Border control at London St.Pancras (Eurostar)

[cheesefeets]

OK, so the idea would be to take the eurostar from Amsterdam to London.

Am currently in Holland with my g/f (a US tourist staying within the 3 month schengen agreement), who would like to come and stay with me in the UK (am native UK resident) for a while (no longer than 6 months of course!).

We're just wondering what the immigration/border control is like at St.Pancras? We had a bad experience in the past with her getting turned away at Gatwick airport (2011) flying from US, so we don't want to introduce any extra risk.

Am I right in thinking that we'll have less trouble going on the eurostar as opposed to flying?

Any help would be infinitely appreciated!

[Casa]

The UK Border control will be on the EU mainland side, before you board the Eurostar. The previous entry refusal will be on the UKBA system, in which case where your girlfriend attempts to enter will be irrelevant.

[cheesefeets]

The UK Border control will be on the EU mainland side, before you board the Eurostar. The previous entry refusal will be on the UKBA system, in which case where your girlfriend attempts to enter will be irrelevant.

Sorry, but are you saying that because she was denied entry previously, she will automatically be interrogated in the same way she was at Gatwick?

Please clarify!

Also, if she is denied again, will she be deported?

Thanks!

[Casa]

When someone has been refused entry previously this will always 'flag up' in the future. It would be unwise to arrive without a visa. What was the reason for refusal?
Just one point. If she's refused entry on the EU mainland side, she won't be 'deported' as technically she won't be on British soil.

[cheesefeets]

When someone has been refused entry previously this will always 'flag up' in the future. It would be unwise to arrive without a visa. What was the reason for refusal?
Just one point. If she's refused entry on the EU mainland side, she won't be 'deported' as technically she won't be on British soil.

She was refused entry because she didn't meet the entry requirements. She didn't have a return ticket nor enough funds to support herself. This is no longer the case however. She will have return ticket and has plenty of funds to support herself (she is full-time employed as a freelancer atm. Her employer is located in the US, and she works from her computer).

Also, what visa would she even need to apply for? She's a US tourist who is entitled to up to 6 months stay with her US passport, right?

[Casa]

She's entitled to enter on her US passport if the Immigration officer at the point of entry is convinced that she has strong evidence to show that she will return to the US without overstaying in the UK. The previous refusal won't do her any favours unfortunately, adding to the fact that with a boyfriend in the UK she will come under even more scrutiny. Believe it or not, statistics show that US nationals are amongst the highest of UK overstayers.
She would need a visitor visa, but may not be able to apply for this from Holland. She would need to check with the British Consulate in Amsterdam.
You may want to bear in mind that if she explains to the entry officer that she works remotely on her computer (with her employer in the US) they may well take the view that she will continue to work while she is in the UK.

[cheesefeets]

She's entitled to enter on her US passport if the Immigration officer at the point of entry is convinced that she has strong evidence to show that she will return to the US without overstaying in the UK. The previous refusal won't do her any favours unfortunately, adding to the fact that with a boyfriend in the UK she will come under even more scrutiny. Believe it or not, statistics show that US nationals are amongst the highest of UK overstayers.
She would need a visitor visa, but may not be able to apply for this from Holland. She would need to check with the British Consulate in Amsterdam.
You may want to bear in mind that if she explains to the entry officer that she works remotely on her computer (with her employer in the US) they may well take the view that she will continue to work while she is in the UK.

Well that's depressing! Thanks for your wisdom though

[Casa]

Sorry not to be able to give you the answers you were hoping for. Just one point to bear in mind...if you decide to give it a try, don't be tempted to hide your relationship. If you do and then later on decide to apply for a fiance or spouse visa, everything will be on record.

[cheesefeets]

Sorry not to be able to give you the answers you were hoping for. Just one point to bear in mind...if you decide to give it a try, don't be tempted to hide your relationship. If you do and then later on decide to apply for a fiance or spouse visa, everything will be on record.

Thanks! That's pure gold!

She's entitled to enter on her US passport if the Immigration officer at the point of entry is convinced that she has strong evidence to show that she will return to the US without overstaying in the UK. The previous refusal won't do her any favours unfortunately, adding to the fact that with a boyfriend in the UK she will come under even more scrutiny. Believe it or not, statistics show that US nationals are amongst the highest of UK overstayers.
She would need a visitor visa, but may not be able to apply for this from Holland. She would need to check with the British Consulate in Amsterdam.
You may want to bear in mind that if she explains to the entry officer that she works remotely on her computer (with her employer in the US) they may well take the view that she will continue to work while she is in the UK.

Thank you so much for your help so far, but my g/f has a couple more questions if you don't mind sharing some more of your wisdom?

1. As a US tourist visiting the UK, is it illegal to do freelance work online or to work for a US employer online from afar?

2. Would it be less of a problem if we only planned for my g/f to visit for a week (that would mean having a return flight booked back to NL, then back to the US)?

Thank you again. You truly are an invaluable resource!

[Casa]

1. Definitely not allowed. This even includes charity/voluntary work.
2. You could try it, but be prepared to justify a reason for her return to the US. The Entry Officer may feel that it's as easy to overstay a week's visit as 6 months...even with a return ticket. The main 'fly in the ointment' is the previous refusal.
Above all BE HONEST.