Immigration Officers and Alarmism

So I always read forums like this one and other expat forums and freak myself out/lose sleep about being "denied entry." I'm currently a full-time student looking into visiting my boyfriend in London over New Years/winter break. We met in Paris in February and I visited him for a week in April and 2.5 months over the summer. Both of those trips were made while legally living and working in France. (Originally I had only planned for that second trip to be three weeks, which might raise a flag, though I certainly didn't overstay the six months on the stamp or even the time I had left on my French visa.)

I have a lease on an apartment/proof of enrollment at my American university/money in the bank etc. and I've never overstayed a visa (I have lots of long-term visas from France in my passport that have never been overstayed, and that three week stay that turned into a two and a half month stay didn't go over any dates on any visas, though I guess it might look suspicious.)

My boyfriend thinks I am being ridiculous and paranoid and overblowing how likely I'll get sent back and insists that the main reason I see so many posts on the internet about people being denied entry is because the people who've never had any issues have no reason to post.

I'm mostly ranting to make myself feel better, but is this true? Presumably since so many of you are expats or soon-to-be expats because of partners there must be some people who've visited multiple times without problems? What's the difference between how many people are actually denied and how many people freaking out over anecdotal evidence on the internet makes me think are being denied? I want to be realistic, but I also want to get some sleep.

Anyway, hi.

(PS Sorry if this is better posted in the immigration section, I wasn't really sure...)

I'm along the line with your boyfriend.

Short visits, with proof of ties to wherever you're based at, funds to cover your visit, travel insurance (or if your insurance through work covers you then that's fine), return ticket...you should be fine.

Here's the reason you only find negative stories on the internet...because the adage about 'dissatisfied customers' also applies to life. You only hear the negative ones because they tell everyone & their uncle what happened, those of us who never have any issues never have any reason to tell anyone or moan about it in our blog or on immigration forums.

Have a look over the UKBA entry requirements for General Visitors and prepare yourself with the http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visitingtheuk/visitors/documents/appropriate documentation...remember that presenting yourself at the border is just like if you were to apply for a visa for travel in advance.

I totally agree with Weby...I have to say, I think that you are ahead of the curve because you're even *aware* of and prepared to show that you are not attempting to settle illegally.

Personal anecdote time! When I started dating my then-boyfriend now-husband almost 8 years ago, I had *no clue* about immigration. I was a naive undergrad who traipsed over to the UK every summer to stay for three months with *no* printed bank statements, no letters proving I was enrolled at Uni or evidence of a lease etc. Nothing! I was always honest with the immigration officer, and I was never given a hard time.

Do I think I was incredibly lucky? No. I think in general, unless you are bringing up a lot of red flags (tons of luggage, one way ticket...what have you) you will be OK.

However, knowing what I know NOW I would never advise anyone in your situation to do ANY less than what you are doing! Ie bringing proof of ties to the US. If you do that, I honestly think you will be fine.

Have fun and good luck! :-)

With all of my proof that I'm not planning to settle, are they going to hang me from the highest tree for staying longer than I said I would the last time? It wasn't a lie at the time, I just thought (apparently ignorantly) that since I was stamped in for six months it wouldn't be an issue to extend my stay. I would hate to think that ruined me forever!

Thank you guys by the way, you've taken a load off my mind.

With all of my proof that I'm not planning to settle, are they going to hang me from the highest tree for staying longer than I said I would the last time? It wasn't a lie at the time, I just thought (apparently ignorantly) that since I was stamped in for six months it wouldn't be an issue to extend my stay. I would hate to think that ruined me forever!

It's unlikely to be a problem at all (they probably won't even know how long you said you would stay last time, so how would they know that you stayed longer than that?)... there's nothing wrong with extending your stay once you are in the UK, as long as you didn't overstay or lie to the immigration officer by stating that you would leave on a certain date while secretly intending to stay longer. They know that people's plans can change and so if you were genuinely intending to stay for only 3 weeks when you went through UK immigration in the summer, but then decided to stay longer afterwards, then you haven't done anything wrong.

With all of my proof that I'm not planning to settle, are they going to hang me from the highest tree for staying longer than I said I would the last time? It wasn't a lie at the time, I just thought (apparently ignorantly) that since I was stamped in for six months it wouldn't be an issue to extend my stay. I would hate to think that ruined me forever!

Probably not, but it's always best to leave when you said you were going to as your exit was recorded by your airline and that information is available to the IO. You might get asked about it, you might not. Best idea not do it again.

Thanks a lot...I guess that's the best I can hope for!

It just confuses me a lot, because you read so many stories where people were obviously not prepared and/or lying and then others where it seems like they were doing everything right but got booted after saying the word "boyfriend." I guess the plural of anecdote is not data, though.

Thanks a lot...I guess that's the best I can hope for!

It just confuses me a lot, because you read so many stories where people were obviously not prepared and/or lying and then others where it seems like they were doing everything right but got booted after saying the word "boyfriend." I guess the plural of anecdote is not data, though.

I've heard a lot more stories of people getting in trouble by staying with a "friend" than boyfriend.  I tend to vote for honesty is the best policy, being prepared, but not letting yourself get worked up about a legitimate stay.

UK immigration has commented several times on all of the visas in my passport. (I've travelled a lot and worked for several years in Japan). And it often seemed that the "school teacher in Japan" were the magic words that stopped all further immigration questioning.

The first time I came to the UK, I didn't have any documentation with me at all.  I didn't even know where I was going to be staying or have any real plans for my time in the UK.
I did have a return ticket in a months time, and tickets between Spain-Italy-Vienna-Prague-UK for most of my time in Europe.  They did want to know if the "friend" I was visiting was a "special friend" and how I knew him. 

I tend to vote for honesty is the best policy, being prepared, but not letting yourself get worked up about a legitimate stay.

That's what I'll do then. Such a shame I spent so much time in barely-glance-at-your-passport France just to meet an Englishman!