Traveling to the UK before applying for Spouse Visa

My UK boyfriend and I plan to get married in the US in February. So I will be applying for a Spouse Visa soon after and I don't want to do ANYTHING that will jeopardize that in any way. With that said, I want to make sure my future visit is all ok...

I was in the UK for two months (Aug-Sept) to spend time with my boyfriend. I entered through passport control in Dublin with zero problem. But now I've heard that could be seen as a "back door" into the UK and may look suspicious. I had no idea at the time or would have looked for another flight if I had. (Aer Lingus is cheap, that's the only reason I went through Dublin!)

But now I have plans to go back to the UK for 4 weeks after Christmas to spend New Years and a little more time with my boyfriend before we get married here in the States (my return flight is Jan 27th) and start the waiting process for my visa. My flight will take me through passport control in Glasgow, NOT Dublin.

So now I wonder, will this all look ok when applying for my visa? These will be the only times I was in the UK this year (my boyfriend came to the States to visit earlier this year, so it's been my turn to go to the UK. That and he has kids he doesn't want to leave during the holidays.)

And will I encounter any aggressive questioning in Glasgow if they know I'm coming to visit my boyfriend for 4 weeks?

You should be absolutely fine with that. Both short trips, left when you said you would the last time.

Just make sure to have all the usual evidence of returning to the US, return ticket etc and you should have no problems at all.

You'll be fine .

As long as you didn't overstay your previous visitor visa (which is 3 months if you enter through Ireland), and you are honest about your trip, you shouldn't have any issues.

Really, the only times it can look suspicious if entering through Ireland as a visitor are:
- if you have been refused a UK visa in the past
- if you have been refused entry to the UK in the past
- if you have spent several months in the UK recently, or have visited multiple times in a short period (i.e. 6 months or more in the last few months) and have been warned about spending too much time here
- you overstayed your previous visitor visa through Ireland (i.e tried to stay 6 months in the UK when an Irish visitor visa only allows 3 months)
Because those could be reasons why you might try to deliberately enter through Ireland to avoid UK immigration.

Also, if you have been issued a visa valid for residency in the UK (i.e. a student, work or spousal visa), you also don't want to enter through Ireland because your visa won't be stamped to show when you arrived... and it's important to get the stamp.

In your case, you just went for the cheapest option, which happened to be through Ireland, and you were unaware of the lack of border controls between Ireland and the UK. You left before the visa expires, so you did nothing wrong at all.

Just to be safe, when you arrive in January, I would have with you:
- your return ticket
- a bank statement showing you have enough money for your trip
- evidence of your job in the US
- evidence of your home in the US
and also having knowledge of the immigration rules (i.e. that you have to return to the US to apply for a spousal visa) is helpful too.

Thanks! You guys are the best.

I'll have my return ticket, bank statement showing plenty of money, and (thanks to this forum!) plenty of knowledge about having to come back to the States for my visa application. I can even show evidence of emails between the County Clerk and I discussing us getting married here at our City Hall.

However, I don't have a job with a physical location here. I work remote for a company based in Florida. And I'm now living with my parents in preparation of my upcoming marriage and visa process (my apartment lease was up and I didn't want to renew).

How should I approach those two subjects if I'm asked?

Just tell the truth. Explain as you have here and you'll be fine.

However, I don't have a job with a physical location here. I work remote for a company based in Florida. And I'm now living with my parents in preparation of my upcoming marriage and visa process (my apartment lease was up and I didn't want to renew).

How should I approach those two subjects if I'm asked?

I doubt you will be asked, but if you are, as larrabee said above, that's where you can say that you will be returning to the US to get married and then apply for a spousal visa .

You're only visiting for 4 weeks, and you have only spent 2 months in the UK on 1 previous visit in the last few months, so they shouldn't have any reason to be suspicious of your visit.

Perfect. Thanks so much for the peace of mind! Immigration always makes me so nervous even though I know I'm not doing anything wrong LOL

Glasgow immigration has always been so easy for me to enter through. 

I came for 3 weeks in December 2015. 3 months from May-August 2016. 2 months from September to November 2016 and 2 weeks in January 2017.

Very minimal questions. Stamped through in about 3 minutes.

What is the purpose of your visit?
How long are you staying?
Where does your boyfriend work?
What do you do?
Do you have a return ticket?

Stamp... enjoy your stay.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Glasgow immigration has always been so easy for me to enter through. 

I came for 3 weeks in December 2015. 3 months from May-August 2016. 2 months from September to November 2016 and 2 weeks in January 2017.

Very minimal questions. Stamped through in about 3 minutes.

What is the purpose of your visit?
How long are you staying?
Where does your boyfriend work?
What do you do?
Do you have a return ticket?

Stamp... enjoy your stay.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Ha! Thank you, good to know! 

My UK boyfriend and I plan to get married in the US in February. So I will be applying for a Spouse Visa soon after and I don't want to do ANYTHING that will jeopardize that in any way. With that said, I want to make sure my future visit is all ok...

I was in the UK for two months (Aug-Sept) to spend time with my boyfriend. I entered through passport control in Dublin with zero problem. But now I've heard that could be seen as a "back door" into the UK and may look suspicious. I had no idea at the time or would have looked for another flight if I had. (Aer Lingus is cheap, that's the only reason I went through Dublin!)

But now I have plans to go back to the UK for 4 weeks after Christmas to spend New Years and a little more time with my boyfriend before we get married here in the States (my return flight is Jan 27th) and start the waiting process for my visa. My flight will take me through passport control in Glasgow, NOT Dublin.

So now I wonder, will this all look ok when applying for my visa? These will be the only times I was in the UK this year (my boyfriend came to the States to visit earlier this year, so it's been my turn to go to the UK. That and he has kids he doesn't want to leave during the holidays.)

And will I encounter any aggressive questioning in Glasgow if they know I'm coming to visit my boyfriend for 4 weeks?

I came to visit my fiance one month after getting a denied fiance visa without applying for a visitor visa in advance and I flew through Heathrow. I stayed for 5 weeks. I got asked a few questions by the officer, but it was an easy conversation. I explained I was there to visit since I hadn't seen
him in ages, and to collect the new paperwork I needed for our next application. I couldn't apply for another month after I got back. He let me through no problem.

It really depends on the folk working on the day. It sounds like Glasgow may be a bit more relaxed anyway.