When I flew ot Gatwick I was asked the purpose of my visit. See details, Please.?

Question

I am female/caucasian from TEXAS, USA. I do not seek to take any jobs from any of the English citizens. I was deemed a risk to the British economy due to pending divorce and intent to find employment after returning to the USA. I have nomind to become a British citizen. I have zero issues with the country either. I have a place to stay for the duration of my visit and I have cash to fund my personal needs. I can't find a source to tell me how long before I can return. I can't find out how much immigrations thinks I need in my bank account. I just want to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I return to England which I fully intend to do. If the relationship works as we believe it will, then my friend intends to come to the USA with me before we go back to England together. I've never accepted any sort of gov't assistance in the USA. I do not intend to do that anywhere else either. I really need contact info from a reliable source to answer my questions. Please and thanks!

Answer 1

1). " I can't find a source to tell me how long before I can return"
There isn't one. It's ENTIRELY up to the UK to decide WHEN and IF.
2). "I can't find out how much immigrations thinks I need in my bank account."
Again, there is NO set amount. It's up to customs agents in the UK to decide that too.

"I just want to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I return to England which I fully intend to do".

You VOLUNTEERED FAR TOO MUCH INFORMATION. Be wary of Customs & Immigration agents everywhere; any innocent remark can get their Spidey Senses tingling, The lesson you should take away from this experience is next time DON'T TALK SO MUCH. You want to see the Tower of London. FULL STOP SHUT UP.

Answer 2

Basically the British Customs ask every one how long the are going to stay( even me and I am British but I live abroad ) and if you are foreign then they ask if you are going to work, these are standard questions, if you are only staying 2 or 3 weeks , just say so and of coarse you are not going to work , I think you are allowed to stay for up to six months, but if you say you are staying that long then they will want to know more about you, and if you intend to return in the near future then check with the embassy first as normally a foreign person can visit up to six months in a two year period, so if you are coming back in a short time you may need to explain why, and if it makes feel intimidated, my WIFE was refused entry some years ago and she can only go as a tourist, It is a pain but it can ^not be any more annoying than to have to remove ones shoes etc. when we come to your country, the freedom of movement only works on PAPER.

Answer 3

Hey The_corporation_666 Nice answer, really well thought out, and almost totally correct apart from the pointless rant at the British.

Anyway.

Next time, keep your details brief, and play your cards close to your chest. Mayn English people do indeed have little better to do that ruin your day and piss on your parade.

We're not all like that, Some of us even have straight white teeth. Also, we know how to play and score cricket.... unlike certain uncivilised countries to the west, (and our sports cars.... can go round corners !)

Answer 4

Try visiting Russia and you will wonder why you even bothered to plan a visit to the Lenin mausoleum. Cold FSB agents disguised as immigration officials will ask some pretty ridiculous question and the inevitable 'step out of the line please' will follow which is a total embarassment.
As someone mentioned earlier, keep your gob shut and stick to answering the questions. No friendly chat, just basic answers.

Answer 5

When entering NEVER say you are engaged or even have a boy/girlfriend in the UK because they always assume that you intend to stay. If you say that you are a tourist and have a return ticket and a couple of thousand dollars they will not question your motives. as someone else said don't volunteer anything.

Answer 6

You will find it similar for a UK visitor to the USA.
The system is an agreed format between countries immigration services and it is about ticking boxes.
Go on the the UK Govt website for immigration requirements they cover holiday, permanent and temporary stay in the UK.
As a USA citizen it should be very easy to stay in UK as long as you wish.

Answer 7

I suppose it depends from immigration officer to immigration officer but I'm sure there are guidelines they follow. Since you are from the US I'm sure we won't be as hard on you, but then again you can't tell. I suppose if you had around £1000 for every month that you are here and all the usual bona fides then all will go swimmingly for you. Just be honest with them, don't lose your cool and hopefully all will work out for you. If not, come to Ireland, as they love Americans over here, and I'm sure you could work out something from here. Can't say too much though.

Answer 8

Like all officials there are good and bad but of course you have to realise that we have one of the tightest Immigration controls in the world (Here I am joking) You should have come in the back of a lorry through Dover,no problems! A friend of mine who had all the necessary visas etc was held up by one of these pipsqueaks at Heathrow and told her visa had a problem. On returning to her home country she went to the British Embassy to query this and was told her visa was perfectly in order.The trouble is the incompetence of this official could have caused her to be sent back to her country to try and sort it out there.

Answer 9

All this hassle and garbage we have to put up with in the UK and US from over zealous immigration officials is mainly thanks to a certain Texan called Mr. George Bush with his knee jerk "War on Terror".
To the_corp_666. We Brits may have some bad teeth but it sure beats having 85% of our population as morbidly and disgustingly obese. We don't seem to think our country is Gods Gift to the World when the sad truth is it sucks just as much as anywhere else.

Answer 10

As I suppose, you want to know why you were asked for the purpose of your visit. Do not worry, every traveller, no matter where from or where going is asked this question.

Paranoid, Americans, non...???