UK's 6 month tourist visa
Mar 23rd, 2015, 11:37 AM
#1
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UK's 6 month tourist visa
Hello, everyone!
My question is: can I enter the UK from Italy after being 90 days there and still get the 6-month tourist visa in the UK? Or in order to get that, I need to enter Europe from the UK? You think they'll give me 6 or 3, because I "used" three months in Italy?
I'm not a European citizen. I need to know this, so that I can organize mi trip.
Has anyone tried this?
Thank you very much.
My question is: can I enter the UK from Italy after being 90 days there and still get the 6-month tourist visa in the UK? Or in order to get that, I need to enter Europe from the UK? You think they'll give me 6 or 3, because I "used" three months in Italy?
I'm not a European citizen. I need to know this, so that I can organize mi trip.
Has anyone tried this?
Thank you very much.
Mar 23rd, 2015, 12:25 PM
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"I think they'll probably give you 6 mos"
If you carry a passport of a country that needs visas for its citizens to enter the UK (like India or China), it's very unlikely that they'll give you a visa for six months unless you can demonstrate BOTH:
- that you have a genuine reason to be in the UK for six months AND
- that you have, right now, the means to support yourself in the UK for six months
You'll also need to satisfy a number of other criteria. These visas MUST be obtained before you check in for your flight. You will be denied boarding if you can't show it.
If you carry a passport from a country that DOES NOT require a visa for tourist or business visits (like the US or Japan), and you're coming here on holiday or business, you'll almost certainly be given six months' stay on arrival. We have practically no interest in whether you've been elsewhere in Europe.
The official at the border may require evidence you've got the means to support yourself, and that you don't intend doing anything that requires a special visa - like working, getting married or doing a course of study
If you carry a passport of a country that needs visas for its citizens to enter the UK (like India or China), it's very unlikely that they'll give you a visa for six months unless you can demonstrate BOTH:
- that you have a genuine reason to be in the UK for six months AND
- that you have, right now, the means to support yourself in the UK for six months
You'll also need to satisfy a number of other criteria. These visas MUST be obtained before you check in for your flight. You will be denied boarding if you can't show it.
If you carry a passport from a country that DOES NOT require a visa for tourist or business visits (like the US or Japan), and you're coming here on holiday or business, you'll almost certainly be given six months' stay on arrival. We have practically no interest in whether you've been elsewhere in Europe.
The official at the border may require evidence you've got the means to support yourself, and that you don't intend doing anything that requires a special visa - like working, getting married or doing a course of study
Mar 23rd, 2015, 12:41 PM
#5
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Thank you all! I'm from Argentina. I don't need a visa for the UK. I don't intend on staying 6 months, honestly, I just wanna know if it's possible. If I say That I'm staying for 20 days, and when it's day 19 I decide I wanna stay 10 more days, can I do that, or do I have to notify authorities because originally I said I'd stay 20 days?
Mar 23rd, 2015, 02:36 PM
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As with all immigration the decision will be made at the border. Having already spent 90 days in Schengen and lack of evidence that you will leave the UK will go against you as the assumption will be you are intending to work
You need to show proof that you are going to leave, that you have ties to another country and that you don't need to work in order to stay in the UK.
There is no guarantee you will be given 6 months even if you are allowed to enter the UK
You need to show proof that you are going to leave, that you have ties to another country and that you don't need to work in order to stay in the UK.
There is no guarantee you will be given 6 months even if you are allowed to enter the UK
Mar 23rd, 2015, 03:27 PM
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If I show them my "exit from the uk" ticket, and it says that I will be leaving the UK in a month, will they grant me the 6 month visa, o theyll give me permission for a month only? What I'm trying to say is that, regardless of tHe date in my ticket (leaving in 30 days, 40 or 90), will they give me 6 months by default? Do they give tourists a six-month tourist visa by default? 
Mar 23rd, 2015, 05:18 PM
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I'm confused. If you're an Argentine citizen don't you need to get a UK visa before you leave Argentina?
US and Japan citizens are allowed a 6 month "visa" but there is no actual document or application process for regular tourists. One just goes to the UK and is admitted - with no discussion of how long you will stay. The Immigration officer may have a question or two - or more if you look scruffy and as if you might become an illegal immigrant - but then you are admitted without any number of days indicated.
But it appears that as an Argentine citizen you will need an actual visa - and this may well be for a specified (and possibly unchangeable) number of days. You need to talk to the UK embassy at home, file your application and determine then what you will be granted.
US and Japan citizens are allowed a 6 month "visa" but there is no actual document or application process for regular tourists. One just goes to the UK and is admitted - with no discussion of how long you will stay. The Immigration officer may have a question or two - or more if you look scruffy and as if you might become an illegal immigrant - but then you are admitted without any number of days indicated.
But it appears that as an Argentine citizen you will need an actual visa - and this may well be for a specified (and possibly unchangeable) number of days. You need to talk to the UK embassy at home, file your application and determine then what you will be granted.
Mar 23rd, 2015, 09:14 PM
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<i>"But it appears that as an Argentine citizen you will need an actual visa - and this may well be for a specified (and possibly unchangeable) number of days. You need to talk to the UK embassy at home"</i>
Bollocks.
Argentinians don't need visas to visit the UK for holidays or on business.
And our diplomats - as in all developed democracies - have got better things to do than to hand out tourism advice. It's impossible to "talk to a UK embassy" on such trivial matters: a potential tourist will simply be referred (probably by a recorded message) to the UK visa website.
As will a tourist asking a similar question of any other grownup nation.
What does this stupid woman smoke to conjure up the parallel universe she churns out here? And why churn out palpable nonsense?
<i>What I'm trying to say is that, regardless of tHe date in my ticket (leaving in 30 days, 40 or 90), will they give me 6 months by default?</i>
Tourists not needing a visa will usually be given 6 months' leave to remain on arrival. That is, however, at the discretion of the border official. Visitors who raise alarms (most often about their ability to support themselves, but there are lots of other possible reasons) may be given a shorter period. There is no hard and fast rule about this.
Bollocks.
Argentinians don't need visas to visit the UK for holidays or on business.
And our diplomats - as in all developed democracies - have got better things to do than to hand out tourism advice. It's impossible to "talk to a UK embassy" on such trivial matters: a potential tourist will simply be referred (probably by a recorded message) to the UK visa website.
As will a tourist asking a similar question of any other grownup nation.
What does this stupid woman smoke to conjure up the parallel universe she churns out here? And why churn out palpable nonsense?
<i>What I'm trying to say is that, regardless of tHe date in my ticket (leaving in 30 days, 40 or 90), will they give me 6 months by default?</i>
Tourists not needing a visa will usually be given 6 months' leave to remain on arrival. That is, however, at the discretion of the border official. Visitors who raise alarms (most often about their ability to support themselves, but there are lots of other possible reasons) may be given a shorter period. There is no hard and fast rule about this.
Mar 28th, 2015, 08:07 PM
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Just to sum up the situation about Argentinians (and other non-visa nationals) wanting to visit UK.
The immigration officer at the border will decide, on the basis of what you enter on your immigration card (length of stay, purpose, address in UK etc), your replies to their questions and your passport information whether to give you leave to enter as a visitor. The main criteria are:
1. Do you have mean of support in UK? Adequate funds, letter of invitation from friends/relatives to stay with them etc.
2. Will you leave UK at the end of your stay? Here they are looking for strong ties at home, such as a job to return to, a course to start or re-join, business interest, family responsibility etc. A letter from employer, school etc will be very useful.
3. Do you have adverse immigration history in UK, Schengen countries and other major Western countries (US, Canada, Australia etc)? UK visa or entry denials, deportations etc will be flashed up when they put your passport into a reader. They do check whether you have overstayed Schengen's 90-in-180 days if you have just come from Schengen and will refuse entry if you have. I know of several people who have been turned away at UK border over this, and officers are getting increasingly vigilant. While they don't have automatic access to other countries' immigration database, anything recorded in the passport will be noted.
When they decide to give you leave to enter, they normally stamp 6 months with employment and access to public funds prohibited regardless of expected length of stay you have written on the card. This will be in 99% of cases. But if they have some doubt over your intentions but not enough to deny you entry, or your travel pattern suggests you may overstay, work illegally etc, they can exceptionally give a shorter stay or give you what is called Code 3 landing. This is to ensure your movement in and out of UK will be monitored, your immigration card will be retained, and your intended length of stay is noted. If you do leave within the period you have stated, all is well but if you stay longer, even within the 6 months allowed, it will go on your record and they will find out next time you arrive at UK border (or apply for UK visa abroad) and may lead to denied entry or rejected application. You should be told about it (and Code 3 will be noted on your passport). If this happens, make sure you do leave on time to keep your UK immigration record clean.
So my advice is don't worry about it unduly, complete the immigration card accurately, answer any questions truthfully, carry any supporting documents and keep to Schengen rule.
The immigration officer at the border will decide, on the basis of what you enter on your immigration card (length of stay, purpose, address in UK etc), your replies to their questions and your passport information whether to give you leave to enter as a visitor. The main criteria are:
1. Do you have mean of support in UK? Adequate funds, letter of invitation from friends/relatives to stay with them etc.
2. Will you leave UK at the end of your stay? Here they are looking for strong ties at home, such as a job to return to, a course to start or re-join, business interest, family responsibility etc. A letter from employer, school etc will be very useful.
3. Do you have adverse immigration history in UK, Schengen countries and other major Western countries (US, Canada, Australia etc)? UK visa or entry denials, deportations etc will be flashed up when they put your passport into a reader. They do check whether you have overstayed Schengen's 90-in-180 days if you have just come from Schengen and will refuse entry if you have. I know of several people who have been turned away at UK border over this, and officers are getting increasingly vigilant. While they don't have automatic access to other countries' immigration database, anything recorded in the passport will be noted.
When they decide to give you leave to enter, they normally stamp 6 months with employment and access to public funds prohibited regardless of expected length of stay you have written on the card. This will be in 99% of cases. But if they have some doubt over your intentions but not enough to deny you entry, or your travel pattern suggests you may overstay, work illegally etc, they can exceptionally give a shorter stay or give you what is called Code 3 landing. This is to ensure your movement in and out of UK will be monitored, your immigration card will be retained, and your intended length of stay is noted. If you do leave within the period you have stated, all is well but if you stay longer, even within the 6 months allowed, it will go on your record and they will find out next time you arrive at UK border (or apply for UK visa abroad) and may lead to denied entry or rejected application. You should be told about it (and Code 3 will be noted on your passport). If this happens, make sure you do leave on time to keep your UK immigration record clean.
So my advice is don't worry about it unduly, complete the immigration card accurately, answer any questions truthfully, carry any supporting documents and keep to Schengen rule.
Mar 29th, 2015, 05:37 AM
#13
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I will chime in to say that immigration will look more closely at you if you are young (20s) and a visiting a boyfriend. Back when I first started visiting London, I looked young for my age and I was always asked about why I was coming to the US and why I did come every year? A return plane ticket would satisfy them.
It really depends on the officers but I've noticed that the UK does a more through job of asking questions.
It really depends on the officers but I've noticed that the UK does a more through job of asking questions.
