Re-entry on tourist visa before Youth Mobility has expired

[Ness1299]

I currently hold a Tier 5 youth mobility visa expiring 24 Feb 2012.

I have a trip booked from 17th til 20th feb 2012 and had planned to re-enter the UK on the 20th Feb on a tourist visa, showing my return flights to New Zealand booked for end of march. I dont intend to work during this time, I wanted to finish off some trips within the UK, but be able to work up until my visa finishes.

I was chatting to someone about it this weekend who said I might have some trouble re-entering the UK on a tourist visa whilst my youth mobility visa is still valid.

If i take proof of onward flights home and bank statements to show i have adequate funding to support myself, is there any chance i can enter on a tourist visa before the expiration of my youth mobility visa?

[Lucapooka]

When you approach immigration at the airport, you can request to be admitted as a visitor (assuming you are not a visa national who requires entry clearance in advance of arrival) and the fact that you have time remaining on your current leave, and the length of time, does not affect this.

However, you will need to meet the general requirements for entry as a visitor so just make sure you have good quality answers to any questions about why you wish to re-enter the UK so soon after a long period of residence and length of your intended visit. Your admission will be at the discretion of the UK Border Force officer and there are no guarantees.

[Ness1299]

Thanks for your reply.
Can I just ask to be readmitted as a visitor when I get up to the booth, or is there a form or something I should have filled in prior to arriving at the UK border?

[Lucapooka]

Anyone who is not a visa national can request entry clearance as a visitor on arrival. I don't know anything about you or your circumstances so I can't even begin to suggest if you have a credible chance. Alternatively you can apply for entry clearance as a visitor before you travel. This can be done at any UK consulate in any country. If it's clear that you merely wish to continue living in the UK (and there is no pressing purpose that warrants a visit immediately following a long period of residence) then that is not a sufficiently good reason to allow you to enter as a visitor for six months.

[wf]

This can be done at any UK consulate in any country.

I thought there is a restriction that you can only apply from a country where you have permission to stay for more than 6 months, or does that not apply to tourist visas?

[Lucapooka]

Applications for visit visas and EEA Family Permits can be made at any post designated by the Secretary of State to accept applications for entry clearance. The applicant will need to be in the third country or territory in accordance with that country or territory's immigration laws

[Tschanz82]

NEss, I am very interested in how you went. were you successful?
I am in a similar situation. I have a training for my work that runs for the week, and my visa ends during that week. I am wanting to find out whether i can leave the country for a holiday prior to this, and enter on a visitor permit, to leave for good back to Australia (my home country).

Would be very useful to know of your experiences or any other persons.
Thanks!