Flight origin for spouse visa--first entry

Sorry if this is already somewhere easy to find.

I wanted to check if it is a problem if my flight originates in Canada. I think I read that's not allowed? Either because it's a Commonwealth country or because it's not my nationality?

If it can't originate in Canada, it is OK if it connects in Canada, right?

We need to fly over quickly before the vignette expires then come back to supervise the shipping company before we make the main move, so we are just trying to do something cheap.

Thanks!

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I asked the same thing back in Februar. Kfdancer (I think) advised me you can literally fly from anywhere. As long as you don't fly through ireland(which is because of the common travel area and it wouldn't activat your visa) anything is fine!

That's completely fine - Canada being a commonwealth country has nothing to do with anything.

There is only ONE country that you cannot enter through on your first entry,  and that is the Republic of Ireland (i.e. Dublin Airport). This is because Ireland and the UK are part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) and there are no immigration controls between them.

So, if you entered through Ireland, you would only go through Irish immigration and not UK immigration, which means there would be no record of you entering the UK and your visa would not be stamped to show you entered... and if your visa is not stamped, you cannot pick up your BRP.

That's a huge relief--thank you both. We shouldn't have a problem just coming over for 4 days and picking up my BRP, then leaving, I assume?

I sort of like that we can't fly Aer Lingus, because it is so uncomfortable and I really don't like the Dublin airport. 

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That's a huge relief--thank you both. We shouldn't have a problem just coming over for 4 days and picking up my BRP, then leaving, I assume?

No, shouldn't be a problem - only issue you might run into is your BRP not being ready to collect from the Post Office... sometimes people have gone to collect it and find it hasn't actually arrived yet, so they've had to wait a couple/few more days.

I sort of like that we can't fly Aer Lingus, because it is so uncomfortable and I really don't like the Dublin airport. 

I've only done it once and I didn't find it too bad, though the three flights were a bit of a nightmare (Manchester-Dublin-Chicago-Little Rock) - I did like that you go through US immigration in Dublin though... saved me from a potential 2-hour wait for immigration in Chicago and then rushing to get my connection .

No, shouldn't be a problem - only issue you might run into is your BRP not being ready to collect from the Post Office... sometimes people have gone to collect it and find it hasn't actually arrived yet, so they've had to wait a couple/few more days.

I've only done it once and I didn't find it too bad, though the three flights were a bit of a nightmare (Manchester-Dublin-Chicago-Little Rock) - I did like that you go through US immigration in Dublin though... saved me from a potential 2-hour wait for immigration in Chicago and then rushing to get my connection .

If near the end of the vignette validity, presumably BRP would be more likely to be ready?

I'm not sure what specifically it was about Aer Lingus--maybe just the seats, and yeah, after all the connections, all I want to do is sleep!

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There is only ONE country that you cannot enter through on your first entry,  and that is the Republic of Ireland (i.e. Dublin Airport).

Hi, ksand24. When you say "through" Ireland does that also include flight connections? For example, if I were to fly from JFK in New York, connect in DUB, and fly immediately onto MAN(chester)... is that acceptable?

It's been awhile, but I have connected in DUB before to go onto LHR and I don't recall having to go through Irish immigration as I transferred planes. Anyway, I haven't booked my flight yet as I'm still waiting on my visa decision, but I noticed that the cheapest east coast flights to MAN tend to connect through DUB. Just want to make sure that'd be alright with immigration.

Thanks for your help!

Hi, ksand24. When you say "through" Ireland does that also include flight connections? For example, if I were to fly from JFK in New York, connect in DUB, and fly immediately onto MAN(chester)... is that acceptable?

It's been awhile, but I have connected in DUB before to go onto LHR and I don't recall having to go through Irish immigration as I transferred planes. Anyway, I haven't booked my flight yet as I'm still waiting on my visa decision, but I noticed that the cheapest east coast flights to MAN tend to connect through DUB. Just want to make sure that'd be alright with immigration.

Thanks for your help!

Not acceptable. Border control will check you in Dublin, not England. And you won't be stamped in, so you won't be able to prove your entry date. DO NOT DO IT.

And the cheapest flights connect through Dublin as everyone on a first time visa can't go through there, so the lower demand means lower price. Sucks.

Hi, ksand24. When you say "through" Ireland does that also include flight connections? For example, if I were to fly from JFK in New York, connect in DUB, and fly immediately onto MAN(chester)... is that acceptable?

It includes ANY flight that lands in Ireland, whether a connection or the final destination.

So, you CANNOT connect in Dublin... because you will go through Irish immigration in Dublin and you will NOT to through UK immigration in Manchester. Therefore your visa will not be stamped and you won't be able to pick up your BRP card.

Basically, DO NOT fly Aer Lingus. It might be cheap, but it will cause all kinds of issues with your visa.

It's been awhile, but I have connected in DUB before to go onto LHR and I don't recall having to go through Irish immigration as I transferred planes.

You definitely go through Irish immigration...there are no immigration controls between Ireland and the UK, so you go through immigration in whichever country you land in first.

I flew Chicago-Dublin-Manchester last year and I went through Irish immigration in Dublin. When I landed in Manchester, I just walked off the plane and to baggage claim - no immigration.

And the cheapest flights connect through Dublin as everyone on a first time visa can't go through there, so the lower demand means lower price. Sucks.

Cheapest flights right now are about $294.90 flying direct to the UK one way (From Orlando to Gatwick).
I feel everyone looks at Aer Lingus and Icelandair, but doesn't see Norwegian!

That's a big 10-4, AV and ksand24. Thanks for clarifying! 

That's a big 10-4, AV and ksand24. Thanks for clarifying! 

Have you checked Thomas Cook? Direct flights to MAN from JFK for very cheap (around $400 one-way last I checked).

Have you checked Thomas Cook?

Too funny! I was just coming back to reply to this thread about (D'oh!) discovering Condor/Thomas Cook. Yeah, they're cheap as heck. And direct. And allow bags. And have meals. 

Glad I branched out from Travelocity for once... 

I am sooo jealous of everyone who lives near a big hub and can take advantage of these low prices.  My home airport is tiny so there's only a couple of airlines and it requires a connection.