Tier 2 Work Visa General UK

[Joppa]

Originally Posted by DalRiada

As a follow up to the points above.

My girlfriend is coming to the UK to look for work sponsorship as I explained above, then to leave the UK to apply for her visa. Before that I plan on visiting her for a holiday for a couple of weeks then we will come here together.

My question is, will she get a hard time at the airport because she is coming through with her boyfriend (me, who is a UK citizen)? Is there any way of handling it so it minimises any hassles she might have and we show them we are trying to be honest and do things the right way?

She can attend a job interview as a visitor, but that needs to be pre-arranged. It's difficult to predict what may happen at the border, as much depends on whom you meet and any 'vibe' you transmit, like 'Are they hiding something? Can they be trusted?' The minimum requirement is sufficient financial resources, return ticket and strong ties at home, like a job or family responsibility. You just have to be persuasive and convincing. Answer questions briefly and to the point, but don't volunteer information not asked for.

[DalRiada]

Originally Posted by Joppa

She can attend a job interview as a visitor, but that needs to be pre-arranged. It's difficult to predict what may happen at the border, as much depends on whom you meet and any 'vibe' you transmit, like 'Are they hiding something? Can they be trusted?' The minimum requirement is sufficient financial resources, return ticket and strong ties at home, like a job or family responsibility. You just have to be persuasive and convincing. Answer questions briefly and to the point, but don't volunteer information not asked for.

Thank you for the reply Joppa, what do you mean by pre-arranged? Does it need to be organised before she even visits the UK? She can't find and have interviews while she is here and then go apply for her visa overseas?

[Joppa]

Originally Posted by DalRiada

Thank you for the reply Joppa, what do you mean by pre-arranged? Does it need to be organised before she even visits the UK? She can't find and have interviews while she is here and then go apply for her visa overseas?

That is so. She cannot job-hunt from scratch while on a visitor's leave, and if the immigration officer finds out what she is up to, she can be denied entry and sent home. Not that they are likely to find out if she keeps quiet about it, and they won't send someone to spy on her. So if she manages to get in as a general visitor (seeing friends, sightseeing etc), then she can fix up with a job (very difficult if she needs a sponsored visa) and go home and apply for Tier 2 General.