I am a United States Citizen and have Been in the UK for 7 months on a 6 month visitor visa waiver, not allowed to work or receive benefits. (overstayed 1 month)
I had my passport stolen last week in a home burglary, I have an appointment to go to the US London Embassy for a replacement passport, will they issue a new visa too for 6 months or will they know that I overstayed and send me back to USA? If so how soon can I come back? do thet ask any awkward questions?
I noticed that they do not check the passports electronically like they do in the US so there is only the stamp in the stolen passport that says when I arrived here.and there is no card to fill in for the visa waiver either so how will anyone know that I overstayed without checking airline tickets etc.
Any tips, help or advice will be greatly appreciated.
2007-07-31 09:15:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
graham h
One of my Ancestors wass Torn there
2007-07-31 09:28:14 · update #1
Hello,
You came in on a Visa Waiver program, British and European Union Citizens can also enter the USA as part of the "Waiver" program, it means that no "pre-arranged" Visa was required to enter the U.K.
The Immigration officials at the Airport in London put a 6 month Visa "right to remain for 6 months" entry stamp in your old passport which was stolen, so when you go to get your new passport there will be an annotation stamp to this affect issued at the USA Embassy saying that the passport is a replacement passport for the the one that was stolen, you will therefore not have a major problem getting back home and returning to the U.K whenever you want to. okay ? No deportation threat there at all. You overstayed 1 month thats all and it was not your fault either, some people come in on Tourist Visas, and over stay 10 years!
2007-07-31 10:02:35 · answer #1 · answered by Latin Techie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think the fact they don't check electronically means much... they still keep documentation of when you entered, hence why you fill in the little card when you get off the plane. Otherwise everyone would "lose" their passport and overstay to their hearts delight.
What they would do if you tried to re-enter would depend on the person you speak to. These things tend to be discresionary.
They can be pretty mean though. I very nearly didn't get let in at Gatwick once. I am a dual UK and US citizen. I live and work in the UK but my UK passport had been stolen a week before I travelled, so I figured I would just enter on my US passport. Being a UK citizen I didn't think it much mattered, they're never going to deport me. Unfortunately I had done this a few years back (when my UK one had expired) so my passport had a stamp and it looked like I overstayed a couple years! Without my UK passport to prove I was a citizen I got a real grilling. They were not happy about it at all, and I didn't think they would let me in. The only thing that did it was that I was able to produce the police report where I had listed my UK passport as one of the stolen items. Then he decided to cut me a break and let me in. I don't think he had to though.
So, my advice is to go home- minimise the damage by only making it a short over-stay and then if you want to come back just hope the immigration guys will cut you a break.
2007-08-01 22:15:00 · answer #2 · answered by - 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The US Embassy will issue you a new passport, or travel document, but cannot issue you a visa to stay in the UK, UK authorities do that. They would be unlikely to do so as you have already overstayed, and had done so before your passport was stolen.
If you are visiting, why would you want to stay longer than 6 months? Generally, the UK would scrutinize the application and wonder how you were supporting yourself for a full year, without working, thus might suspect you of working illegally.
You would be best advised to get your new passport and leave the UK as soon as possible, or you might hinder your chances of being admitted to the UK in the future.
Passports are scanned at the US point of departure (when you check in), so they will know what date you left the US, and thus will know that you have overstayed.
2007-07-31 09:35:27 · answer #3 · answered by txbrit 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think there was a misunderstanding when your mom asked for one year on her I-94. Perhaps Customs told her she could request an extension and gave her only six months. She should have looked at the date stamped on the I-94. If she was turned away at the airport, then she was NOT deported. She was merely refused entry. Since she overstayed by only two months, her visa was probably cancelled, but she did not incur a bar on re-entry. She can apply for another visa. You did not mention exactly which visa was the "right visa." It is not a tourist visa, which your mom used to enter before. A tourist visa is for visiting, not for living and working in the US, which your mom tried to do when she came here for a "fresh start." The "right visa" to live and work in the US is an immigrant visa. Your mom will not be able to get one until you turn 21 years old and become eligible to petition her. Because of prior overstay and clear immigration intent, your mom will probably not be able to get another visitor's visa and will have to wait until you petition her for an immigrant visa before she can come back to the US.
2016-05-19 01:06:49 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The US authorities will issue you a ppt but not a visa. You will have no visa in your ppt. When you leave the UK you may meet us. You may be served with papers - probably as an illegal (rather than an O/S) as you will not be able to prove you are lawfully here. You will then have to declare your overstay on any future application to enter. Unless actually DEPORTED (unlikely - this has a specific legal meaning) then there will be no bar to return though chances in the shortest term are slimmer.
If you wish to avoid airport problems then you can hand yourself in to my office and we will oversee your departure (on your own ticket).
2007-07-31 18:31:57 · answer #5 · answered by Frisky 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Normally you could expect to be hung, drawn and quartered at the Tower of London.
Forget all that 'stolen passport' stuff. The guys at the Tower have heard it a hundred times before.
I'd advise you to get to Heathrow, before they send the 'boys' round to collect you.
2007-08-01 01:22:08 · answer #6 · answered by nipper 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you (as a US citizen) help out the Red,White,and Blue, ya set an example for those law breakers over here, just turn yourself in and get deported back to the US!!! I don't see the down side!!
2007-07-31 09:22:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Have you seen the Tower of London yet?
2007-07-31 09:26:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋