Visit visa to seek work?

[licoricewolff]

Hello. I am a US citizen living in the US seeking a UK work permit. After a few months of applying for jobs (primarily NHS jobs), I was invited to two interviews. I wasn't able to make it to either one due to my current job and the fact that the employer was not able to conduct a phone/Skype interview. I've recently been thinking it would be easier for me to obtain a visitor visa in order to apply and interview for jobs offering sponsorship while staying with my girlfriend of five years. After a bit of research, I saw a lot of people saying it's illegal to visit the U.K. with the intention of getting sponsorship and then coming back to the US to apply for the tier 2 work visa. However, the UK immigration website states that you may not work while visiting the U.K., but you may interview for jobs. Would I be refused entry to the UK if I'm just applying and interviewing for jobs without actually working?

[Wanderer]

If you were stopped and reached by the IO and they found CV's, interview appointments etc, you'll be bounced.

[vinny]

Business – general activities
5 A visitor may:
(a) attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews;

[licoricewolff]

Thanks for the replies.

But why will I be refused entry if it's apparently acceptable to attend interviews? That's what I'm not getting. I wouldn't have any cvs on me, because all of that is on my laptop. But if I tell the official that I'm there visiting my girlfriend and also apply and interview for jobs, will there be a problem? I don't know why I would be able to apply for jobs from the US and then come to the U.K. for the interviews but I wouldn't be able to just stay in the UK for a bit to apply for jobs so I don't have to fly back and forth for interviews

[Wanderer]

Thanks for the replies.

But why will I be refused entry if it's apparently acceptable to attend interviews? That's what I'm not getting. I wouldn't have any cvs on me, because all of that is on my laptop. But if I tell the official that I'm there visiting my girlfriend and also apply and interview for jobs, will there be a problem? I don't know why I would be able to apply for jobs from the US and then come to the U.K. for the interviews but I wouldn't be able to just stay in the UK for a bit to apply for jobs so I don't have to fly back and forth for interviews

I saw it on UK Border Force TV programme! Australian woman (non-visa national) arrived with CV's and knives (she was a chef) and got sent home next flight.

[vinny]

UK Border Force Season 1 Episode 6 (37:14). She said that carried her CVs, etc., everywhere because she was always looking for work. But she denied that she was coming to the UK to look for work.

I think that visiting the UK for job interviews is possible. However, you must also convince them that you are a genuine visitor; you will not work illegally and return home at the end of the visit, etc. This may be difficult.

[licoricewolff]

UK Border Force Season 1 Episode 6 (37:14). She said that carried her CVs, etc., everywhere because she was always looking for work. But she denied that she was coming to the UK to look for work.

I think that visiting the UK for job interviews is possible. However, you must also convince them that you are a genuine visitor; you will not work illegally and return home at the end of the visit, etc. This may be difficult.

I see. That makes more sense than anything else I've read about the subject. Thank you

Do you think a return plane ticket would be enough to show them that I intend to return to the US within six months? If not, would it be wrong or even illegal of me to just say that I want to visit my girlfriend for six months? I do want to visit her just to see her because we haven't been together for more than a year. I'd just like to apply for jobs while I'm there because it's a lot more convenient than flying there every time I secure an interview

[vinny]

Unfortunately, the longer you want to stay, the less you may appear to be a genuine visitor. For example, how would you support yourself, etc.?

[licoricewolff]

Unfortunately, the longer you want to stay, the less you may appear to be a genuine visitor. For example, how would you support yourself, etc.?

That's true. Is there any way to show them that I have money saved just to support myself while I'm there? I've also heard that if they know you still have a job in the US, they're more likely to see that you don't want to work or stay illegally in the U.K. If I could prove somehow that I'm just on leave from my job in the US, maybe that could help as well

[Wanderer]

Unfortunately, the longer you want to stay, the less you may appear to be a genuine visitor. For example, how would you support yourself, etc.?

That's true. Is there any way to show them that I have money saved just to support myself while I'm there? I've also heard that if they know you still have a job in the US, they're more likely to see that you don't want to work or stay illegally in the U.K. If I could prove somehow that I'm just on leave from my job in the US, maybe that could help as well

Well chances are they won't stop you, you just need to be prepared if they do. CV/appointments online or on USB stick.

Bear in mind though that the consideration now is a visit visa (or VW - do do get a visa as a US citizen, just its virtual one and you never see it) is for visits, not 4/5/6 month stays. Search this forum and you'll see many have suffered, especially when they've declared on the form or to the IO they're staying for a week or two and actually stay for six months.

The rules are a mishmash of official policy, recommended practice and the whim of the IO, just need to sail carefully,

[licoricewolff]

Unfortunately, the longer you want to stay, the less you may appear to be a genuine visitor. For example, how would you support yourself, etc.?

That's true. Is there any way to show them that I have money saved just to support myself while I'm there? I've also heard that if they know you still have a job in the US, they're more likely to see that you don't want to work or stay illegally in the U.K. If I could prove somehow that I'm just on leave from my job in the US, maybe that could help as well

Well chances are they won't stop you, you just need to be prepared if they do. CV/appointments online or on USB stick.

Bear in mind though that the consideration now is a visit visa (or VW - do do get a visa as a US citizen, just its virtual one and you never see it) is for visits, not 4/5/6 month stays. Search this forum and you'll see many have suffered, especially when they've declared on the form or to the IO they're staying for a week or two and actually stay for six months.

The rules are a mishmash of official policy, recommended practice and the whim of the IO, just need to sail carefully,

I would never overstay a visa or tell someone I'm staying for a few weeks and then stay even a day longer. So far, I have a good travel history (I think) considering I've been to the U.K. three times in the last three years and each time I've stayed two weeks and then left the exact day I said I was leaving.

When I hear about convincing an IO that I'm not going to overstay or work illegally, does that mean convincing the person who reads my visa application or convincing the person at customs in the airport who asks me how long I'm staying, where I'm staying, etc.? Or both?

[Casa]

Both.

[licoricewolff]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'm new to these boards, but you've all been very helpful and I'll hopefully be applying this weekend for my visitor visa to see my girlfriend