[Merged]: Assorted ilak Questions

Hi Kittenfish, thanks for the quick reply....

I was told by Washington British Embassy that my application will be dealt with at New York Consulate. Being that that's closest to me, only 2-3 hours away.

L.A is really far

 

NO!  Do NOT send your application to New York!  (sorry for the exclamations, but it's really important)

Pennsylvania applications are no longer going to New York. All applications from PA must now be sent to LA.

Yeah, it sucks since LA is 3,000 miles away and NY or Chicago makes more sense, but unfortunately, PA got a little screwed when they needed to take some strain off NY. 

"My intention was to apply for this visa before going back, but it just didn't work out like that and I never had my passport scanned. I was aware it would be scanned and I could have been refused entry then, but the immigration officer never looked into it. Surely, that can't be my fault. It would be hers."

I would curtail this way of thinking. You got lucky. If they miss something when they let you in, its still your fault they had something to miss in the first place. Getting let in and that adding complication to an already complicated situation is still all on you, not the officer that let you in. If you're in a situation in which you're aware you could be refused entry that sort of lends itself to deception despite your protestations that you would never do such a thing. I think you just never thought of it from that perspective. That said, it all sounds very positive in your favor according to Vicky and I wish you the best of luck. I hope you get to be reunited with your UK family soon.

IAWTC, I can't see how you can be bounced twice and not know that you're not allowed back in.

Ilak19, I'm really confused by some of the details here. Doing the hands in the air "I didn't know" thing is only going to upset the IO who DESERVES a £ for every time they've heard it. Obviously something was up the first time you were bounced yet you came back two additional times? It's really frustrating to see that these kind of things lead to higher fee's and stricter rules for ALL of us, yourself included.

It's really unfortunate that you spent good money on a lawyer who jerked you around for 4 years. But in that time it seems like the internet or a simple call to the UKBA would have solved a heap of your troubles. Did you take the Life in the UK test? I think you mention it in another post. How did you know enough to take that test but not what your other steps should be? I'm so confused here.

Seems like there is a giant purple elephant in the room and no one is talking about it. Depending on the post and poster, reactions are different.

My personal opinion is that there should be some big hurdles to jump, but won't be.  As Vicky said in another thread, many people with lengthy overstays are granted spousal visas.  The only consequences that are likely to result from this will be in the form of tougher regulations for those of us who follow the rules. 

THIS! I felt like no one was voicing this in any of her threads!!!!!

Hi,

thanks for replying. i know my story is really confusing but honest to God I didn't have a clue about immigration laws so i seeked the lawyer. who obviously might have known but wanted my husbands money who was paying him for it all.

life in the uk test i found out recently when i was in uk that i needed to take... i passed that earlier this year. i took that just to get it out of the way so i wouldnt have to worry about taking it when applying for ILR. it was an easy process.

i understand my story might be confusing but i know i am being nothing but honest. and hopefully the consulate will see that. thats all they ask for. whether i am granted or refused is up to them, i will keep working hard to get this visa regardless.

thanks for the reply 

Seems like there is a giant purple elephant in the room and no one is talking about it. Depending on the post and poster, reactions are different.

I couldn't agree more. The details are sketchy at best, and I'm just not buying the pleas of ignorance. How would you know/research enough to take the Life in the UK test and get a UK driving license, but not know enough to leave the country after your six months visitor's stay was up? This information isn't hard to find, difficult to comprehend, or unreasonable to follow.

As for...

I thought it was ok. Never harmed anyone. Don't matter like you said. I admit 100% to my overstay for 4 years.

As Vicky said in another thread, many people with lengthy overstays are granted spousal visas. The only consequences that are likely to result from this will be in the form of tougher regulations for those of us who DO follow the rules. That is how you harm people by overstaying.

Also...

I'm not planning on paying loads of money for something I can do on my own. I just wanted some help regarding writing this apology/explanation letter about my overstay. Just wanted to know people who have done it, any tips on writing it.

So you didn't mind paying some crap lawyer for bad advice, but you won't pay someone to write a proper letter for your spousal visa? Just another piece of the story I find sketchy.

I'm sorry about my Overstay. I know what it results in.

But I was mid advised and misled! Otherwise I would have returned home alot sooner. The right way.

I did not get bounced 2 times either just to correct you  Only once. Recently in May this year.

Hi,

thanks for replying. i know my story is really confusing but honest to God I didn't have a clue about immigration laws so i seeked the lawyer. who obviously might have known but wanted my husbands money who was paying him for it all.

life in the uk test i found out recently when i was in uk that i needed to take... i passed that earlier this year. i took that just to get it out of the way so i wouldnt have to worry about taking it when applying for ILR. it was an easy process.

i understand my story might be confusing but i know i am being nothing but honest. and hopefully the consulate will see that. thats all they ask for. whether i am granted or refused is up to them, i will keep working hard to get this visa regardless.

thanks for the reply 

I'll be very interested to see how your application is handled so I hope you will keep the board updated.

But if you are sorry to the UKBA for your overstay, then you should be sorry to everyone else too. You can't imagine how many young American women are bounced from seeing a loved one when they had no intention of overstaying. How fees and rules have increased. How those of us who have done this by the book can feel extreme slight and frustration. You really seem to have no remorse for overstay only that it could and will hinder your application.

Of course I have remourse. I understand how it can not only affect me and my application but also others in my position who havent overstayed. Anything like that.

I'm sorry if you mis-understood some of the things I said.

Please dont take me wrong. I understand everything and I am sorry for my wrongs. But I really did not know.

I did not know its so bad to get a UK License, Bank Account, ect, these things are simple to get, you cant compare that to Uk Immigration Laws.

I think this topic is being really far looked into. I'm sorry but thats how I feel.

The overstay was a mistake and I was misadvised as I have said many times, whatever the outcome of my Visa is, I will understand either way. But I know I am sorry and will be honest about everything. I admit all my wrongs even if I was mis advised.

Thanks for all the help 

Of course I have remourse. I understand how it can not only affect me and my application but also others in my position who havent overstayed. Anything like that.

I'm sorry if you mis-understood some of the things I said.

Please dont take me wrong. I understand everything and I am sorry for my wrongs. But I really did not know.

I did not know its so bad to get a UK License, Bank Account, ect, these things are simple to get, you cant compare that to Uk Immigration Laws.
 

I think this topic is being really far looked into. I'm sorry but thats how I feel.



The overstay was a mistake and I was misadvised as I have said many times, whatever the outcome of my Visa is, I will understand either way. But I know I am sorry and will be honest about everything. I admit all my wrongs even if I was mis advised.

Thanks for all the help  

We're going to have to agree to disagree. I'm sorry I'm just not buying what you're selling.

I HAVE a visa and I couldn't get a Bank Account, this is not a simple thing and there are actually threads to prove that to you

I'm sorry you feel that we're all over reacting. An overstay is a HUGE thing and will always be treated so by the people who have done nothing but follow the rules as most on this site have.

Its kool 

I didn't have any problems opening an account. They even looked at my passport as they used it for photo proof. I'm sorry if I have offended you.

But like I said, I know it was wrong to overstay but I was mis advised otherwise I would have returned to USA immediatly. Which is what I did when I became aware of the proper rules and procedures.

Thanks for your time 

Hi, any opinions/tips/advice on my Apology letter I have written up with the help of all you guys... (thank you so much for that) 

Does it sound ok? Covering the main points & brief... If I missed anything that anyone thinks is important for me to add, I would appreciate if you could let me know...

Thanks guys, I don't know what I would do without this forum 


My application includes an immigration rejection from May 2009 for which I would like to deeply apologize. The rejection was due to the fact that I overstayed a Visitor Visa from September 2004 until October 2008. During the start of this time, I seeked advice from a lawyer and was given incorrect information about United Kingdom's Immigration Laws. I was told I could obtain Settlement while in the United Kingdom. I became aware later on that this was not possible, and made arrangements to return to United States immediately.
 
I would like to state that during the time I was in the United Kingdom, I did not seek employment/work. I did not use the NHS or otherwise rely upon public funds.
I also lived with my husband during my entire stay in a non-council residence. I hope this serves to clarify that item in my application.

Also, I would like to ask...

since some of you have wondered how I obtained a driving license, bank account, life in uk test certificate, ect... is it a problem sending these as part of my application?

I dont know why its a big deal... I didnt have any problems getting these things, and i certainly did not know I wasnt allowed too...

any help appreciated

I have to agree that people get bounced (women in particular) and regulations get tightened because of people disregarding immigration laws.  The fees, however, would go up regardless.  It's a tax on people who cannot vote, and the Government has admitted that the prices for visas have nothing to do with the administrative costs of immigration.

But I think Ilak should get a lawyer.  I think she's either going to pay for one now and have her application handled properly (and likely issued) or pay for one later during appeals or later applications.

The word is SOUGHT, not seeked.  FFS don't mess that one up in a formal letter. 

[MOD NOTE]


We're going nowhere here.

You overstayed.  Now you're applying to come back.  There really is no other advice you can get here.  Either seek a lawyer or have a go yourself.  You might get denied.  You might not.  But honestly, at this point there is nothing anyone on the forum can tell you that might help you.

And to everybody else:  We're not immigration officers or Home Office officials.   It's not up to us to quiz someone or have a go at them.  We've established that the OP was an overstayer and I think we've pretty much agreed that she should have known better at some point. 
She was given ridiculously stupid advice and wasted a lot of time and money but us having a go at her isn't going to fix that.

Move along.  This discussion is over.

And to the OP -please don't start anymore discussions about this unless it's something new.  You're not going to hear anything different than you already have.