Coverting A Uk Visitor Visa

[thailand_teacher]

My GF is coming with me to the UK for 6 months her application is currently with the embassy in BKK. I would like her to work while she is there is it possible to covert her visa to a student visa once we are in the UK as she will be able to work 20 hrs per week on this. The reason we didn't apply for the student visa before is there was not enough time to gather information regarding the course.

Can anyone help???

[the gent]

I suggest you vide the many previous posts on this subject.

In a word, she cannot switch.

Seems your friend is stuck with the visit option unless she postpones her plans and submits a student application.

Many visitors do work illegally and are not caught but that is no guarantee your chum will not be one of the unlucky few who are.

As a cautionary note, this forum tends to regard bogus applications such as your friend's with some disdain not least because they reflect badly upon other genuine applications which can fall foul of a visa section that on occasions requires no encouragement to act somewhat quirkily.

[GU22]

As a visitor, she can study during her stay. However, she can only apply to stay longer than six months if she entered the UK with a student or prospective student visa.

Even if she does study whilst in the UK, as she has entered on a visit visa she cannot work.

this forum tends to regard bogus applications such as your friend's with some disdain not least because they reflect badly upon other genuine applications

Bogus applications do make ECOs more vigilant and stricter, which does make it harder for genuine applicants. Not least because in efforts to catch more fraudsters, successive governments have made the immigration rules tighter.

[Mahout Angrit]

As a visitor, she can study during her stay. However, she can only apply to stay longer than six months if she entered the UK with a student or prospective student visa.

Even if she does study whilst in the UK, as she has entered on a visit visa she cannot work.

If she enrols to study whatever visa, she will be expected to pay the International student rate and for 6 months it's doubtful whether she would have a net financial gain even if she worked.

[peterjackson]

Hey

A Neighbor in my sub-division, had their daughter travel to the UK to stay with her grandmother.

My neighbors are all US Citizens, but the mother was originally from the UK.

Whilst her daughter was there, she decided to do some 'cash' work at a local hair salon.

At the airport, upon departure, she was asked to go through a secondary security check. This check revealed she was carrying $ 1600 on her. As a routine question, it was asked where the money was from, she answered honestly, that it was from working in a Hair Salon.

She was allowed to leave the UK and thought nothing more of it.

In January 2007, she flew back to the UK to see her grandparents again and was denied entry into the UK for breaking Immigration Rules. She was released into the custody of her grandfather and told she would be contacted when an available return flight was arranged. Two days later, she was asked to present herself to Immigration for deportation and has now been banned from entry into the UK on the Visa Waiver Program.

Upon arrival back into the US, her parents where livid and saying how bad Immigration had been by not overlooking the matter.

I told them some stories about US Immigrations treatment of British Citizens entering the US and the fact that the would have been held in detention until deported, unlike her Daughters treatment.

It is just not worth working Illegally.

Kind regards

Peter

[atlastaname]

Hey

A Neighbor in my sub-division, had their daughter travel to the UK to stay with her grandmother.

My neighbors are all US Citizens, but the mother was originally from the UK.

Whilst her daughter was there, she decided to do some 'cash' work at a local hair salon.

At the airport, upon departure, she was asked to go through a secondary security check. This check revealed she was carrying $ 1600 on her. As a routine question, it was asked where the money was from, she answered honestly, that it was from working in a Hair Salon.

She was allowed to leave the UK and thought nothing more of it.

In January 2007, she flew back to the UK to see her grandparents again and was denied entry into the UK for breaking Immigration Rules. She was released into the custody of her grandfather and told she would be contacted when an available return flight was arranged. Two days later, she was asked to present herself to Immigration for deportation and has now been banned from entry into the UK on the Visa Waiver Program.

Upon arrival back into the US, her parents where livid and saying how bad Immigration had been by not overlooking the matter.

I told them some stories about US Immigrations treatment of British Citizens entering the US and the fact that the would have been held in detention until deported, unlike her Daughters treatment.

It is just not worth working Illegally.

Kind regards

Peter

This is a good example of where honesty is NOT always the best policy. $1600 is hardly a lot of cash nowadays (£820 at todays spot rate) , but if she had just said her grandmother had given it to her there would have been no problem (obviously prime the grandmother first).

Notwithstanding that she had broken the terms of her visa, this tale acts as a good counterbalance to those here who say "ALWAYS tell the truth at all times ..." when dealing with immigration matters. Clearly telling the truth depends on the circumstances . Somethings you cannot hide, but in this case she could have ....easily.

[GU22]

Notwithstanding that she had broken the terms of her visa, this tale acts as a good counterbalance to those here who say "ALWAYS tell the truth at all times ..." when dealing with immigration matters. Clearly telling the truth depends on the circumstances . Somethings you cannot hide, but in this case she could have ....easily.

Better yet to say "Don't break the terms of your visa." A visit visa is clearly stamped Employment prohibited so she cannot say that she didn't know!

Had she lied and been caught in that lie then her situation may well have been worse.

Edited March 20, 2007 by GU22

[atlastaname]

Notwithstanding that she had broken the terms of her visa, this tale acts as a good counterbalance to those here who say "ALWAYS tell the truth at all times ..." when dealing with immigration matters. Clearly telling the truth depends on the circumstances . Somethings you cannot hide, but in this case she could have ....easily.

Better yet to say "Don't break the terms of your visa." A visit visa is clearly stamped Employment prohibited so she cannot say that she didn't know!

Agreed GU22, agreed..... but if you ARE going to break the terms of your visa (and we all know SO many do...bogus students working for cash) seems there is nothing to gain and a lot to loose from telling the truth. Honestly, i know right now of several friends in London who are bogus students working for cash earning quite a lot each week. They have gotton away with it for a few years by lying , not by telling the truth. I'm not saying its OK nor am i condemning it (doesn't affect me at all either way) . I am just saying thats what happens.

[Mahout Angrit]

i know right now of several friends in London who are bogus students working for cash earning quite a lot each week. They have gotton away with it for a few years by lying , not by telling the truth.

Sometimes lying wont get you out of trouble, the immigration police are active in raiding businesses who employ people who do not look local with organised sting operations where they block entrances so that fleeing is out of the question. They also stop company buses taking foreigners to their workplace and in all cases if you can't immediately show a passport with valid visa/ work permit they are treated as guilty until such times as friends or relatives can produce the proof.

Yes you may get away with it but then you may not. Calling it racist that they pick on only non local looking people wont get you anywhere, their power is greater than the constabulary.