What Is The Best Course Of Action

I agree fully with all the negative things people have said here.

My advice to you is:

Don't try to come here and live on a visitor's visa. Visitor's visas are, as the name implies, for visitors and tourists. You can't be in the UK more than 6 months in any one year.

If you want to try to move here, you have to investigate what possibilities there are in your situation for getting a residence visa. For example, the artists' visa that was mentioned is PERHAPS a possibility, but I recommend that you inquire with a reputable immigration lawyer in the UK, who can advise you.

And don't be shocked if he or she tells you straight off that you have no chance.

Consider how difficult it is for foreigners, such as people from the UK, to go to the US. The immigration laws are tough, and it is hard to get a work visa (you basically need a college degree for starters, and work experience, and then your sponsor has to go through "labor certification", etc.).

The immigration laws here are similarly tough. No way can you just pick up and move here without either being a British or EU citizen or having a residence visa of some kind. The way many of us came to this country was by being married or partnered to a British or EU citizen. In my case, I actually came here on a work permit (I was transferred to the London office of my company).

If you get caught trying to skirt the restrictions, and they find you out (and they usually do), you will be barred from entering the country for some period of time, and it will be a permanent black mark on your immigration history in the UK.

I hate to add another nay-sayer to the chorus, but here it is:

Do NOT try to live here on a visitor's stamp.  If you are caught, you will be out-and-out banned from entering the UK for any reason, for quite some time--three years is typical.

I am quite familiar with people who have tried this strategy, as it is one of the things gays sometimes resort to in order to build up the two years' cohabitation necessary for us to get an Unmarried Partner visa and live here properly.  (I hasten to say that I did NOT do this myself, on the advice of my immigration lawyer who informed me that I would most likely get away with the first visitor's entry, and possibly the second, but on the third I had a 99% likelihood of being detained, questioned, deported and banned.  I came here legally as a student, and it worked out well because I got to learn a new skill while building up time towards my partner visa.)

Please understand that if you are banned from the UK for immigration violations, they can make it difficult for you to get in later even if you otherwise would qualify--if you had a valid offer of work, if you married a Brit or any other legal basis for entry.  Basically, you would be on the bad list.  You do not want to be on HM Immigration's bad list, believe me.

Also, you cannot get citizenship by simply visiting over a four year period.  You have to live here as an "ordinary resident" for five years (reduced to 3 if your spouse or partner is British), and at least one of those years MUST be on "Indefinite Leave to Remain," which is the UK equivalent of the US green card.  The only way into the ILR, and thus the citizenship pipeline, is by getting the proper visa first.  Even I must wait an additional two years because my first 2 years here as a student don't count as "ordinary residence" for the purpose of citizenship.  And I was here legally, not trying to fudge a visitor's visa into long-term residence.

I suggest you see if you qualify for the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, or for the special self-employed artist/writer visa.  The latter requires significant finances, but it's worth a look.

Sorry to be such a downer.

After doing this for up to 4 years, perhaps it would be easier to apply for a citizenship.

Does anyone see a flaw in this plan that isn't yet apparant to me?

Yes, there's a flaw.

They give ILR and citizenship based upon a set of predefined immigration paths; and visitors are not on those paths.

I want  to thank all of you kind people for your advise and tips.  I have been looking through the Internet for an immigration specialist and think I found one who may be good.  Does anyone know anything about this company located at:

http://www.webb-immigration.com

"...Does anyone know anything about this company located at:..."


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