Visiting Visiting the UK for 5 months.. concerned?

Hi all, so very sorry if this is in the wrong forum.. didn't know where else to post it..

I'm 21, travelling to the UK (Wales) July 6th through December 12th as a tourist staying with a friend and his family, but will also be visiting family and other friends as well. It's my first time to the UK and my first time out of the country.

I'm concerned about not getting through immigration, as I've read so many horror stories from people in a similar situation.

My question really is this;

I will have a return ticket, a copy of both bank statements with my personal account as well as my mom's whose account I have access to. I will have a letter from my friend and his family stating that they will provide accom. and any extra funds to further fund my trip as well as a letter from my parents stating that they can help me with any extra funding as well. Addresses of my family members in North Wales and a rough itinerary of what we plan to do while I'm there. (Edinburgh, London, Leeds Music Festival, Paris, possibly Germany or Belgium, etc.)

I MUST return to the US by December 12th not only for Christmas vacation in the US with my family, but also because I am a freelance makeup artist and model signed with an agency and must return to work.

Here's my question.. will all of these things be sufficient enough to get through immigration? I am a genuine tourist with no intent to overstay or move here anytime soon. Should I bring a copy of my contract from my agency along with a letter stating that I must return to work from vacation by January 1st? I just want to make sure all my bases are covered so that I can make it through smoothly, but I already know I will be questioned.

Yes I have read the UKBA website. No I do not need a visa as I am a US citizen.

Thank you so much in advanced!

Hi there!

It sounds like you've done your research and will provide all the right documents if they  require it. You are a genuine tourist and as such are allowed up to 6 months in the UK. Of course, the immigration officer needs to be satisfied you can afford such a visit and intend to leave afterward and it sounds like you have plenty of evidence to satisfy that.

Definitely bring your bank statements and letter from those providing you with accommodation. I'd also bring along a rough itinerary or mention the list of places you want to visit as well. If it makes you feel more comfortable, bring along the letter from the agency. It really depends what officer you get, some of my friends have come and stayed 3-4 months and been questioned a lot and some haven't been questioned hardly at all. In the case of a friend who was heavily questioned, it was mostly his fault as he had no bank statements or proof of funds, no job to return to, no address of where he was staying, and I had booked his flight so it looked dodgy to the immigration officer and rightly so, but it was a genuine tourist visit, he was just unprepared (though he was let in after a period of questioning!)

The immigration officer may also try to establish what your relationship is to your friend, so be honest about that with them about that - many people who end up with these 'horror' stories you mentioned often lie about the relationship (saying they are visiting a friend, when it turns out it is a boyfriend or fiance, for example).

You sound really prepared and as you are expecting the worst, you may be pleasantly surprised. The more documents to bring, the better, they may not ask to see any or they might want to see everything, so its always best to be overprepared! The trip sounds fantastic and I'm sure it will be the trip of a lifetime! Wales is a stunning part of the UK!