Will I be likely to be bounced?

I've read so much about American women being bounced because of our tendency to overstay visas. My husband and I are planning a trip for me to visit him in the UK where I have absolutely no intention of overstaying, nor of doing anything else that would jeopardize my application for a spousal visa shortly thereafter. But I'm afraid that my circumstances will make me look like a risk.

We won't really be able to afford the tickets for me until October; the earliest I could travel, based solely on finances would be October 15.

The thing is, in preparation for my visa application and move, I am wrapping up my life here in the states. I'm leaving my job in October so I can access my retirement savings  to use for the move and settlement in the UK. My apartment lease is up November 15, and I'll be staying with family here until I receive the decision on my visa.

So, when I arrive for a visit in the UK in late October or early November, the only things I'll still be tied to in the US will be my dog (who is like a child to me, and I couldn't leave him behind, but the IO doesn't know I'm attached enough to need to be the one to fly over with him when I move him) and the fact that I plan to return to apply for a spouse visa, which I don't want to jeopardize at all.

Will this present problems for me, the fact that I'm loosening ties already? I would really love to see my husband, and as he's starting a new job, it would be harder for him to get away for a holiday, so it makes sense in that respect for me to be the one to travel. But I don't want to risk it if I'll just be sent straight back home.

Just wanted to get a sense of how much of an issue this will be for us. Thanks so much for your help!

How long would your stay be? Sorry if you said that in your post, but I didn’t see. If your trip is short, I think your chances might be better especially if you are upfront with the IO and tell him/her exactly what your plans are and demonstrate that you know the rules.

You could try applying for a visitor visa in advance. That way, if you are refused, at least you didn’t travel to England and buy a plane ticket only to be sent back home. Your concerns aren’t unfounded though. So, I think that visitor visa might be a good option.

I’m sure someone will be along soon with better advice than I can give.

All I can tell you is that I’ve been in and out of the UK four times in the past year and half. I’m a female traveling alone. I’m young (23) and have an English boyfriend. So, I always plan on being grilled. My trips have ranged from 10 days to just over a month. Each time I approached the IO with confidence and told them exactly why I was there. I answered their questions honestly and while I had proof of ties and proof of funds, I’ve yet to be asked to show anything. I’ve never even been asked to show proof of a return ticket (of course now that I say that, I’ll probably be bounced next time I try to visit). I don’t know why that is.

It could be because my trips have been relatively short and because I’ve always left exactly when I said I would. It could be because I don’t appear to be overly nervous. So, hopefully, that makes you feel better. But the only sure way you know what’s going to happen at the border is to apply for the visitor visa in advance.

Good luck. 

You could try applying for a visitor visa in advance. That way, if you are refused, at least you didn’t travel to England and buy a plane ticket only to be sent back home. Your concerns aren’t unfounded though. So, I think that visitor visa might be a good option.

That's Good advice. The thing is none of us know how an IO is going to be. They might be really relaxed and stamp you in or they might grill you and decide to bounce you. If you have concerns that you cannot show strong enought ties to the US, go ahead and apply for the visitor's visa. It'll give you peace of mind and is much cheaper than plane tickets!

When are you planning to apply for your Spousal Visa? Why not do so in October, skip the visit to the UK, and get your visa a little sooner? Yes, it'd be a longer wait to see your husband, but an earlier chance to stay together seems worth it to me.