US citizen staying in the UK for 1 month as visitor

Hey y'all!

This is my first post. I'm actually British and I've lived here all my life... I was wondering if i could get some advice please. I went over to the US to meet my American girlfriend back in August for a week. Fast forward a bit and she is now coming to see me in the UK mid December and plans to stay for a whole month through in to the new year. Flights have been booked and we're both excited that the date is approaching.

We are however, a little worried she may get held up or even sent home once she reaches immigration control. I've watched a few of those boarder agency programs on TV and I've often seen the immigration staff quiz Americans attempting to gain entry in to the UK, especially when they're coming here for romance. As far as I'm aware she can visit for up to 6 months. Though i understand for that length of time she may be asked to prove she has the finances to support herself. This will certainly be the case during her visit and if necessary i can support her too and have the means to prove it if required. She does have her return flight booked but i guess there's nothing stopping her from just not getting on the flight. However as much as we would like to be together, we definitely want to stay above board and she will definitely be leaving to go home on the scheduled return date.

When i came to visit her i sailed straight through immigration when i arrived in the US. I was asked what was my purpose of visit. I simple answered, pleasure! The man said OK. Welcome to the US, enjoy your trip. However i have a feeling this is simply not going to be the case when she arrives in the UK.

My question is, should my girlfriend tell immigration the true purpose of her visit if questioned? As far as I'm aware we're not doing anything illegal and she should be truthful about her intention for visiting. I expect they will have a series of questions prepared to catch her out and as such it probably wouldn't be a good idea if she simply told them she was visiting a relative or a friend. I expect they will ask her about her employment back in the US. She is actually quitting her job in order to come stay with me for the month as they won't give her the time off work. Although she will be working right up until the day she leaves. It is highly likely she could reapply for her job when she returns but understandably her employers policy prevents her from taking 'vacation' for that length of time. If questioned she plans to tell them she is still in employment. The truth may raise some flags over her intention to return to the US.

I apologise if this has been a bit of a read. To put it simply...

US girlfriend visiting me for 1 month through mid December to mid January. Flights already booked. Quiting her job in order to visit for this amount of time. What should she tell immigration. The truth about her intention to visit and should she tell them the situation with her job or tell them she is currently employed and has a job to go back to the in the US, if asked. Also what should she expect when she is processed at immigration?

Many thanks

James

 What should she tell immigration.

The truth, but she may be asked to prove she has other ties to the US since she has quit her job. 

Hello James,

It is NEVER a good idea to lie to an immigration officer. End of.
So, she should just tell the truth.

I was never asked if I was employed in the USA, but I was. I was also in school. I did not bring evidence of either of those things, but looking back, I should have. Because they can ask for it. I just didn't know!

Even tho she is quitting her job, she probably has plenty of evidence that she has ties to her homeland... Like, an apartment she is renting, or a car lease, or perhaps a pet? I don't know what she needs, and what applies, but she should bring evidence of ties to the US in case she is asked. Someone on here will know more about what counts as 'ties to the US.'

Also, she should not bring a CV, or her diploma, or anything like that - nothing that would make them think she may be job hunting while she is here! If you want to be really paranoid, be mindful of what may be on a laptop, if one is being taken into the country.  

I came through immigration so many times, and they did not stop me or question me at all. I wrote the amount of money I had access to for the duration of my trip on my landing card, and I always had enough to support myself while I was there. It was never questioned. I always had my return ticket, and I said what my mom always said when we travelled together when I was a child - Simply because she always said it, so I just automatically just said it too. I said I was 'visiting a loved one' and if I was asked if it was a romantic relationship I would have said YES, but for whatever reason, I don't think I was never asked. I may have been. But, some people have suggested that saying that to immigration might sound 'cheeky' to them, and they would therefore not suggest using that phrase. They think it is just better to say 'Boyfriend.' And although it was never an issue for me, they may be right!

There is no reason to hide the fact that you are in a romantic relationship!

It is not illegal at all.

xoxooox,
L.

She should not tell them she is still employed if she is not. Lying is absolutely a bad idea.

Even tho she is quitting her job, she probably has plenty of evidence that she has ties to her homeland... Like, an apartment she is renting, or a car lease, or perhaps a pet? I don't know what she needs, and what applies, but she should bring evidence of ties to the US in case she is asked. Someone on here will know more about what counts as 'ties to the US.'

Ties to the US

Most important:

- A return ticket back to the US

- A job to return to (a letter from the employer stating time off given and what date you are expected home) or studies to return to (evidence of being registered/enrolled in school)

- A home to return to (rental agreement or evidence of homeownership)

Less important:

- Commitments you have to return for (such as something like jury duty, or appointments you have to keep, family events like weddings etc.)

- Family members to get back to (such as a spouse/partner or child or elderly parent you take care of)

- Any other ties you can think of

She should not tell them she is still employed if she is not. Lying is absolutely a bad idea.

Definitely a bad idea.

What happens if she tells them she is employed and then they ask for evidence of her job?

She'll have to admit she was lying and this could result in her being refused entry to the UK and also banned from entering the UK for 10 years (same thing could happen if she lies about her relationship or anything else)!

I was never asked if I was employed in the USA, but I was.

Actually you were asked - its on the landing card. IMO, filling in this field implies you are currently employed in that occupation. I traveled to the UK once immediately after being made redundant and entered "unemployed" in this field since at that very minute I didnt have an occupation.  Perhaps others see it differently.

I wrote 'Student' for many, many years, on my landing card - even tho I was also employed, and they never asked me any additional *Verbal Questions* about it.

Is that a bit more clear to you now mirrajay?

Well, that's quite a few more responses than i expected and very informative too. Thank you everybody!

I've pointed the hopefully one day to be, ball and chain to this thread!

Honesty is the best policy in this case then. The only thing i need to worry about is waking up early enough to get down to Heathrow. I hope i don't oversleep otherwise she is going to be waiting several hours at the terminal 

Update: Proving Ties

Having talked to the hopeful princess concerning the ability to show she has existing ties requiring her attention back home, i have the following to add in terms of potential ties...

• Has recently moved in with her mum
• Has a new car that is fully paid off
• Will have ended her employment the day before

She does however, have a dog which she loves to bits (more than me no doubt). Which of course is currently staying with her at her mum's place. Ironically she actually moved there from her rented apartment in an effort to obtain a better job as her home town is saturated with students. Ultimately as a means to save money in order to commit to our relationship further. We have both made sacrafices so that we are both better prepared to be in a position whereby we can live together, whichever route we decide is best to bring us together.

If she moved out of her apartment, and she quit her job... Those options as 'ties to the USA' are out of the running.

I have both US and UK passports and have entered the UK on many occasions using my US passport (UK passport expired when in Asia and I was lazy about getting it renewed).

I don't remember a question and answer exchange at the immigration desk. Usually I tried to look as awake and cheerful as possible, said "good morning" and handed over my passport. Passport was examined, stamped and handed back with "have a nice holiday".

The only time I was questioned was when I returned for my mother's funeral within 10 days of leaving after our Christmas holiday. Questioning was along the lines of "why have you returned so soon?" to which I answered " unfortunately one of my family members died".

I may be viewed slightly differently when using my US passport as my place of birth is the UK. But, when watching other passengers processed at immigration, it appears to be a short and painless process.

Good luck!

As others have said, be honest, and she should not have a problem.  If asked about employment she can truthfully say that she is between jobs because her US employer doesn't allow a month vacation.  I would have in my possession my last pay stub to show I was employed prior to leaving the US, plus the address and contact details of where she'll be staying in the UK plus her return ticket.

A few years ago 2 nephews of my wife came to the USA for 3 months with their girlfriends.  They were all in their early 20's and all had been forced to give up their jobs because of the length of time involved.

What she is doing is not unusual, and perfectly legal.