Visa Denied

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:58 pm

Hi
My friend from the US was recently refused entry in to the UK. She applied for a visitors visa, but was not granted one and has a stamp in her passport. the reason was that they did not believe she would be here purely as a visitor. i would just like to know what to do next, if she should re apply or how she can change the information, to convince them.
Thanks Aidan

Post by **John** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:24 pm

Sorry, blunt question .... why does she want to come here? And for how long?

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:39 pm

Just to vistit, initially for 6 months but possibly only a few weeks

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:44 pm

I also believe that she does not have the right to appeal as she is not family.

stedman · Post by **stedman** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:59 pm

She can apply again but she'd need to show strong ties to the United States like work letters, bank statements, mortgage payments etc.

Jeff Albright · Post by **Jeff Albright** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:00 pm

Something might have slipped during the chat with the IO.

Reentering may be difficult. I would suggest you go visit her in the States. Also, if she wants to come again, it is advisable for her to obtain entry clearance in advance.

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:02 pm

ok thanks
she did show some, do you think it would help if she applied to a school or college, as she was going to do this anyway. She also works online, so I think they thought that she would easily be able to support herself while in the UK via internet work. Do you think if she got a job, ie in a store or restaurant would help?

stedman · Post by **stedman** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:05 pm

Only if it's a job that'd tie someone to a country. A job in Wal-Mart won't do the trick, unfortunately. Applying to a college may help but why would someone do this just to have a holiday in the UK?

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:06 pm

I thought that a visa was entry clearance?

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:08 pm

She was planning to go to college anyway, but I see your point. It seems quite desperate.

Post by **John** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:09 pm

She also works online, so I think they thought that she would easily be able to support herself while in the UK via internet work.

An interpretation of that is that she would be working in the UK, indeed running a business, which is not permitted on a visitor visa.

Just to visit, initially for 6 months but possibly only a few weeks

Sorry, why does she want to visit? When you say "friend", you mean she is your girlfriend?

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:09 pm

The thing is i'm sure there must be a way. i can't imagine that a somone cannot visit a certain country for ever?

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:11 pm

well sort of, I met her while travelling. Does it make a difference if she is or not? I remember them asking that at the airport when she was refused

stedman · Post by **stedman** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:11 pm

Aidanmccarthy wrote:I thought that a visa was entry clearance?

I think Jeff Albright assumed your friend was American and tried to come here under the Visa Waiver Programme. My understanding is that she is not a US citizen but resides there, and applied for a UK visa from the US.

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:12 pm

No, she is a US Citizen

stedman · Post by **stedman** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:13 pm

Aidanmccarthy wrote:No, she is a US Citizen

So why did she request a visa to come to the UK? US citizens do not need to apply for visas to come here on holiday. They get the "leave to remain" once they get here.

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:19 pm

Because when she came on her passport, she told them that she would be working via the internet (employed by and american). She was given false information by a number she called. So she was refused entry and told to apply for a visa.

stedman · Post by **stedman** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:24 pm

So she arrived at Heathrow, fluffed her interview and was refused entry and put on the next plane back... then when she got back to the US she applied for a visitor's visa and this was refused?

If that's the case she's going to struggle to get a visa to come here but it isn't impossible. She needs to show strong ties to the US and I suspect she doesn't have many. It also looks suspicious that she so desperately wants to come to the UK.

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:27 pm

Well yes, I agree. The frustrating thing is that all along, she has been honest and does only want to come and visit and perhaps look for a shool or a job that will sponsor her stay in the future. What sort of strong ties are you referring to?

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:29 pm

It just seems ridiculous that we are such close allies, yet americans are one of the most likely to get bounced and we let so many others in so easily. But that is a whole new debate.

Post by **John** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:30 pm

well sort of, I met her while travelling. Does it make a difference if she is or not? I remember them asking that at the airport when she was refused

It might cause a suspicion in their mind that she would try to settle here, and not just visit.

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:31 pm

Yes that is what I thought. Now we just have to try and figure out a way of convincing them to believe her and the truth. I am unsure of how to go about this.

stedman · Post by **stedman** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:36 pm

The UK and other countries view anyone arriving on a tourist visa as a potential immigrant, so it's up to the person to prove they have a reason to depart at the end of their stay. So if, say, you are married with kids in the UK and go on holiday to Bahamas on annual leave from your job as deputy prime minister, even if you fall for the most gorgeous woman there, you're unlikely to drop everything there and then to move permanently to the Bahamas. No-one will deny you a visa to Bahamas as you have shown very strong ties to the UK.

It's this sort of scenario immigration offiers want to see - why is this person here? (holiday, hotel booked) Why would they go back? (Important job, wife and kids waiting)

stedman · Post by **stedman** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:41 pm

Aidanmccarthy wrote:It just seems ridiculous that we are such close allies, yet americans are one of the most likely to get bounced and we let so many others in so easily.

Nope, your friend was just very unlucky, and sorry to say pretty naive to talk about working when attempting to enter on a tourist visa. I'd guess 99% of Americans enter the UK with ease.

Aidanmccarthy · Post by **Aidanmccarthy** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:41 pm

yes i understand that. So reapplying soon would almost not work anyway. And she just needs to try and gather stronger evidence to make them think she will be returning.

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