I want to travel to the UK to meet my boyfriend for the first time. Do I mention him on the application?
I met my boyfriend online last April and we have been in a long distance relationship for over a year with texting and video calling every single day, I adore this man and all we want is to meet each other.
We are both South African citizens but he is in the military in the UK and still has four years to go. I am working in the Netherlands for a year. I have leave in August for three weeks and finally have the opportunity to go meet him, I want to visit him for two weeks and I'll be staying at his grandparents house in the UK. My host family is sponsoring the whole trip.
I know there is a part that you have to show that you have met each other before and proof of the relationship. We make the best out of what we have, we have a thousand miles between us but our relationship is as real as any other.
Everybody is telling not to mention him and just go as a tourist, but I don't want to lie. I just want to meet him and hug him in person. I won't overstay cause I have a year contract with my host family in the Netherlands. Should I mention him or not?
Best Answer
Yes, say that he is the reason for your visit.
Saying that you have a boyfriend in the UK will cause immigration to examine your application in case you are going to go underground and stay with him in the UK. However they will not always assume you will do it - it depends on other factors. You have some good factors in your favour:
- You have a job to return to in the Netherlands, and somewhere to live;
- Living conditions in the UK are not much different from the Netherlands, so you have little economic incentive to flee to the UK.
- Your boyfriend is not permanently in the UK, and is in a job where harbouring a fugitive immigrant will cause problems for him.
On the other hand the negatives are:
- you have never met him in person, which makes your relationship less believable. If possible include lots of details about your relationship to show that it is genuine.
- Your host family is sponsoring the trip. Why are they doing that? It's not a normal thing for an employer to do.
So there is a very reasonable chance that your visit will be approved, even if you tell them about your boyfriend.
On the other hand, if you don't tell them about him, and they find out, then you are likely to be facing a long term ban from the UK, meaning you will not get to visit him until his time in the UK is over.
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Can I invite my boyfriend to UK?
If you want to invite a relative or friend to come and visit you in the UK, and they need a visa, they will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa at their nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC). There is information about how to apply on the gov.uk website. Your visitor must show the VAC some documents.What do I need to invite someone to the UK?
proof of your income and where you work, for example payslips or an employment contract. proof that you have enough money to pay for the visitor's stay, for example recent bank statements. proof that you're in the UK legally, for example a copy of your passport or visa.How can I bring someone to visit UK?
If you want to sponsor their visit to the UK you should produce an invitation letter and supporting documents.How much money do I need to invite someone to UK?
You must have at least \xa34,000 in your savings. Anything less than that can raise questions and lead to visa refusal. Again, UK Visas and Immigration does not specify what is acceptable in terms of funds.LDR Meeting For The First Time - USA to UK, 4,021 miles
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