Sounds familiar

Hopefully she understands how lucky she is that they've made this exception to let her in.

It's not an exception.  She is not the first person to not read the applicaton correctly and cause her own visa refusal. These people are still allowed to visit the UK and many do, even if they are refused on the financial section.. But as there is a risk that they may get refused at the border, UKVI suggest they apply for a visitor visa before they travel. She took the risk and was refused. Now she is applying to be let in to the UK to visit, instead of trying her luck at the border again.

I have edited my post, but as its quoted twice I believe it will still show up there.

Thanks Margo.   I've removed the quote from my post too. 

I have edited my post, but as its quoted twice I believe it will still show up there.

hey I've edited mine too

Teamwork! Thanks guys, sometimes it's easy to post things that are admittedly too harsh. I just hope she takes on board the advice given on the visa or she will risk more refusals.

It's not an exception.  She is not the first person to not read the applicaton correctly and cause her own visa refusal. These people are still allowed to visit the UK and many do, even if they are refused on the financial section.. But as there is a risk that they may get refused at the border, UKVI suggest they apply for a visitor visa before they travel. She took the risk and was refused. Now she is applying to be let in to the UK to visit, instead of trying her luck at the border again.

She's not applying for a visitor visa though (well, no more than showing up at the border).  She's been contacted off of the back end of the media article and being given an interview tomorrow and told they plan to grant her 30 days entry into the UK.  UKVI are making an exception.  Which, of course, they are allowed to do.  And the fact remains that she doesn't have ties back to the USA.  So exceptions are definitely being made.

Granted, I suspect they aren't going to make this a big warm welcome to the UK.  I suspect they will hold her passport(s) while she is in the UK.

It's not an exception.  She is not the first person to not read the applicaton correctly and cause her own visa refusal. These people are still allowed to visit the UK and many do, even if they are refused on the financial section.. But as there is a risk that they may get refused at the border, UKVI suggest they apply for a visitor visa before they travel. She took the risk and was refused. Now she is applying to be let in to the UK to visit, instead of trying her luck at the border again.

I think it is. She was turned away at the border. She is apparently waiting in Calais for a meeting with the HO, which has been granted presumably as a result of the press involvement.  That is an exception to normal practice as most people who are bounced at the border are not granted a meeting with the HO for a second chance at entry.

hey I've edited mine too

Teamwork! Thanks guys, sometimes it's easy to post things that are admittedly too harsh. I just hope she takes on board the advice given on the visa or she will risk more refusals.

Awesome guys!  Group hug! 

It's not an exception.  She is not the first person to not read the applicaton correctly and cause her own visa refusal. These people are still allowed to visit the UK and many do, even if they are refused on the financial section.. But as there is a risk that they may get refused at the border, UKVI suggest they apply for a visitor visa before they travel. She took the risk and was refused. Now she is applying to be let in to the UK to visit, instead of trying her luck at the border again.

Apologies as you're correct (trying to multi-task today). I was thinking of it more as an exception because she was turned away and is now being re-reviewed.

Teamwork! Thanks guys, sometimes it's easy to post things that are admittedly too harsh. I just hope she takes on board the advice given on the visa or she will risk more refusals.

It's hard to not also get emotional when you think about your own journey and the journey other's have had to get to where they are.

I agree with almost all of what I've read here in this thread.  And I really don't like exceptions being made, I feel the same rules should apply equally to all of us.

Having said that, she is one of our forum members and I like to think that we are here to offer her support. It might take a little (a lot of?) tough love to help her understand the position but calling her names is probably not going to help right now and I'd really like to believe that we're not that kind of a forum. 

I do hope I'm not coming across as an unsympathetic jerk as that really isn't my intention. I do wish her well and I do hope she comes back to get the visa part sorted I agree that we are here to offer support and it shouldn't get nasty so I apologise if anything I said came across as nasty as that wasn't my intention at all.

KF Dancer approached her via a pm.  I am so impressed with that.

That is the way we should go - offering help.

We have all had a rant now.  Moving on.

.  I suspect they will hold her passport(s) while she is in the UK.

They don't usually hold passports when they are let in for a few days from what I have read on other forums, so it will be interesting to see if they do in her case.

She's been contacted off of the back end of the media article

How did the HO know how to contact her? Are you sure they didn't contact the HO and that's how they had her contact details?

How did the HO know how to contact her? Are you sure they didn't contact the HO and that's how they had her contact details?

They (her and the family) have been working with their MP.

I feel awful for the members who have been separated from kids for years, and the Windrush generation hitting real true hardship from UKVI.

I feel badly this individual chose to apply non priority and lack of communication meant they didn't have a timely notification of their refusal. I do not feel badly that they went against common sense and chose to use their privilege as a rich couple to throw an expensive party and then went to the media when things didn't go their way, and continues to use their privilege because UKVI don't want any more negative press. She feels she is above the rules because she is rich and well educated. I hope she learns humility and that you have to follow the letter of the guidance and *read it all* regardless of background.

I greatly dislike UKVI but I really HATE ignorance.

How is she using 'her privilege'?

She went to the border - anyone can do that.

She went to the press - anyone can do that.

She (and family) went to see their MP - anyone can do that.

Are you saying she's bribing officials and newspaper editors?

I don't know why people turn up the hate dial as soon as someone with money is involved.  And then try to shoehorn her into some 'rich, spoilt brat' stereotype, like she's a character in 'Clueless' or 'Cruel Intentions'.

She's a perfectly pleasant forum contributor.  She's made many posts here and has always carried and conducted herself well.

Not getting the hate...

How is she using 'her privilege'?

She went to the border - anyone can do that.

She went to the press - anyone can do that.

She (and family) went to see their MP - anyone can do that.

Are you saying she's bribing officials and newspaper editors?

I don't know why people turn up the hate dial as soon as someone with money is involved.  And then try to shoehorn her into some 'rich, spoilt brat' stereotype, like she's a character in 'Clueless' or 'Cruel Intentions'.

She's a perfectly pleasant forum contributor.  She's made many posts here and has always carried and conducted herself well.

Not getting the hate...

As an example, a poor person from a Muslim country would not have sympathy from the press. That is the definition of privilege.

Her posts here and in the article have shown she feels they qualified for the visa even though they didn't at the time they applied. Its a common error, one that can be fixed once they do qualify. Then ignored both the guidance from the government of making no travel arrangements until you have the visa, and the advice to apply for a visitor visa in advance. Yes, she did things everyone can do and was turned away at the border as one would expect from the circumstances. Without the press sympathy she would be heading back to the states or remaining in France until after the weekend. She specifically used her privilege to get special treatment.