UK Visitor Visa for Six Months?

[licoricewolff]

Hello

I recently posted to ask questions about obtaining a UK visitor visa to visit my girlfriend for six months. I started browsing the UK immigration site again tonight to find out what documents I'd need to apply later this week, when I read that if you're from the US and you're just visiting the UK, you don't need a visa. This seemed too good to be true, but after a google search of how long you can stay in the UK without a visa, I saw a lot of people saying you can stay there for up to 180 days with only your passport. You only need to bring the documents you'd need if you were applying for a visa (passport, bank statements, proof of leave from work, return plane ticket). But for the longest time, I've thought that the purpose of a visitor visa is for tourism in the UK for six months or less. So which is it? If I want to stay with my girlfriend in the UK for 180 days or a little less, do I need a visa or just my passport??

[vinny]

A US citizen is a non visa national for the purposes of visiting the UK. You don't require a visit entry clearance. However, you must satisfy an Immigration Officer at the port of entry in the same way as a visa national must satisfy an Entry Clearance Officer at a British Embassy.

[licoricewolff]

A US citizen is a non visa national for the purposes of visiting the UK. You don't require a visit entry clearance. However, you must satisfy an Immigration Officer at the port of entry in the same way as a visa national must satisfy an Entry Clearance Officer at a British Embassy.

So I don't need a visa for a 180 day visit, but I need to have the proper documents when I arrive at customs in the Heathrow airport to show the immigration official that I'm in the country legally and I don't intend to overstay or do anything illegal?

[Wanderer]

You never do the full 180 days in todays climate, think visiting vs residing and search the forum for others who have suffered with this...

[licoricewolff]

You never do the full 180 days in todays climate, think visiting vs residing and search the forum for others who have suffered with this...

What is the longest you'd suggest staying? I don't see why this is a problem if I have a return plane ticket and can prove I have a job to return to in the US

[Wanderer]

You never do the full 180 days in todays climate, think visiting vs residing and search the forum for others who have suffered with this...

What is the longest you'd suggest staying? I don't see why this is a problem if I have a return plane ticket and can prove I have a job to return to in the US

Well the IO's fear is that the visitor is attempting to remain in UK and try to get leave from there, i.e. another visa or whatever.

Main test is reasons to return, flights can be cancelled and to be honest I think the IO will find an employer willing to let someone go on holiday for half a year a bit hard to believe.

So then you are left with nothing to add credibility to your case.

The general consensus us 2/3 week visits several times over a year/six month period, You have to think like them, they are suspicious out-of-the-box, and you do have to agree six months in one go is not a visit.

[licoricewolff]

You never do the full 180 days in todays climate, think visiting vs residing and search the forum for others who have suffered with this...

What is the longest you'd suggest staying? I don't see why this is a problem if I have a return plane ticket and can prove I have a job to return to in the US

Well the IO's fear is that the visitor is attempting to remain in UK and try to get leave from there, i.e. another visa or whatever.

Main test is reasons to return, flights can be cancelled and to be honest I think the IO will find an employer willing to let someone go on holiday for half a year a bit hard to believe.

So then you are left with nothing to add credibility to your case.

The general consensus us 2/3 week visits several times over a year/six month period, You have to think like them, they are suspicious out-of-the-box, and you do have to agree six months in one go is not a visit.

I'm not saying I think you're wrong or something. I totally get what you're saying. But can anyone else agree or disagree with this? I've had two week visits with my girlfriend, I just want to see her for a longer amount of time now that I have a decent amount of money saved up. There have to be people who go to England to visit family and stay there for at least a couple months

[licoricewolff]

Bump. Can anyone tell me if a little over five months would be fine?