What should I expect?

[curlz]

I know this question has probably been asked several times, but I am new to these forums. I happen to be an US citizen moving to the UK on a fiance settlement visa quite soon. My last experience at Heathrow has made me very nervous about landing there again. I'm not quite sure what I should expect to happen when I land at Heathrow airport. If anybody knows, it would be great to have a little heads up to ease my nerves a bit.

[Smit]

Curlz,

Could you share with us what happened at Heathrow? Your case sounds straightforward, so can't see any reason for a problem?

[John]

Curlz, you already have your fiancé visa? In which case ...relax!

A bad experience last time? Presumably that was you trying to enter as a visitor? If so, well, your situation now is totally reversed. Armed with your fiancé visa you are actually expected to stay living in the UK, rather than just visiting.

Presumably you are aware that the holder of a fiancé visa is not allowed to work in the UK. So saying that you intend to start a new job the following week will not be appreciated by the immigration officer. You will need to get married and then apply for and get a spouse visa in the UK before being able to work.

[Kayalami]

I know this question has probably been asked several times, but I am new to these forums. I happen to be an US citizen moving to the UK on a fiance settlement visa quite soon. My last experience at Heathrow has made me very nervous about landing there again. I'm not quite sure what I should expect to happen when I land at Heathrow airport. If anybody knows, it would be great to have a little heads up to ease my nerves a bit.

As others have indicated it would be useful to have details of your last experience. The Immigration Officer has to determine:

1. Why you are seeking entry into the UK.

2. Whether such is within the applicable immigration rules.

3. If you meet the requirement of those rules primarily those pertaining to your intentions to depart the UK and having enough funding to accomodate and maintain yourself without illegal working or recourse to social security benefits.

Without knowing all that transpired on the day it may be that the IO did his/her job as required or otherwise.

If its a consolation I have travelled extensively across both sides of the pond and most of the UK Immigration Officers have IMHO been very professional. Entry into the US in contrast has seen well documented historic details of extreme overzealousness particularly pertaining to the Visa Waiver Scheme. In one case a senior official in charge of a major port of entry on the west coast was relieved of his duties after official complaints from several governments on the matter of due process during expedited removal of their nationals (such after being handcuffed and detained like criminals).

[John]

If you meet the requirement of those rules primarily those pertaining to your intentions to depart the UK and having enough funding to accommodate and maintain yourself without illegal working or recourse to social security benefits.

I agree but here Curlz either has a fiancé visa already or will have one prior to coming to the UK again.

So there is no need to worry about "intentions to depart the UK", except in the sense that there needs to be an intention to settle in the UK with the intended spouse.

Also, as regards financial and accommodation aspects, those are part of the process in getting the fiancé visa and so should not be part of the questioning at the UK port of arrival.

[Kayalami]

John,

Thanks for the clarification. I responded to the OP on the matter of last entry neglecting that of anticipated entry. In regards to entry on the fiance visa the IO will still be reviewing the category of entry vis a vis the rules. Given that a visa is held and as such provides prima facie evidence of the rules being met then the IO will as a routine verify:

1. Nothing has changed in the OP's circumstances.

2. The relevant visa is valid.

3. The relevant travel document is valid and belongs to the presenter.

The IO may require the OP to undertake a medical as part of the inspection. Thus it may be useful for him/her to carry an X-ray (PA format). This is in addition to carrying all documents used in support of the application in case any queries arise.

[John]

Totally, agree, the OP should not be surprised if a question is asked such as "When do you plan to get married?" is asked. After all a fiancé visa is issued so that the person can come to the UK to get married during the six months validity of the visa.

It is not necessary to have firm plans, but having a general idea would be a good idea. Something such as "We plan to go to the Register Office sometime the week after next and then get married there (or a named religious place, or wherever) in about three months time", would probably be the sort of thing the immigration officer might be looking for.

Indeed Curlz, going to the Register Office as soon as you can is not a bad idea. I think you have to be resident at your address for something like a week before you go there, but after serving out that minimum period you might as well go. A notice will then be posted publicly in the Register Office for about two weeks, and after that they issue legal permission to marry. That permission is valid for many months, clearly covering the whole of your visa period.

Finally as a non-EEA person you and your intended must go along to a Register Office designated for the purpose under regulations that came into force last February.

[jjustyy]

After giving notice you have 12 months to marry, so plenty of time John

[John]

Yes, except the fiancé visa is only for six months, so the plan should be to marry within that time frame.

But what you say confirms that there is no reason to delay going to the Register Office after serving out the few days residence requirement. After all the permission to marry will permit the marriage to happen either immediately after such permission is issued, or at the other extreme, just before the fiancé visa expires.

[curlz]

Thanks for all that useful information. I will, indeed, get to the register office as soon as possible to make sure the date is set and ready to go.

As for the question,

Could you share with us what happened at Heathrow?

The last time I passed through Heathrow, I was just using a passport to get through to see my fiance. At the time, we were both 18 years old, I was intending to stay for 3 months, and I didn't have a return flight ticket because my fiance and I were intending to buy my ticket in the UK so we could both travel back to the States together on the same flight so he could visit my family. So, after seeing me as a risk, they kept me standing for about an hour while they talked about letting me through, and the people there were so very rude to me about the whole situation. They ended up putting all my information into the system and warned me that the next time I passed through to England would be even harder than current.

So, I'm glad to hear this time won't be as bad as the last, which makes me eased a whole lot more than I have been.

[John]

Curlz, I suspect it was the lack of return ticket that caused the problem. However armed with a fiancée visa that will not be a problem next time.

Do you already have your fiancee visa in your passport?

[curlz]

Do you already have your fiancee visa in your passport?

Yes, it was put in there when I appied for my fiance visa.

[John]

As you already have your fiancée visa you have cleared the big hurdle. Actually getting into the UK armed with your fiancée visa will be simplicity itself compared to getting the visa.

[Kayalami]

The last time I passed through Heathrow, I was just using a passport to get through to see my fiance. At the time, we were both 18 years old, I was intending to stay for 3 months, and I didn't have a return flight ticket because my fiance and I were intending to buy my ticket in the UK so we could both travel back to the States together on the same flight so he could visit my family.

You were an 18 year old with no return ticket, presumably limited funds, no strong ties to the US i.e. decent employment, visiting another 18 year old (de facto sponsor) presumably in similar financial/employment situation for a period of 3 months - sorry but your stats would raise any Immigration Officer's alarm bells.

So, after seeing me as a risk, they kept me standing for about an hour while they talked about letting me through, and the people there were so very rude to me about the whole situation. They ended up putting all my information into the system and warned me that the next time I passed through to England would be even harder than current.

You did not appear to meet the rules pertaining to a visitor so relevant enquiries including consultation on a refusal of entry with a Chief Immigration Officer had to be carried out. In what way were the relevant people rude to you given the sweeping nature of this comment? Surely not merely being kept waiting. It would be useful to have specifics. They were doing their job which the people of this country have consented to via electing the relevant government implementing an appropriate immigration system. IMHO you were very lucky to be allowed entry (I presume the CIO gave you the benefit of doubt). It may be useful to remember that entry into a country of which you are not a citizen/ national is a privilege not a right.

So, I'm glad to hear this time won't be as bad as the last, which makes me eased a whole lot more than I have been.

You appear to better meet the rules on this occassion so entry should be a smoother process.