Stressed to the max and sooo confused.

Now, part of my history is a refusal of entry to the UK once in 2007. I am making this clear in my application and explaining that it was due to my entering the UK through Ireland, which meant that I only had 3 months to stay in the UK and I stayed for 5 (I didn't know about that 3 month requirement at the time). I have been to the UK 5+ times for visits since then without any trouble at all. Do any of you have insight on whether this may cause me problems as far as my application goes?

It won't affect the actual visa decision, but a refused entry will need to be looked into by UKVI before they make the decision, so it can cause a delay in the processing time by maybe a couple of weeks.

You should include any paperwork you received from the refused entry and you can explain it in your cover letter as well.

You're lucky that you've been able to enter the UK for future visits with no issues, because usually if you have been refused entry to the UK, the risk of you being refused entry again is higher and you are recommended to apply for a visitor visa in advance of travel each time.

Now, part of my history is a refusal of entry to the UK once in 2007. I am making this clear in my application and explaining that it was due to my entering the UK through Ireland, which meant that I only had 3 months to stay in the UK and I stayed for 5 (I didn't know about that 3 month requirement at the time). I have been to the UK 5+ times for visits since then without any trouble at all. Do any of you have insight on whether this may cause me problems as far as my application goes?

So were you actually refused entry to the UK?

Your letter  of introduction should be used to outline your relationship.  If you've been refused entry you should either explain that separately in another letter or in the additional information section.

Any adverse immigration history will mean your application will require further investigation and so will take extra time.  No one can tell you how much extra time.

Your letter  of introduction should be used to outline your relationship.  If you've been refused entry you should either explain that separately in another letter or in the additional information section.

No, it shouldn't.

The applicant letter is optional and should contain no relationship information at all. It is only used to state the visa applied for, a list of documents included and to explain any refused entries/visas or criminal history or anything unusual about the documents (large transactions on bank statements, for example).

The only letter that should contain any relationship information is the mandatory sponsor's confirmation letter, which should outline their sponsorship capacity, their employment,  UK accommodation and a brief history of the relationship.


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So were you actually refused entry to the UK?

Yes. I was detained at immigration in Gatwick, questioned several times over 8 hours and released into the care of my (now) husband - I had three days to collect my belongings and leave. It was awful but on every follow up visit, I was prepared- letters from an employer, bank statements, loan bills, etc, to prove I was planning to return to the US. I had to meet with higher ups at immigration on a couple visits, but eventually was treated normally at immigration!

Yes. I was detained at immigration in Gatwick, questioned several times over 8 hours and released into the care of my (now) husband - I had three days to collect my belongings and leave. It was awful but on every follow up visit, I was prepared- letters from an employer, bank statements, loan bills, etc, to prove I was planning to return to the US. I had to meet with higher ups at immigration on a couple visits, but eventually was treated normally at immigration!

Actually, you were not refused entry at all - instead you were let into the UK for a restricted visit of 3 days. Being detained is not the same as being refused entry - it's just being detained before being allowed entry.

If you had been refused entry, you wouldn't have been allowed out of the airport and you would not have been allowed past immigration. They would have put you right back on the next plane back to the US at your own expense.

Also, if you had been refused entry, you probably would not have been allowed back into the UK again without applying for a visitor visa before travel.

Yeah, you weren't refused entry or deported. You just didn't receive a full entry clearance and were instead given 3 days.

Yeah, you weren't refused entry or deported. You just didn't receive a full entry clearance and were instead given 3 days.

Woah... my whole perception has just been drastically altered!! I thought I'd been refused entry!! I can't find the paperwork any longer- we sold our house and shipped most of our belongings to the UK already, so if they aren't packed with our stuff (which I couldn't access if I wanted to), they are long gone by now. So I answered yes to being refused entry on the online application- can I change that now?! Because technically I was not!! And I suppose if I can alter the application, I should mention this incident still, correct? 

Man, I don't know what i would do without you guys... 

You also need to send your passport, 2 UK sized passport photos and a waybill and return envelope so your documents can be returned to you.

Anonymiss- you mention a waybill. Since my husband will be the one sending this, how should he go about getting one of these? (I had to google 'waybill' because i'd never heard the term before!)

Woah... my whole perception has just been drastically altered!! I thought I'd been refused entry!! I can't find the paperwork any longer- we sold our house and shipped most of our belongings to the UK already, so if they aren't packed with our stuff (which I couldn't access if I wanted to), they are long gone by now.

As you weren't actually refused entry, I don't know that there would have been any paperwork anyway. They might have just made a note in your passport or on the electronic system, but you usually only get paperwork if you've actually been refused entry.

So I answered yes to being refused entry on the online application- can I change that now?! Because technically I was not!! And I suppose if I can alter the application, I should mention this incident still, correct? 

Yes, you can just cross it out on the printed form and correct it in by hand. No one will see your application form until you mail it to them, so the fact that you did it wrong online is irrelevant.

As you will have the correction on the form, I would still mention it in your cover letter, just to be clear on what happened and to show you are not hiding anything - just explain that you were detained but allowed into the UK for 3 days and mistakenly thought this meant you'd been refused entry.

Anonymiss- you mention a waybill. Since my husband will be the one sending this, how should he go about getting one of these? (I had to google 'waybill' because i'd never heard the term before!)

You need to sort it out from the US because they will only return your documents and passport to your US address and will charge your US shipping account for the postage. So, you just include the details of the waybill in your package when you mail it to your husband.

Basically, you just need to set up an online account with UPS or DHL and then either try to set up a waybill online, or I think you can just provide UKVI with your shipping account number so they can charge your account with the return shipping once the visa has been processed. Don't try to use FedEx as it is no longer accepted by UKVI for return shipping.

See here for more information on the waybill and return shipping:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visa-in-the-usa#post-your-application

You should be overnighting your documents to your husband by either UPS or DHL anyway as they are the fastest and safest way to do it, especially if you are short of time for the documents arriving. I would budget approximately $100-200 to ship it to him and then a similar amount again for UKVI to return everything to you.

You (and your husband) will need to include photocopies of every single original document that you wish to be returned to you, as if you don't include copies they may keep your originals (and chances are you'll need them again in the future).

You (and your husband) will need to include photocopies of every single original document that you wish to be returned to you, as if you don't include copies they may keep your originals (and chances are you'll need them again in the future).

Again, thanks for the quick reply!  Should I send along a photocopy of my passport too- including every page? Although I doubt they would keep that.....

Again, thanks for the quick reply!  Should I send along a photocopy of my passport too- including every page? Although I doubt they would keep that.....

Well, they have to return your passport to you anyway, because that's where your visa goes and you can't move to the UK without it .

However, I would send a photocopy of the photo page of your passport with the application anyway, so they can keep it for their records if they need it, but there's no need to send every page.

Same goes with your husband's passport - he just sends a certified copy of his passport page if he doesn't want to send his actual passport (some people have been fine sending just a regular photocopy instead of his passport, but I would be safe and get it certified).

Well, they have to return your passport to you anyway, because that's where your visa goes and you can't move to the UK without it .

Ha! I hadn't even thought of that! I think all my working brain cells may be on holiday  ;-)

Ok- thanks for all the fantastic tips! Prepping for my biometric appt tomorrow then getting everything together to ship out on Saturday/or Monday! I'm not so terrified anymore!

Hi All!

My biometrics appointment was yesterday and was a breeze, like you all had suggested it would be We have most our documents compiled and hope to have it in the mail on Monday. My next question to you is:

In filling out the Appendix 2, I notice a small blue bar on the first page that says this:

"You MUST also complete and submit the main Personal Details Form (VAF4A).  Failure to do so will delay your application".

This is the first I've heard of this form, as you didn't mention it in documents I needed to send with my application. Can you tell me if this is a requirement as well? I'm sure it's a simple form to fill out and I will do so gladly, I just need to know if I need to include this with my application and supporting documents as well or if I don't need to worry about it.

Thank you in advance- again- for all your help!

Don't worry, you've already completed it...  VAF4a is just the paper version of the online application form, and is only required if there is no option to apply online in your country.

Most people will fill out:

- the online application form
- VAF4a Appendix 2

However, people in Cuba and North Korea cannot apply online, so they fill out:

- VAF4a
- VAF4a Appendix 2

Unfortunately, the UKVI website isn't too clear on this - in fact, it impies that you ONLY need to fill out VAF4a Appendix 2 if you are in Cuba or North Korea, which is not true and is why it says you must also fill out VAF4a.

I think what was intended to happen was that online applicants would complete VAF4a and Appendix 2 online, while people in Cuba and North Korea would fill them out by hand.

However, Appendix 2 is not available as an online application, so everyone must print and complete it along with their online application form.