Visiting the UK from USA

[AndrewEH1]

Hoping someone on here can give clearer advice compared to the Gov websites!

Basically I have US friend who is wanting to visit the UK for a few months to travel and be the tourist. No job, no studying, just tourist stuff!

I believe going from the Gov website they can stay up to six months without needing to apply for a visa?

They visited the UK for a couple of weeks back in July and are planning to fly over at the start of December and is hoping to use the maximum amount of the six months allowed. Return flights will be booked before leaving USA.

Will the short trip in July make a difference at immigration? Or will they be allowed to stay the six months without any hassle?

Also, can you travel to Europe a few times within those six months? Not to try and extend the total six month UK stay but see a few European cities while they are over?

[Burwood]

AndrewEH1 said:

Hoping someone on here can give clearer advice compared to the Gov websites!

Basically I have US friend who is wanting to visit the UK for a few months to travel and be the tourist. No job, no studying, just tourist stuff!

I believe going from the Gov website they can stay up to six months without needing to apply for a visa?

They visited the UK for a couple of weeks back in July and are planning to fly over at the start of December and is hoping to use the maximum amount of the six months allowed. Return flights will be booked before leaving USA.

Will the short trip in July make a difference at immigration? Or will they be allowed to stay the six months without any hassle?

Also, can you travel to Europe a few times within those six months? Not to try and extend the total six month UK stay but see a few European cities while they are over?

Provided your friend doesn't have anything in their past which would make getting a visa difficult, he/she is entitled to 180 days (in 1 year) in the UK without a visa. So, yes the July trip will count. If you use the 180 days up you must apply for a visa or leave and come back after the full year is up.
See below on countries they can also visit-anything within the Schengen area.

All European Union countries, except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom, are members of the Schengen Borders Agreement.
In addition, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are also members of the Schengen Borders Agreement (but they are not European Union members).

[AndrewEH1]

Burwood said:

Provided your friend doesn't have anything in their past which would make getting a visa difficult, he/she is entitled to 180 days (in 1 year) in the UK without a visa. So, yes the July trip will count. If you use the 180 days up you must apply for a visa or leave and come back after the full year is up.
See below on countries they can also visit-anything within the Schengen area.

All European Union countries, except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom, are members of the Schengen Borders Agreement.
In addition, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are also members of the Schengen Borders Agreement (but they are not European Union members).

Thanks, that helps a little bit more!

It is a rolling year or a calendar year? The Gov website makes no mention of it being 180 days per year that I can see.

[Burwood]

AndrewEH1 said:

Burwood said:

Provided your friend doesn't have anything in their past which would make getting a visa difficult, he/she is entitled to 180 days (in 1 year) in the UK without a visa. So, yes the July trip will count. If you use the 180 days up you must apply for a visa or leave and come back after the full year is up.
See below on countries they can also visit-anything within the Schengen area.

All European Union countries, except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom, are members of the Schengen Borders Agreement.
In addition, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are also members of the Schengen Borders Agreement (but they are not European Union members).

Thanks, that helps a little bit more!

It is a rolling year or a calendar year? The Gov website makes no mention of it being 180 days per year that I can see.

It's def 180 days and a rolling year from the first date of entry.

[AndrewEH1]

Thanks, certainly helps clear things up a bit. The Gov site is a complete maze!

Now the only concern is that the officer on the desk might not give the full time allowable minus the previous visit, hopefully proof of return flights will help convince them.

[Craigyp79]

AndrewEH1 said:

Thanks, certainly helps clear things up a bit. The Gov site is a complete maze!

Now the only concern is that the officer on the desk might not give the full time allowable minus the previous visit, hopefully proof of return flights will help convince them.

6 months is a long time for a visit, not impossibly long but still a lengthy stay. I'd expect him to have firm return tickets, extensive details of what his plans are, proof of job back in the US, proof of accommodation, proof of funds available, basically lots of paperwork (Actual paperwork not just vague emails on a smartphone) that would convince the officer on the desk that his intentions were to be a tourist.

The short trip back in July shouldn't matter too much depending on how short and what it was for, time spent out of the US anywhere in the world will also be taken into account depending on whether your friend is employed or not.

He should expect to be questioned quite thoroughly if the officer is doing their job correctly and as long as he is doing what he purports to be doing he will probably be admitted...

[AndrewEH1]

Craigyp79 said:

6 months is a long time for a visit, not impossibly long but still a lengthy stay. I'd expect him to have firm return tickets, extensive details of what his plans are, proof of job back in the US, proof of accommodation, proof of funds available, basically lots of paperwork (Actual paperwork not just vague emails on a smartphone) that would convince the officer on the desk that his intentions were to be a tourist.

The short trip back in July shouldn't matter too much depending on how short and what it was for, time spent out of the US anywhere in the world will also be taken into account depending on whether your friend is employed or not.

He should expect to be questioned quite thoroughly if the officer is doing their job correctly and as long as he is doing what he purports to be doing he will probably be admitted...

Thanks for this, more helpful information. Gov website says to bring paperwork so that will all be sorted! I guess one issue will be the proof of a job back in the US. Just finished College over there, so is hoping to take time out here traveling the UK, and Europe if possible, while practicing writing (not as a job, like screenplays and things to hopefully find a job in LA upon return).

I'm guessing you work in immigration? Do you know the rules on travelling within EU zones within that six month period? Not to try and extend the six months, just to maximise the time.

Definitely not trying to sneak in and then stay until caught, permanent banning from the UK isn't worth it!

[Craigyp79]

AndrewEH1 said:

Thanks for this, more helpful information. Gov website says to bring paperwork so that will all be sorted! I guess one issue will be the proof of a job back in the US. Just finished College over there, so is hoping to take time out here traveling the UK, and Europe if possible, while practicing writing (not as a job, like screenplays and things to hopefully find a job in LA upon return).

I'm guessing you work in immigration? Do you know the rules on travelling within EU zones within that six month period? Not to try and extend the six months, just to maximise the time.

Definitely not trying to sneak in and then stay until caught, permanent banning from the UK isn't worth it!

No problem, yeah I work for Border Force for my sins... US nationals are allowed to stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days out of a 180 day period. We're used to seeing students backpacking about Europe after graduating, it will definitely help if he's intending on using the UK as a base and visiting plenty of other countries as it demonstrates the intention to be a tourist, it also helps if any flights in Europe are booked beforehand and booking details printed out.

Most of us are used to dealing with people travelling for extended periods of time and know what we expect to see from them, he'll have to bear in mind that he'll have to reapply for entry every time he comes back into the UK if travelling around Europe, so make sure he carries everything with him.

[AndrewEH1]

Craigyp79 said:

Most of us are used to dealing with people travelling for extended periods of time and know what we expect to see from them, he'll have to bear in mind that he'll have to reapply for entry every time he comes back into the UK if travelling around Europe, so make sure he carries everything with him.

Good hint regarding the reapplying each time, better get them to make copies just in case!