Im thinking about the possibility of going to England for 8-12 months. I have no idea what I would need to do in preperation for this. If anything it wouldnt be until June or July.

Can anybody offer any insight?

I'm thinking about the possibility of going to England for 8-12 months. I have no idea what I would need to do in preperation for this. If anything it wouldnt be until June or July.

What is your purpose of going to England. You can stay in England for 6 months without a Visa for tourist purposes.

Americans do not need a visa to visit the UK.

Americans are allowed to stay in the UK for a maximum of 6 months as a visitor. (even after that believe no prob extending...we want you to come over.....over here...over here)

There are no restrictions on travelling within the UK--you do not need your passport for UK travel (although you may need it as an identification document).

You can use the questionnaire on Do I Need A UK Visa to determine what type of visa, if any, you need. But, as britainmal said, if your visit is to be for more than 6 months then you will need a visa of some kind.

From 13 November 2005 all those who are not British or EEA nationals – except for British nationals without right of abode in the UK - will need a visa or entry clearance for all stays in the UK over six months.

Before you do anything, you will have to decide what you want do there. If you just intend going on a prolonged holiday, then, as other posters have pointed out, the maximum stay you can be given is 6 months. Even then, whilst you wouldn't require a visa, you would have to satisfy the immigration officer at the airport that you're a genuine visitor, and if you have no current employment as well as no notion of what you want to visit he can refuse you entry.

Scouse.

Well I currently work on the interent so I am able to work anywhere I can get online. Currently Bangkok.

My girlfriend has an oppertunity to goto England for a year and get some kind of intership working at a hotel. So would it be possible for me to get an apartment and such as a vistor on a 6 month entry? Is it like Thailand where I can just leave and come right back in for another 6 months or should I try to get some kind of 1 year visa?

Thanks for the information guys!

Brad Freidal was once refused entry at the airport because he wouldn't qualify for a WP and he was coming to work.

I guess if they think you will be working (on the internet) they won't let you in, why not show massive savings or private income and say you are coming on a long holiday

If you were married, you could apply for a visa as a dependant of a work permit holder. Failing that you'll have to chance it as a visitor. However, spending a series of prolonged periods in the UK as a visitor might arouse the immigration officer's suspicions.

Scouse.

Brad Freidal was once refused entry at the airport because he wouldn't qualify for a WP and he was coming to work.

Not quite true. He was refused entry becuase the immigration officer didn't believe that an American could possibly know anything about football

Well, if you earn over the equivalent of 40,000 pounds per year (and have paid tax on it), you can apply for a Highly Skilled Migrant permit.

Lets you work in the UK and not get hasseled by grumpy UK immigration officers when you enter . If you stay long enough (4 years I believe), they'll even let you become one of them (on promising the UK govt that you'll give up any further association with soap).

From 13 November 2005 all those who are not British or EEA nationals – except for British nationals without right of abode in the UK - will need a visa or entry clearance for all stays in the UK over six months.

That does not apply to USA citizens

From 13 November 2005 all those who are not British or EEA nationals – except for British nationals without right of abode in the UK - will need a visa or entry clearance for all stays in the UK over six months.

That does not apply to USA citizens

Para 24 of the immigration rules:-

The following must produce to the Immigration Officer a valid passport or other identity document endorsed with a United Kingdom entry clearance issued to him for the purpose for which he seeks entry:

(i) a visa national;

(ii) any other person ..... who is seeking entry for a period exceeding six months or is seeking entry for a purpose for which prior entry clearance is required under these Rules.

Such a person will be refused leave to enter if he has no such current entry clearance.

Scouse.