as proof or should that be enough?

Yeah, but now you can say you're "visiting family"

Oh "family" sounds better

I definitely plan on being honest and know I will be asked if I am employed and will say I am not (if that's the case), but I hope that explaining my plans of moving in September (moved up a bit) and having to sell my house, get my dog, etc will be enough to convince them.  I'm also only staying for a week, so that should help.  I hate this added paranoia when I am doing nothing wrong!

Saying 'friends' or 'visiting' will only affect you (in terms of getting a fiance/spousal visa) if the IO chooses to write a whole bunch of details about your trip; it's up to their discretion to decide what to write down, so it just depends on what IO you get, and if they end up looking at those cards when you apply.

*But* it's always wise to be honest--especially if you end up staying with your BF/fiance/spouse and put that address down on the card. What if they start asking details of your 'visit' and where you're going, and what you're going to see? What if they question why you're visiting a friend for 3 months (or however long, just something more substantial than a couple weeks)? Then you have to be honest, or they get the honest answer out of you, and then you've been caught lying, and then you have a very real chance of being bounced. As where you're honest, they can't very well catch you in a lie.

With that said, I think you'll have sufficient evidence, mirrajay; you have your house to go back to, and affairs to sort out, and a week generally isn't something they'll look too closely at

hey everyone, it's been a while since i've posted. i just booked my flight back to visit my boyfriend. i'll be with him for 2 months in the summer. i am leaving my retail job from hell to do this, but i would have left the job regardless of a visit. this is the first time i am traveling to the uk to "visit a boyfriend" so yeah, i am already nervous about IO's hating me. i figure i will just get him to write an invitation letter with the dates of my visit and having my bank records with me. why does visiting the people you love have to be so stressful?

I'm going to try not to worry about it, there's nothing I can do about it- and we aren't doing anything shady or illegal. 

Carey, Jamie and I were talking yesterday (yes, we discussed you because I said "Carey's going to be here in about a month.  WOOT!") and she suggested you bring your mortgage with you to prove that you have the house in the States, and I thought maybe you could bring some of the paperwork from Mirra's appointments showing that you're getting her ready to move over here as well? 

And you're moving in September?  YAY!!!! 

But yeah, I wouldn't really lie to the IO if I were you all.  It's rough, but yeah, don't want to chance anything once you do apply for visas.  When I came over for a visit in October, I had a whole folder of stuff of information JUST incase they needed it.  But I was stupid and had it out the whole time I was being questioned.  Sooo......IF you all have tons of supporting information, I suggest keeping it in your carry on until they actually ask for it, because if you offer it up before they even ask, they're BOUND to take advantage of it.

Anywho, ladies...I'm off to shower here then get ready to do some house work, then meeting a friend for a few hours this afternoon.  I actually have to WALK to her place...lol.  Welcome to England, eh? :p

Hi Sarah I have been reading what you have all been saying...I understand going to Immigration and tell them you are visiting a friend or just on holiday...but the place I think it will really cause you a problem is when and if you go to apply for a fiance or marriage visa. I think they mark down everything you say when you go to immigration and they have it on file...if you have only been visiting a "friend" and then suddenly apply for a marriage visa or fiance visa they may be a little wary...

As for going back to England multiple times in a year you just want to be careful...I ran into an issue after staying for 6 months and trying to get back in. Yes you have a lot of stamps in your passport from going back and forth. I did to and thought that would prove to them that I never overstayed and wouldn't...it didn't it worked against me. When they realized how many times I had been back and forth. And I hadn't done anything illegal but I was treated like I did...and because of that I got a refusal and had a difficult time getting a visitor visa...I have seen on other threads on here that if you get caught lying about visiting a boyfriend or girlfriend  to the IO you can be banned from the country for up to 10 yrs...I think that means if they somehow find out that even though you said you were visiting a friend they realized you were visiting your boyfriend....I am not saying any of this to scare you...and you can handle it what ever way you want...I am just telling you what has happened to me and what I have come across over the years of a long distance relationship...the other thing I found out that there is no written rule on it seems to be up to the IO is that you can't stay more then 6 months in the country in a given year...my advice is always be honest. I have never lied to the IO because I wouldn't want to take a chance....

Patty it is nice to hear you are loving life in England...

digitalsea welcome back

chi chi are you still around?

kittenfish how the heck are you?

Becca how are you holding up?

Carey how does it feel to be married?

Beth are you doing alright?

Jamie can't wait to come and see you in May woohooo

oh I just wanted to let you all know that Morrisons has Reese's peanut butter cups from Hershey PA and they also have something called Salad Crispies which are like the Durkee fried onions you use on Green bean casserole....it was a good day yesterday lol..I just thought I would share in case of any of you go to Morrison's and want to get this...

Has anyone here done 3 or more trips to the UK in the span of 7 months?  I'm planning on visiting my lovely bf at the end of May for the summer, but I just got back from the UK last week.  And, I spent several months there last year.  I can bring a bunch of stuff showing plans to return, but I'm scared (as always) of being bounced.  We are currently applying for a US fiancee visa for him, so the added cost of a visitor visa would be painful. 

Grrr... I love my bf, and I wouldn't trade him for the world- but the expense and worry all this travel stuff causes me makes me bonkers.

I did several trips over the span of 2 1/2 years...visiting DF every other month.  I never once had an issue.  I simply stated that I was visiting my BF (at the time).  They never asked to see my return ticket or any evidence that I was going to return to the States.

One time one of the female IOs asked if we were thinking about getting married.  This was early on in the relationship.  I stated, "no...it's a bit too early to decide that".  She made a comment, which I don't exactly remember...something like, "well, you really should concider it".    Then she stamped my passport and off I went.

i too have never had any problems making several trips within a short time period.  i always just said i was visiting my boyfriend and they usually asked some basic questions like how we met, what my occupation was, what my boyfriend was doing here.  as soon as they heard i was a professor and clearly needed to be back within a certain time period for my job, they eased up on the questions immediately.  stating a reason why you need to be back by your return ticket date seems to help.

hi everyone!  i've been MIA for a bit trying to tackle the mountain of work i have to get through in the next 8 days.  eek.  i had a fantastic visit with my mom and we didn't talk about my move at all,which was exactly how i wanted it.  now to decide whether or not to go home for one last visit once she knows my move date.  speaking of,  i am very close to booking my flight...trying to decide whether to go for the super cheap flight on aer lingus and channel hop a few weeks later or suck it up and buy the more expensive direct flight to london.  it's looking like july 6 may be my move date, either way!!

less than three weeks until david visits, too!  can't wait!!

hope all is well with everyone!

Basically, I think the biggest concern of fudging the truth with the IO *isn't* down the road with a visa--that's a very small chance. The much bigger concern, and much more likely scenario is getting bounced when you try to enter because of the lie, when they start asking questions of where you're going and who you're seeing, and all that stuff. They're much more likely to bounce you from the country that way, and that's what should be the biggest concern.

I was *extremely* lucky to get through--I was dumb and took horrible advice from some people I knew from other places who said not to worry about it. But it makes me sick to think of what could of happened to me.

I just hope it doesn't screw me over when I go and get my visa--I don't think it will, I've never been bounced and all that stuff, but sometimes I get so down, and I get absolutely terrified because I was dumb and stupid and all of that--everything else in my visa is good. I just can't *not* get this visa  :\\\'(

just had a really terrible afternoon.  i was about to book my flight to move for july 6th and i double checked some things with hr...long story made short:  i'm receiving free tuition right now to finish up a second master's degree and if i stop working before august 7, i will owe them $4000 back in tuition.  i had no idea this would happen since i'll be finished with the degree on june 26, but there is a tiny clause that states you have to stay until the end of the summer.  i know it's only the difference of a month, but i just feel so emotionally devastated at having to wait another month and knowing that my boyfriend will be in our brand new apartment without me for two months now instead of just one like we had originally planned.  i just don't think i  can justify paying out that kind of money when i could just stay and work a bit longer.  we're both just really going crazy right now being separated and this is such a tough blow.  i feel ready to give up on this degree altogether and just move right now. 

Thats exactly what I plan on doing Patty. I think that should be enough. And tell Jamie I said hello!  

Being married feels lonely so far, Josy.  I just had a super short phone call from David telling me how lovely it is in the pub garden tonight and that he will be at a wedding in Picadillly Circus tomorrow followed by a boat cruise thing on the Thames.  And I am here worried about if my life is about to fall apart with this layoff thing.  

I hope you both are enjoying sunny England!!

Lily - I would take the flight thru Dublin and then channel hop.  Its a wonderful excuse to do it, and would probably cost about the same in the end, but you get more for your money!  Horray for you on picking a moving date - that is wonderful!!   ... oh crap, now I just saw your follow up post.  What a roller coaster!  I am so sorry.  So new moving date: Aug 8??

it looks like august 8 will be the new date    i just have to call someone in HR on monday who is not in today to confirm that my last day can indeed be aug 7 and make sure there is no catch that i need to be employed for one day beyond that (which would be aug 10 since the 7 is a friday).  i'm waiting for david to come online so i can tell him.  i'm trying to think of the positives with having an extra month here but not finding many right now. 

Oh Lily...that is a huge blow!  I am trying to think of postives to make it better, but just don't think anything I come up with will work.  I do think you are doing the right thing by not giving up on the degree, b/c you are so close to finishing.