Visiting UK boyfriend
 

I am 21 years old and I have been dating a guy that lives in the UK for almost a year. I visited him in the summer and I got held at passport control. After being held for about an hour they finally let me through. I was questioned a lot and they called him. I am about to visit him again for another month. I have a cousin who lives there as well, but I didn't mention her last time because I forgot to write her address down. Is there something I can do to avoid this for when I got in December? I have a return ticket and I am currently enrolled in college. It was just a really stressful experience and it is starting to give me bad anxiety. Suggestions please!

I hate to say it - but if they pulled you aside once for this type of procedure the chances are high that they will do so again (yes, this will come up when they scan your passport).

I would be uber prepared this time - to answer any questions:

Have your return ticket ready to show
Have info showing you are enrolled in school and already paid after the vacation
Show where you will be living when you get home (dorm payment or apt lease)
Show that you have medical insurance coverage
Show you have the funds to support yourself (credit cards or bank statement) for the length of your stay
Be prepared to explain why you will NOT be staying in the UK (as in BF will be visiting you over the summer)

Sorry to be gloomy - but UK immigration is VERY strict about preventing possible illegal immigrants

Yeah. I am going to be more prepared than last time. It is just so stressful because there is nothing wrong with what I am doing, but I understand why they have to worry about other people. I am hopeful that they will see that I left on my scheduled date last time. Maybe that will make me less of a "risk". They let me in once....I really hope they won't deny me this time.

I am a US citizen living the UK and this comes up often on an immigration forum I post on. Everything nytraveler says is spot on. Be very aware of the rules; if the IO at the border can see that you understand the restrictions and are prepared not to violate them, you stand a better chance.

Another option is to apply for your visitor's visa ahead of time. That way, you don't waste money on a plane ticket and you don't stress the entire time wondering whether you'll get allowed in once you land.

Possession of a visa does not guarantee entry to a country.

Tell the truth, don't try to evade questions, have proof you are going home and have a reason to go home.

You getting stressed probably makes the staff even more concerned. Smile, be friendly and chill, even the evidence that you visited last year and left will be useful. No, there is no easy solution. Try getting into the US as a non-citizen :-)

Thanks for the advice! I am trying not to get stressed out about it, but it was a pretty scary experience. Especially for it being my first time traveling alone. They let me in once...Hopefully there is no issue getting in a second time, especially with being more prepared. My boyfriend keeps telling that, although its not ideal, the worst thing they are going to do is send me home. It's not like I am doing anything wrong. I just hope we both didn't spend money for nothing...

There is no simple answer to this. Immigration officers often seem to have a very limited view of things and that's just how it is. Provided you are prepared and do not intend to do anything illegal, then you SHOULD be allowed to enter but no one can give you a way to guarantee that. Entry into another country is not a right.

Just plan for having to answer questions if asked and allow time for doing that in your plans. Your anxiety is understandable but that's something only YOU can deal with. If you do not plan to do anything illegal then there is no RATIONAL reason to be anxious, you are self-imposing the anxiety.

Everyone who travels should watch some of the TV programs like, 'Border Security' which is about the Canadian Border and people entering Canada (there is also an Australian version) and the UK version called UK Border Force as well as the US version called Homeland Security USA. It can be quite an eye opener as to what happens to people and how Immigration and Customs officers view the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPYPXLYL2dw

I agree with nytraveler that having once been taken aside, your record will have been flagged for special attention.

It is hard not to be nervous, but you are not planning to do anything wrong. You have a return ticket and enough money.

Will you have pre-registered for next semester? Take the paperwork. Do you have a residence contract or lease? Take that. Relax. Dress conservatively. Cover up tattoos and de emphasize piercings. They are abundant in the UK, but those people are already there!

There must be more to this story as to why the special scrutiny for what sounds like a tourist and not one who was trying to stay longer than 90 days. Perhaps it is the citizenship of the OP.

<I>There must be more to this story as to why the special scrutiny for what sounds like a tourist and not one who was trying to stay longer than 90 days. Perhaps it is the citizenship of the OP.</I>

Young (21), student (not in work), UK boyfriend (this is a biggie).

It's possible you were given a coded landing (Code 3), meaning your immigration card (landing card you complete on the plane) was retained and your movement in and out of UK was monitored. So they can bring up a scanned copy of your card filled at previous visit and see what you were up to. The fact you left on time will help. If you didn't leave on the date you said you would, denied entry will be likely.

maybe I missed something here...OP is 21 and traveling from where? Clearly not the US as a 21 year old woman can certainly enter UK on a tourist visa without being detained...unless there is something else going on. You are staying for one month...does that exceed normal tourist visa? Maybe that is the issue but with the information here I am with Alec above...must be more.

Why not the US? This sounds perfectly credible to me. It is not the first time we hear similar reports from USAnians. A young person without job or family ties at home visiting boyfriend/girlfriend is automatically suspicious of potential overstaying.

UK Immigration is very strong on preventing illegal immigrants and students coming to visit SOs (yes, even from the US) there are high on the list of potential overstayers - esp if they are dressed/adorned in ways that call attention to themselves. If you look more conservative and have all of your ducks in the row (know BFs exact address and phone and details of his job or school) it will be easier.

If you can show you left on time last time that may help support your entry.

Perhaps the OP was pulled aside last time only because she seemed very nervous. Or her responses to the first question might have caused them to want more info.'

Agree keeping cool and calm, having all your answers ready should help.

Sorry - I recall one show about UK Immigration in which two young women were pulled aside since they had way too much luggage - much more than would be appropriate for a couple of week vacation. they had some story about bringing things to family there - but were not believed and were summarily returned on the next plane.

So - be sure you aren;t bringing more than would be used for a brief vacation.

Indeed, UK immigration (called UKVI - United Kingdom Visas and Immigration) have extensive powers to examine passengers and their belongings, including opening their luggage, reading diaries, delving into smartphone, laptop/tablet etc. So if you are carrying any incriminating evidence, such as list of job agencies, CVs (résumés), rental agencies, job adverts etc, they can deny you entry on the ground that on the balance of probabilities you aren't a genuine visitor but a potential migrant, overstayer or jobseeker.

I practice immigration law in the UK. nytraveler is spot on. Nothing to add.

Some people seem to be quite naive when it comes to understanding how Immigration and Customs works. To suggest, "Clearly not the US as a 21 year old woman can certainly enter UK on a tourist visa without being detained...unless there is something else going on."

There is no 'certainly'. Entry to any country is at the discretion of that country's Immigration Officers. There is no 'right of entry' unless you have a passport issued by the country you want to enter.

I will suggest again that some of you should watch the TV programs I mentioned above, that show just what happens in reality. Anyone can be questioned for any reason including a simple random 'spot check' or yes, profiling as nytraveler suggests when writing, 'esp if they are dressed/adorned in ways that call attention to themselves.' Wear a lot of hemp, have your hair in dreadlocks or sport a t-shirt proclaiming 'Legalize Marijuana' and I can assure you that you will be stopped more often than the average traveller.

The OP was stopped either at random or because something raised the Officer's suspicions as to her intent. Chances are her passport number is now flagged and she will be stopped again. But that is NOT a problem if she has no illegal intentions and can satisfy the Immigration Officer that that is the case. It's just a hassle, not a life changing event.

This is not a case of UK border control singling out passport holders of any particular country.

As someone posted above it is just as hard to get into The States with a non US passport under a longer term visa.

A UK passport holder from our village was refused entry in DC, sent back on the next flight and had a temporary entry ban placed on her.

On her ViSA app and at border control she made it clear that she was visiting her boyfriend a US resident and citizen. When asked whether they were engaged, she incorrectly answered no due to nerves. US border control called the boyfriend who contradicted her answer.

As has been posted above, the basic rule is never lie.

I must admit it must be terrifying and very intimidating for a young person not used to travelling other than with their parents to be stopped and quizzed at any border. Under pressure and feeling nervous, it's easy to give a wrong or incorrect answer and thus incriminating themselves. You do learn through experience but youthful indiscretion will be recorded and ready to haunt them on future visits. So I am sympathetic to OP and other young travellers. They do need to grow up and learn the ropes of international travel, which are much more complicated than say 20-30 years ago before 9/11 and illegal immigration crisis.