Refused Visitor Visa!

[elz]

Has anyone ever been refused leave to enter the UK? what happened? how did this effect subsequent visits?

background on my story and questions

ok so i flew out to visit my boyfriend for 5 months and when i arrived i was detained and then subsequently returned to the us because of not being able to show

a- that i was definetly leaving after the 5 months, even though i had a return ticket.
b- that i was unable to support myself, because my bank statement didnt have all of my available funds on it.
c- they said that there were some conflictions between mine and my boyfriends statements, even though the immigration officer needed to double check a bunch of things because he had gotten them confused. at the time my boyfriend was never my sponsor, this was an assumption made by the officer. the same officer who made several derogatory comments about Wales and the Welsh. Is there any grounds to file a complaint for regionalistic and dearly beloved comments? will this help my case when i go to the consulate? one of my friends that i was to be staying with there is Welsh and when i told the officer this he made several nasty remarks and then told me it was not looking good for me.

i was deined entry and sent back home, but the officer told my boyfriend that i could return as soon as i had all of the proper documents. basically they sent me back because i couldnt prove that i had anything to return to united states for, evn though that was my intention. i am going to the consulate this week to apply for a visitors visa to be on the safe side, but is there anything specific i should bring with me. any advice or suggestions would be fantastic. im just worried that when i go to the consulate that they will see the mark on my passport, even though i have several other entry visas on there already. Based on the way i was treated I am very paranoid now dealing with customs and immigration officials. i know they arent all like this, but now im nervous. I'd like to return to the UK for 2 weeks at the end of the months so I can at least visit my boyfriend for a short period of time but am nervous. Im going to apply for a visitors visa this week in New York. Any advice would be fantastic!

this took place at heathrow. i was planning on flying to gatwick my second go around because fares are cheaper there. anyone have any exppierence at either of these? i was also planning on enrolling back in school since my 5 month plans were now down the toilet. should i bring my registration slip to prove that i have something to come back to?!

[John]

Elz, good to see your first post.

You have learnt the hard way that even though US citizens are not "visa nationals" (who by definition need a visa to enter the UK for any purpose whatsoever) that does not necessarily mean that there is anything like a guaranteed entry into the UK.

You want permission to enter the UK as a visitor. What evidence can you show that amounts to a "reason to return" to the States? It appears that the immigration officer at the airport got the impression that there would be an incentive for you to stay ... your boyfriend!

should i bring my registration slip to prove that i have something to come back to?!

Absolutely!

You also need to show sufficient funds to maintain yourself while you are here in the UK. This is because your permission to stay will have a "No recourse to Public Funds" restriction. And incidentally when you arrived did you have adequate travel insurance? As a visitor you only have limited rights to use the NHS and certainly need insurance to cover against a stay in hospital or surgery or the like.

there were some conflictions between mine and my boyfriends statements

Might this be anything to do with marriage plans?

[elz]

nope. had nothing to do with marraige. my boyfriend and i had slightly different stories as to how we met. i told the immigration officer that we met about 6 months ago [which is true, we began speaking on the internet] but we physically met 2 months ago. my boyfriend said we only met 2 months ago, so the 6 month thing prolly made it seem suspicious. i had tried to prove that i had all intentions of coming back. my family is here, my friends, the school i am going to be enrolling in etc.

since my plans to go out there for 5 months have been ruined, i wanted to take a quick holiday out there for 2 weeks at the end of the month to visit with my boyfriend. should i go to the consulate and apply for a visitor visa for the duration of my stay or should i risk it and just go to the airport and hope i get in? what should i bring with me when i go to the consulate? registration for school? a note from a prospective employer stating i would be returning for interview in febuary? i mean what should i have with me? i own no house, but i do own a car which i am making payments on.