Traveling to UK on visit visa as a Syrian citizen?

Traveling to UK on visit visa as a Syrian citizen? - Back view of unrecognizable man walking towards ancient monument Great Sphinx of Giza

I have a question regarding my trip to London, as I have a visit visa that will expire on September 5th.
And I am planning the trip on September 1st but would it be a problem to leave London for a few days after my visa expires ?
By the way I have a Syrian passport but I am a full time residence of Dubai. I have a multiple entry visit visa than expires on the 5th and am planning my trip from the 1st to the 10th.



Best Answer

When you arrive in the UK, you will speak with an Immigration Officer and at that time you can ask him/her to vary your 'end date'. They can if they want, but do not have to do it and most of the time they not do it.

This is addressed in Paragraph 31A of the Immigration Rules, which states...

Where a person has arrived in the United Kingdom with leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom which is in force but was given to him before his arrival, he may apply, on arrival at the port of entry in the United Kingdom, for variation of that leave. An Immigration Officer acting on behalf of the Secretary of State may vary the leave at the port of entry but is not obliged to consider an application for variation made at the port of entry. If an Immigration Officer acting on behalf of the Secretary of State has declined to consider an application for variation of leave at a port of entry but the leave has not been cancelled under paragraph 2A(8) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, the person seeking variation should apply to the Home Office under paragraph 32.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/420595/Immigration_rules_part_1_master_20150406_v1_final.pdf

...or in plain English: You can try to get a variation, but they do not have to grant it if they do not want to. If they agree, they will know what to do and what to put in your passport. If they refuse, your original 'end date' must be observed.

A refusal at port to vary leave does not create a pejorative immigration history. But a port side cancellation of leave does.

Needless to say, your request should be well supported by documents along with a reasonable explanation. Outcomes may also be heavily influenced by personal impact and articulation skills, but once they say they will not do it, the best advice is to let it go.

Adding...

The Home Secretary issued a Ministerial Authorisation affecting Syrian nationals on 27 Feb 2015 and this is still in force. You may be able to benefit from it. Or may not.

I have agreed a ministerial authorisation (Equality (Syria—Entry clearance outside the immigration rules) Authorisation 2014) to allow differentiation in favour of Syrian nationals whom we want to bring to the UK under the VPR scheme.

Plus a new rule for Syrians came in to effect in March 2015...

A Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 1116 was published on 16 March 2015. These changes specifically affect Syrian nationals who are travelling through the UK on certain types of visit visas for entry to United States of America.

More info at Immigration Law Practitioners Association




Pictures about "Traveling to UK on visit visa as a Syrian citizen?"

Traveling to UK on visit visa as a Syrian citizen? - People and Vehicles Traveling on the Road near the Famous Palace of Westminster
Traveling to UK on visit visa as a Syrian citizen? - Crop unrecognizable person demonstrating British passport
Traveling to UK on visit visa as a Syrian citizen? - Asian people in casual clothes standing near and touching weathered religious stone wheel located in center of medieval historic Hampi village in India



Can a Syrian visit the UK?

UK tourist visa is required for Syrian citizens. The stay is usually short with a period of 180 days and visa expires in 180 days. Applicant is required to be present when applying for UK tourist visa.

Can I enter UK as visitor?

You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities. You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, for example to get medical treatment.

How do you get to the UK from Syria?

There are 3 ways to get from Syria to England by car, bus, plane or train
  • Drive from As Suwayda to Damascus.
  • Take the bus from Damascus to Amman Abdali Terminal.
  • Fly from Amman (AMM) to London Heathrow (LHR) AMM - LHR.


  • Are visit visas open for UK?

    You can apply for a visit visa from any UK VAC . You should apply for all other UK visas from the country you're living in. If your VAC is closed due to coronavirus restrictions, you can apply online and select a VAC in another country worldwide to submit your application and biometrics.



    Uk visit visa from Italy | Italy to Uk visa |




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Spencer Davis, Joanna Zduńczyk, Ethan Wilkinson, Plato Terentev