Post
by Kayalami » Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:33 pm
You are somewhat of a rarity in my years on this forum - You acknowledge your application was ill prepared. It is often better for non visa nationals (those who do not need a visa to visit the UK) to not apply for a visitors visa than apply for one when the application is not water tight. Many people under estimate the need to particularly demonstrate they will return to home after visiting the UK. Factors in your favour in descending order are usually - long term employment of a nature likely to compel you to return home - read well remunerated, family (children/spouse), property/assets.
Under the immigration rules there is nothing to stop you travelling to the UK say next week without a visitor visa and chance that the IO will give you leave to enter by virtue of being a Non Visa National. Effectively the IO is doing the same thing as the ECO but in a shorter time frame and without as much documentation. That the ECO back in RSA deemed you were not a bonafide visitor holds against you though and you will most likely be refused entry. The refusals are logged on a centralised system as those who change their passports tend to find out when they arrive at say Heathrow and in response to an IO's question For this reason Non Visa nationals in your position are advised to re-apply for a visitor visa when their circumstances change. Get back in the job market is the best advice here then re-apply get a visitor visa - I'd give it about a year for this although if you get a solid job anytime after 6 months would be ok.
You will find that other countries of similar stature to the UK e.g. Most EU member states, OZ, Canada, USA will take the view that if the UK government had concerns about you being bonafide the same applies to them and they would be unlikely to issue you a visitor visa - they have the same returnability concerns like the UK has. Statistics show unemployed, single, young adults are the highest risk in overstaying. Given that RSA nationals can still travel to a wider range of countries visa free than many other nationals.
Good luck