Traveling to Dublin?

Ok, so, some questions seeing as I am most inexperienced when it comes to traveling and I need some insight. I want to visit my boyfriend, thing is I want to visit him in the summer time. This will be very nice since we've only visited eachother during the crap months of the year since flights are cheaper then. With it being summer we can actually plan things and go out to the beach or something and not be frigid weather like we usually are when together.

I've seen that the airline prices sky-rocket during that time and I really am pretty sure I can't afford a $1,000+ round-trip to Heathrow. However, I've heard from reading the forums here that Dublin is pretty cheap (for flying there anyways) and I read about that "loophole" or common travel area. The so-called loophole wouldn't be my reason for traveling there, I only want to save as much money as I possibly can, seeing as no one is made of it.

People make it seem if I travel from there to England, I'd be doing something wrong? Or I think I'd feel like a criminal since I know they don't have immigration there? I can't imagine Ireland not having some kind of immigration to pass through, can someone tell me yes or no whether I'd have to pass through it because I am confused. Some people say there's none, and some people say there is. I'm reading so many conflicting "facts" on it.

Either way, I'd want to stay with him for 3 weeks and I'd never overstay because I'm paranoid enough, ya know? And I don't wanna screw up if we want to get married and live together down the line. I am considering going through Dublin, but it is pretty inconvenient because my boyfriend lives near Norwich so it's be kinda a long trip. But then again, inconvenience is paying $1,000+ for a round-trip ticket.

So, can anyone tell me, is this an ok idea? Or is it something I shouldn't touch with a ten foot pole and will I be seen as a criminal for taking a cheaper route in the future? I just really don't want to wait another year to see him and I'm trying to get my ducks in a row before hand.

No expert here but I believe that if you enter through Ireland you are only allowed a 3 month stay as opposed to 6 through the UK. For future records I would highly suggest keeping your boarding passes as proof of a visit and for entry/exit records. I think that most of the people having problems entering through Ireland are because they do not receive an official UK stamp for those entering on a spouse/fiance/etc... type of visa. I would not worry at all about flying into Dublin for a 3 week visit. Just make certain that you do not stay more than 3 months or else I believe you would be considered an overstayer. So chillax and have fun. I hope you enjoy your trip!

Really, don't do it. Not worth the potential risk as you could be viewed to trying to avoid UK Immgiration control and as a visitor if you intend to apply for subsequent visas by going through Dublin especially if you have something about you that makes you 'high risk' and could get you bounced if you did try to go thorugh UK Immigration.

From what I've read of your previous posts, you're unemployed (I believe you quit your job), you have no education plans tying to you the US that you need to return for, you're very young, you have a British boyfriend that you want to  visiting, you have no funds to support yourself and you have mentioned your home life is not good...basically you have absolutely no ties to the US and no reason to leave the UK if you were admitted. You'd most likely be bounced at the UK Border.

Seems to me (If I was looking at this situation like an IO) you're seeking to avoid UK Immigration by going through Dublin and potentially be an illegal immigrant in the UK.

Not a good idea.

Then I should just not visit him? I'm not intending to apply for any visa anytime soon, I just want to see my boyfriend without ending up being broke doing so. I did find a GED program which I will be attending, I do have funds, over $2,000 dollars to support myself, if needed. Does this change anything at all? Or does my young age and being American simply have too many strikes against me?

I didn't say not to visit him. But, you need to go about it the right way and not try to avoid UK Immigration by going through Dublin. If you're at all concerned about not meeting the visitor requirements then you need to apply for advanced entry clearance as a visitor (a visitor visa) before you travel, then you don't have to worry about being allowed in or not. The $100ish cost for the visa is cheaper than getting bounced.

The only thing I'm saying is by going through Dublin, knowing that you could be bounced by UKBA because you're not meeting the visitor criteria, you're actively avoiding UK Immigration -- which is bad.

It's been suggested many times that you apply for a visitor's visa in advance. Why don't you want to do that?

I didn't say not to visit him. But, you need to go about it the right way and not try to avoid UK Immigration by going through Dublin. If you're at all concerned about not meeting the visitor requirements then you need to apply for advanced entry clearance as a visitor (a visitor visa) before you travel, then you don't have to worry about being allowed in or not. The $100ish cost for the visa is cheaper than getting bounced.

The only thing I'm saying is by going through Dublin, knowing that you could be bounced by UKBA because you're not meeting the visitor criteria, you're actively avoiding UK Immigration -- which is bad.

But I'm not trying to avoid them, it's just cheaper. Ugh, I know it probably looks that way though. I guess that's the only way then. Awesome. Long distances relationships sure know how to make someone broke. So basically a good plan would be get the vistor visa and then dish out a grand on top of it to go to Heathrow, yeah?

It's been suggested many times that you apply for a visitor's visa in advance. Why don't you want to do that?

Yeeah, I was trying every possible way to avoid it since I know if I get refused, I'll have to shell out an extra $100+ on top of my flight expenses and I am not made of money.

But I'm not trying to avoid them, it's just cheaper. Ugh, I know it probably looks that way though. I guess that's the only way then. Awesome. Long distances relationships sure know how to make someone broke. So basically a good plan would be get the vistor visa and then dish out a grand on top of it to go to Heathrow, yeah?

Yes, or any other airport within the UK. $100 is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Thanks for the honest replies then, I guess that's what will have to be done if I want to see him in the summer. I just need to do some research on visitor visas then. Cheers.

You are perfectly entitled to fly to Dublin and then enter the UK from there, Dublin is your initial point of entry in the EU. From there you are free to travel within the EU.
I think what you are getting confused with is the advice to people entering on settlement visas (e.g. fiancee, spouse) not to enter via Republic of Ireland (Dublin) as they do not stamp the UK visa, which you need as proof of entry on the visa, and then there are less checks from ROI into UK so people then have difficulty getting the required stamp.
From the purposes of a visit on visa waiver I don't see that there's any issue.

Just out of curiosity, if someone has taken the time to get a visitors visa, and then enters via Dublin because the flight cost is cheaper, how would that be a problem?

Just out of curiosity, if someone has taken the time to get a visitors visa, and then enters via Dublin because the flight cost is cheaper, how would that be a problem?

IIRC - They would be wasting their time getting a visitor visa and entering via Ireland as they would never see UKBA and their visa would never be used/seen.

Have you looked at flights going through Belfast? At times, I've found those to be comparable to flying through Dublin. Then you get the cheaper airfare and don't have to worry about being perceived to be circumventing UKBA, since it's the UK.

Also, honestly, this might not be the done thing to say, but I am certain that there are thousands of visitors oblivious to this forum and advice against flying through Dublin, who fly to the UK through Dublin and never have a problem. If you're a legitimate visitor who stays for a few weeks and leaves, and you keep evidence of that for the future, I don't see what the problem is. Yes, it's better not to risk it now that you know there are risks, and blah blah blah, but if someone is going to go about it the right way, I don't understand why people are automatically made to feel that it's wrong. It's not wrong. It's only wrong if you actually use it as a loophole and never leave. But then you have bigger problems than which airport you flew into.

That said, if you intend to have a future in the UK, it is better to fly directly into it so that you can build up a good immigration history. If they have you on record coming in and out when you say you will, it's certainly helpful toward them trusting you.

You are perfectly entitled to fly to Dublin and then enter the UK from there, Dublin is your initial point of entry in the EU. From there you are free to travel within the EU.
I think what you are getting confused with is the advice to people entering on settlement visas (e.g. fiancee, spouse) not to enter via Republic of Ireland (Dublin) as they do not stamp the UK visa, which you need as proof of entry on the visa, and then there are less checks from ROI into UK so people then have difficulty getting the required stamp.
From the purposes of a visit on visa waiver I don't see that there's any issue.

But the previous posts say that if I went through Dublin, I'd be seen as avoiding UK immigration? And my question, "I can't imagine Ireland doesn't have immigration, is this true?" hasn't been answered. Don't they require you to go through some kind? I think that'd be the issue, wouldn't it? All this stuff is very confusing for me. Some say it's ok, because I'm not going on any kind of like settlement visa or anything (at least not for a pretty long time), others say it wouldn't be wise to do so.
I am very confused from all the, "Oh you'll be fine just go" and then "NO, No don't do it!" Sorry, I don't mean to make it seem like no one knows what they're talking about or that I'm down playing anyone's advice. I'm honestly not, it's just hard to know whether or not I should shell out my savings or save some and go through Dublin. Either way I'd be taking a chance going back of being bounced but.. thus is life. Yay risk. This would be only my second trip to the UK after more than a year away. I just wish I had someone in my family I could ask or a friend that's done it. :c

Have you looked at flights going through Belfast? At times, I've found those to be comparable to flying through Dublin. Then you get the cheaper airfare and don't have to worry about being perceived to be circumventing UKBA, since it's the UK.

Also, honestly, this might not be the done thing to say, but I am certain that there are thousands of visitors oblivious to this forum and advice against flying through Dublin, who fly to the UK through Dublin and never have a problem. If you're a legitimate visitor who stays for a few weeks and leaves, and you keep evidence of that for the future, I don't see what the problem is. Yes, it's better not to risk it now that you know there are risks, and blah blah blah, but if someone is going to go about it the right way, I don't understand why people are automatically made to feel that it's wrong. It's not wrong. It's only wrong if you actually use it as a loophole and never leave. But then you have bigger problems than which airport you flew into.

That said, if you intend to have a future in the UK, it is better to fly directly into it so that you can build up a good immigration history. If they have you on record coming in and out when you say you will, it's certainly helpful toward them trusting you.

Thanks so much for that and I haven't looked at going through Belfast yet. I'd never use it as a loophole. Thing is, the UK immigration let me in last time even though, I had no job and wasn't going to school and they let me stay for a full month.
I was very lucky to get in, but I left when I said I was going to. So hopefully that'd be a good thing on my immigration record. I am a legitimate visitor but I just hate feeling like a criminal and that I'd be doing something wrong just because I can afford to fly directly like I did last time. I don't have the means, the will, or the balls to illegally immigrate.
I have nooo desire to dodge authorities and look over my shoulder the rest of my days. However, I will look into Belfast. I guess I'll just have to weigh the pros and cons of going through Dublin VS through Heathrow on my own. Thanks again for the insight.

But the previous posts say that if I went through Dublin, I'd be seen as avoiding UK immigration? And my question, "I can't imagine Ireland doesn't have immigration, is this true?" hasn't been answered. Don't they require you to go through some kind? I think that'd be the issue, wouldn't it? All this stuff is very confusing for me.

Dublin has immigration; that is not the problem.  The problem is that when you fly from Dublin into the UK, you do not encounter a border agent in the UK.  There is no way for your passport to be stamped when you enter the UK from Dublin.  So if you had a visa such as a visitor's visa or a spousal visa that you needed to be stamped to show you've entered, you are out of luck because there's no one to do it.

It is up to you whether you enter through Dublin or not.  The more conservative view is to not do it.  That is because if you are planning to apply for a long term visa in the future, you COULD BE SEEN as having gone through Dublin simply to avoid the possibility of being refused entry into the UK, particularly because you were held up the previous time you entered.  Yes, it's good you left when you said you were going to, but it's not great that you were questioned in the first place.

Asking friends or family isn't really going to help you because your situation is the only one that is relevant here.