argentine visitor

[pixie87]

Hi i am a british citizen and my argentine friend is coming to visit me next week.
Argentina is a non visa country and he will visit me for 3months (obviously has a return ticket).
Basically he has about one thousand pounds to support himself but my parents have written him an invitation letter saying that they will support him,along with bank statements.
My concern is that he speaks no english..will that be a problem? Is it likely that he will be questioned upon arrival?Is any other documentation required? He has a letter from his current job in argentina however is just a letter with no stamps etc.
I have been on the ukba website but found their information to be pretty vague

Cheers!

[Mr Rusty]

He will almost certainly be questioned on arrival. If he can't speak English and they don't have a Spanish speaker available he may be held up until they get hold of one. (This would never have been a problem in the Bad Old Days as there were IO's qualified in Spanish and many other languages at most ports of entry, but I understand that UKBA has phased out the language allowances so the qualifications have lapsed).

Whether or not they let him in depends on how credible they view his professed intentions to return to Argentina. During my 40+ years of working life I never had a 3 month holiday, neither do the majority of people who have a proper job.

[John]

Mr Rusty, I think you sum it up nicely.

pixie87, it is all about "reason to return". Simply, what reason(s) will he give about why he will return to his country? He has the letter from his employer. What does it say? It needs to specify the dates of his holiday, and thus make clear when he is expected back at work. Does it?

[pixie87]

Thanx for the replies.
The letter states that he has been given 3months leave from his job in the hotel due to it now being low season. Other than that i'm not sure what other proof he can bring regarding intentions of return.

[pixie87]

Was just wondering..does him not requiring a visa mean that he has more of a chance of being questioned?

Also, the letter from his employer is like a reference letter specifying the date he is expected to return to work, along with his work's address and contact number.

[Mr Rusty]

Was just wondering..does him not requiring a visa mean that he has more of a chance of being questioned?

.

Most certainly.

Those who hold a visa have had to have their bona fides tested before they even get on a plane, which means that they can only be refused entry on arrival if it can be proved that they used deception to get the visa or there has been a change of circumstances since the visa was issued. Therefore lengthy questioning should not be necessary.

Non-visa nationals may be questioned about their entire immigration history and circumstances of their life if on arrival the IO perceives there is a problem. If your friend is in his early 20s and in a low-paid job and has no history of previous travel these are all indicators that his "incentive to return" to his own country may not be as strong as the prospect of taking his chances in the black economy in the UK.

[pixie87]

thats worrying because he is all of that..but has no intentions to stay over his return date.
I had two other friends come to visit me and all they has was my name and telephone number as it was short notice and they had no problems so i suppose we have no other option but to hope for the best

[Mr Rusty]

So - did he make it?

[pixie87]

yes he did!
He was asked questions but luckily there were spanish passengers who translated for him. He had to show the money he has,invitation and work letter. So great news..thanx for your help