Hi all, new forum user and I first want to thank all of the commenters and mods for making this such a great resource! I have been combing through for several hours now and think I have a situation that hasn't been addressed fully.
I am going to summarize first and then provide details below should you find it necessary for an answer.
A. U.S citizen engaged to U.K citizen. Planning U.S marriage for August 2013.
B. History of refused entry at U.K border.
C. Accepted into masters program in the U.K for October 2012 to June 2013.
D. Naively planned a trip to Paris for end of August, prior to 30 day window student visa is valid.
My questions:
1. Am I at risk of getting denied a student visa? I see my risk factors as being: plans to live with fiancee and history of refusal. This postgraduate degree is legitimate to my life goals, but I do not want it perceived as simply a ticket to stay in the country with my fiancee (though in effect, this is what I plan). Via the points system, I should be fine, but on the UKBA website there is a qualifier that says they take into account prior border history.
2. If I am at serious risk of being denied a student visa, is it plausible to *just* (not taken lightly) get a marriage visa before my school starts. My fiancee and I would not be thrilled about this, but if it came to it, we could do the whole put it on paper in a courtroom thing first, and then hold the wedding that is meaningful to us as planned next year. We would have no problem vouching for our 2 year relationship, and can show financial support (my student loans, her full time job). Would this plan be pretty transparent in a visa interview?
3. My course is technically 9 months but is called a "12 month course"- how long can I remain in the U.K on a student visa once the term finishes? Can I continue to work 20 hours/week during this period?
4. Should I forget about the Paris trip on those dates as being too much of a risk?
It has been suggested elsewhere to not mention the significant other bit when entering the U.K (woops)- with my history, I do not see this as an option anymore.
Thank you in advance for any advice you are able to give. Please feel free to say "get professional help!" as this may be a very valid option and asking too much of this forum.
Cheers!!
Details:
A. Dating for 2 years with history of multiple visits. Met in Central America doing volunteer work. I have a full time job now in the U.S, but will be leaving it for school in the UK. My fiancee is a physician in the U.K. From everything I have gathered, a U.S marriage is much easier visa-wise, and it happens to be what we want.
B. I was denied entry in March of 2011. I was on a 6 month tourist visa (received at the border) starting January 2011 and left to visit my sister in Rome. When returning to the UK for an extra month, I was very poorly prepared to prove my intentions to leave and show I had adequate funds (even though both were present). I also had not disclosed my change in itinerary to the UK. It was a mess. I spent the night in a holding cell. I was kicked back to Italy where they detained me as well. Very expensive and not something I want to repeat.
I have since successfully entered the UK for a 2 week stay last month (when I, also successfully, proposed). I was of course detained again for my immigration history, reprimanded for not getting a tourist visa before coming (something I was told by the border agent in my holding cell to be too risky) and then allowed in because I was incredibly well prepared (letter and financials from girlfriend/sponsor, letter form my employer, 6 months financials for me, full itinerary). I was told that my immigration history will forever be a black mark and only start to go away by getting a visa.
C. Highly ranked school (if this makes any difference?), I will be fully supported with US Federal Loans. I would like to live with my fiancee. We plan on remaining in the UK for at least 4 years, during which time I hope to get my citizenship. I also want to work, uninterrupted, for as much of that time as possible (i.e avoid a fiance visa).
D. This trip might be too much of a risk with my history. It would have to go something like: US to UK visitor Visa to France, where I either stay an extra 10 days (costly) to wait for my student visa to kick in OR to UK Visitors Visa to EU somewhere to UK student visa. Of course, a marriage visa would clear all that up.
I am going to summarize first and then provide details below should you find it necessary for an answer.
A. U.S citizen engaged to U.K citizen. Planning U.S marriage for August 2013.
B. History of refused entry at U.K border.
C. Accepted into masters program in the U.K for October 2012 to June 2013.
D. Naively planned a trip to Paris for end of August, prior to 30 day window student visa is valid.
My questions:
1. Am I at risk of getting denied a student visa? I see my risk factors as being: plans to live with fiancee and history of refusal. This postgraduate degree is legitimate to my life goals, but I do not want it perceived as simply a ticket to stay in the country with my fiancee (though in effect, this is what I plan). Via the points system, I should be fine, but on the UKBA website there is a qualifier that says they take into account prior border history.
2. If I am at serious risk of being denied a student visa, is it plausible to *just* (not taken lightly) get a marriage visa before my school starts. My fiancee and I would not be thrilled about this, but if it came to it, we could do the whole put it on paper in a courtroom thing first, and then hold the wedding that is meaningful to us as planned next year. We would have no problem vouching for our 2 year relationship, and can show financial support (my student loans, her full time job). Would this plan be pretty transparent in a visa interview?
3. My course is technically 9 months but is called a "12 month course"- how long can I remain in the U.K on a student visa once the term finishes? Can I continue to work 20 hours/week during this period?
4. Should I forget about the Paris trip on those dates as being too much of a risk?
It has been suggested elsewhere to not mention the significant other bit when entering the U.K (woops)- with my history, I do not see this as an option anymore.
Thank you in advance for any advice you are able to give. Please feel free to say "get professional help!" as this may be a very valid option and asking too much of this forum.
Cheers!!
Details:
A. Dating for 2 years with history of multiple visits. Met in Central America doing volunteer work. I have a full time job now in the U.S, but will be leaving it for school in the UK. My fiancee is a physician in the U.K. From everything I have gathered, a U.S marriage is much easier visa-wise, and it happens to be what we want.
B. I was denied entry in March of 2011. I was on a 6 month tourist visa (received at the border) starting January 2011 and left to visit my sister in Rome. When returning to the UK for an extra month, I was very poorly prepared to prove my intentions to leave and show I had adequate funds (even though both were present). I also had not disclosed my change in itinerary to the UK. It was a mess. I spent the night in a holding cell. I was kicked back to Italy where they detained me as well. Very expensive and not something I want to repeat.
I have since successfully entered the UK for a 2 week stay last month (when I, also successfully, proposed). I was of course detained again for my immigration history, reprimanded for not getting a tourist visa before coming (something I was told by the border agent in my holding cell to be too risky) and then allowed in because I was incredibly well prepared (letter and financials from girlfriend/sponsor, letter form my employer, 6 months financials for me, full itinerary). I was told that my immigration history will forever be a black mark and only start to go away by getting a visa.
C. Highly ranked school (if this makes any difference?), I will be fully supported with US Federal Loans. I would like to live with my fiancee. We plan on remaining in the UK for at least 4 years, during which time I hope to get my citizenship. I also want to work, uninterrupted, for as much of that time as possible (i.e avoid a fiance visa).
D. This trip might be too much of a risk with my history. It would have to go something like: US to UK visitor Visa to France, where I either stay an extra 10 days (costly) to wait for my student visa to kick in OR to UK Visitors Visa to EU somewhere to UK student visa. Of course, a marriage visa would clear all that up.
