Am I allowed tovisit? What do I need?

[Ryan_in_LV]

So, I've been wondering if anyone can help me with my current situation. I have a girlfriend in the UK whom I just returned from visiting in March. now her parents are offering to pay to have me visit in june. What can I expect from immigration? How much money will I need? and what kind of questions should I expect? should I tell them I have a girlfriend there since I have evidence of a return flight? and left once before? I heard it's bad to lie to immigration. Any help would be very much appreciated. I'm a 20 year old american male by the way.

[reabs]

So, I've been wondering if anyone can help me with my current situation. I have a girlfriend in the UK whom I just returned from visiting in March. now her parents are offering to pay to have me visit in june. What can I expect from immigration? How much money will I need? and what kind of questions should I expect? should I tell them I have a girlfriend there since I have evidence of a return flight? and left once before? I heard it's bad to lie to immigration. Any help would be very much appreciated. I'm a 20 year old american male by the way.

Even though you are entitled to visa free travel, if it worries you a lot, you do have the option of getting a visa before you travel.

Immigration are just people like any other...tell them the truth and show them evidence of clear rational thought and they won't think ill of you and keep you but a few seconds. Lie to them and you'll be on the next flight back and banned from entry for the next 10 years.
Obviously don't go spilling out your whole life story - just keep to answering the questions you are asked. As for how much you need - how long is a piece of string? If you are travelling all around the UK doing lots of stuff, they may want to see thousands of pounds. If you are staying at your girlfriends and not really doing much then I'd say $200 per week of your stay is a good figure but it helps to have more. Having a credit card on top helps. The main thing is to show that you can afford to pay your own way should things go south.

They could ask:

What did you do last time you were here;
Where did you stay;
Who owns the place you stayed at;
Who is meeting you today;
How much money do you have available to you;
How long have you known your girlfriend;
Where did you meet her;
How long do you intend to stay with her (trick question - could mean how long are you staying at her place or in the relationship etc etc);
What do you do back in the states;


Or they could just take one look at you, stamp your passport and wish you a good day!

[Ryan_in_LV]

Hmmm, So if they ask I should be cear and outright about returning for a relationship? And can that have any impact on them sending me away? like will they think I would stay when I won't?

[reabs]

Hmmm, So if they ask I should be cear and outright about returning for a relationship? And can that have any impact on them sending me away? like will they think I would stay when I won't?

You are coming to visit your girlfriend right? If that's the case, then yeah you are in a relationship and you are coming to visit your beau. The law does not stop you from doing that and a visitor visa is appropriate. I wouldnt say "returning for a relationship" though. That implies "I'm coming to stay for good". A simple "Im visiting my girlfriend" will suffice.

If you are honest and forthright and your life shows all evidence of it simply being a visit then there shouldn't be a problem.

If however, you cannot show that you have more of an attachment to the USA than to the UK then it may be problematic. For example, if you are unemployed, have little money, bring all your worldly possessions with you, have correspondence in your bags that talks of a job in the UK etc etc, then that UKBA fella is going to see that relationship as an almighty pull factor that will keep you here beyond the 6 month period allowed. Like I said earlier, if there is anything you think might give UKBA a reason not to let you in (other than the harmless, legally permitted one of being in love), then you have the choice of getting a visa before arrival to give you a 99% chance of being granted entry.

I forgot to add...she is your girlfriend: You are not permitted to turn her into your wife whilst you are in the UK on a visitor visa. lovely I know but it's the law. So avoid saying 'marriage/wedding' to the immigration fella as it will be an automatic bye bye.