Visitor Visa Application - Change of Heart

[Purejaz]

Hi All,

Having read the various topics on this board and also gotten some individual advice (American GF coming here for 4 months) we have decided that applying for a visitor Visa is not the best option and that coming in without the VISA is the better option.

This being said we have paid for the Visa and have had the Biometrics tests done. We have not sent off the application yet.

If we were to leave it like this, could this potentially cause issues when she arrives?.

[Casa]

Why do you think it's preferable for your girlfriend to enter visa-free? She will still need to carry the same document that would have been submitted with her visa application, in order to convince the Immigration Officer that she won't overstay. This needs to be evidence of strong ties to her home country, such as on-going study, employment, property ownership, family dependants etc.
Without this, she risks being 'bounced' at the UK port of entry and returned to the US on the next available flight.

[Purejaz]

Because being an American she is legally allowed to enter the country for up to 6 months without a VISA. Why risk refusal of the VISA based on potentially missing some needed documents, or them missing bit of information provided (which seems a common issue).

Coming without the VISA (still with relevant documentation) will mean if the above were to happen she stands a chance to discuss all of it in person in the interview which hopefully would make them see she is not risk to overstay.

She would arrive with me, with the following documentation:

- Signed Sponsorship Form with my payslips, bank statements, title deeds and utility bills (all mine).
- She will have letter from her employers saying what she does and looking forward to her return. This also explains why she is able to have such long holiday.
- Letters from parents, friends and colleagues.
- Proof of a family event occurring upon her return, with hotel reservation.
- Return Ticket.
- Insurance for the dates stated.

[Casa]

She will also be asked the reason for her visit, what she intends to do while she is here and who she will be staying with. It shouldn't be a problem withdrawing the application, although as this information will be held on the UKVI system, so she should be prepared to explain on entry.

[Purejaz]

Thanks Casa.

Yeah we are going to put together a little booklet with all the documents she needs. With this we are going to add a section on the things we plan on doing.

As i am sponsoring her she will be staying with me, so one of the documents she will have is my title deed

[Casa]

All looks fine then.

[ouflak1]

Because being an American she is legally allowed to enter the country for up to 6 months without a VISA.

Just a fine point of correction here, Americans and other visa-free are on an implied visitor's visa with all of its restrictions and responsibilities. There is no such thing as 'without a VISA' unless perhaps you are a diplomat or were born in the UK and have never applied for such.

[Casa]

Because being an American she is legally allowed to enter the country for up to 6 months without a VISA.

Just a fine point of correction here, Americans and other visa-free are on an implied visitor's visa with all of its restrictions and responsibilities. There is no such thing as 'without a VISA' unless perhaps you are a diplomat or were born in the UK and have never applied for such.

+1 @ouflak1 In fact official statistics show that US nationals are among the highest number of overstayers in the UK, which means all those entering without a pre-issued visa are expected to show strong evidence of ties to the home country.

[Purejaz]

We will be coming as prepared as we can so we can only try our best.

From a financial sponsorship point of view, for a 4 month trip what do you think would be deemed a good amount? would £4,000 be sufficient as I earn a good salary?.

[Casa]

Depending on how you intend to spend your time while she is here. That's just over £30 a day allocated if my maths are right. I believe that even though you are sponsoring the application, your girlfriend will also be expected to submit evidence of her finances, bank statements etc, but wait for others to advise further on this.

[Purejaz]

Yeah she will have 6 months bank statements of her own, which will still show about $2,000

I will also have a savings account with £4,000 + documentation of my bonus which will be £1,500 after tax being paid shortly after her arrival.

The things we plan to do are things like museums, national trust sites and so forth. Which are relatively cheap. In her "booklet" we are preparing I might make a detailed budget.

Is there such a thing as being over prepared? haha

[ouflak1]

*deleted* Meant to be a PM!

[CR001]

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[ouflak1]

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PM was meant for Casa.

[MadeofMusic95]

Hello, what was the outcome of this attempted visit? I have a similar situation upcoming, but I know some laws have recently changed. My girlfriend will have left her job etc. and will visit, then we intend to go through the 'Family of a settled person' visa process while she is here, then leave and return on that visa.