UK Visitor Visa Denied
So, this is a little bit of a long story but to cut it short. I am American and I applied for a UK Visitor Visa, because at the time while I was looking through gov.uk and there was a section that led you to a "Check if you need a Uk visa" path. Originally I could have sworn it led me to the Standard Visitor Visa, which led me to believe I did in fact need one. However, it was not until AFTER I sent out my documents that I started hearing otherwise from people that I infact did NOT need one. As long as I did not make my trip over 6 months, and i was just going to spend some time with my boyfriend and ideally I did want to be with him for 5 months.
Anyways I checked again and saw that it did infact say I do NOT need visa but I may want to apply to one if I have a criminal record, which I do not, OR I have been previously rejected entry to the UK.
Now, I heard back on the status of my visa application because remember as I was figuring out that I didn't need a visa I had already sent out my papers to be looked at and considered and they my application for the visa was refused. They stated I was refused because they did not feel i would leave at the end of the 5 months, they did not think i was in an ongoing relationship because the last time i saw my boyfriend was in 2014 or 2015, I converted the money i said i was making and had to pounds but i did the conversion wrong so they said it was inconsistent, and while I provided bank statements and payslips the bank statements I included were of my savings and checkings, but im not sure if they got confused because they said you state you have xxxx amount of money in your savings but we see you actually only have xxx amount of money in your statement (basically they were looking at my checkings and not my savings so they refused me on under paragraphs V 4.2 (a) (c) and (e) of Appendix V: Immigration Rules for visitors AND under paragraphs V4.3 (a), (b) and (c) of Appendix V: Immigration Rules for visitors
I honestly just made a mess I felt but now because I have been refused the visa my question is does this count as being "previously rejected entry to the UK" or can I still go to the UK to visit my boyfriend like i wanted just now that i know without a visa? Or do I NOW need to have a visa because I was refused? Is being refused a visa the same as being rejected entry to the UK?
Best Answer
Being refused a visa is not the same as being rejected entry. UK Border officials can refuse to allow entry on arrival in the UK even if the visitor has been granted a visa; similarly, visa-free nationals such as yourself can be refused entry on arrival if the Border official is not satisfied that the visitor meets the requirements of the Immigration rules relating to visitors https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules. If you attempt to visit visa-free on the same basis as your rejected visa application, you are likely to be refused entry when you arrive in the UK. If you really need to make the trip (can your BF visit you instead?), your best option is to reapply for a visa, addressing the refusal reasons cited by the ECO. You may want to re-think the intended length of the visit - genuine visitors with strong ties to home would likely find it difficult to be away so long - and provide proof of your relationship eg emails, online chats. You may find it helpful to read this answer UK visa refusal on V 4.2 a + c (and sometimes 'e')
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Does UK tourist visa get rejected?
Each year thousands of applications are rejected. At times applicants worry about what possibly could have been wrong with their application. In 2019, the UK visa rejection rate went up to 13%. Bangladesh, Ghana and Algeria were amongst the countries that faced visa rejections up to 40%.What happens if my UK visa is denied?
If your application is refusedYou'll get a letter or an email explaining why your application was refused. Your passport will be returned, if it was kept as part of your application. Your refusal letter will explain if you have the right to either an: administrative review.Is UK visitor visa difficult to get?
UK visa application is the most strict and highly scrutinized visa process. The UK Visas and Immigration receives thousands of visa applications every year that do not meet visa requirements. Once you have a UK visa refusal, it remains permanently in the records of the UK Home Office.TOP 5 REASONS FOR UK VISIT VISA REFUSALS | HOW TO AVOID UK VISITOR VISA REFUSAL | VISIT THE UK
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Answer 2
While your financial documentation may have been questioned, it may have also been the premise of your visit: a boyfriend is usually not someone whom you have not seen in 5 years. Your plan to be there for 5 months may have raised red flags about your real intentions, including how you were going to support yourself and/or whether your available funds were sufficient.
While US citizens are allowed to enter visa-free entry to the UK, now that your have been refused a visa, you run the risk of being refused entry at the border. Border officials will see your immigration record including the visa refusal. Visa refusal and entry refusal are not necessarily the same, depending on the circumstances, but they can impact a future decision on whether allow you to be in the country.
Now, the recommended approach is to apply for entry clearance by making a visa application and amending the weaker or questionable portions (e.g., short visit of weeks not months, demonstrating home ties such as employment).
A read of the following Q&As here may be of use:
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