Entering the UK as visitor - What does ECO look for at passport control?

[fernweh126]

So I recently received my general visitor visa. Now upon arrival at the UK airport, apart from my passport plus the visa, what else do you think I need to show the ECO to pass the UK border? Copy of invitation letter? Return ticket? Financial docs? Accommodation details? Or is a passport with visa sufficient?

I've gone this far through the whole process of obtaining a visa, I don't want to mess up and get deported at the UK passport control.

[Richard W]

I can't find a list of common questions, so others may have better suggestions. I suggest you have details of the following available in your hand baggage:

• return ticket (to confirm you're only staying about a month)
• evidence of how you're getting to your aunt's
• your aunt's address and phone number
• other accommodation details, if any
• evidence of access to funds
• medical insurance for the trip

Obviously you only volunteer these if asked. Be prepared to tell the immigration officer what you will be doing on your visit.

The immigration officer has the right to search your hand baggage, so don't have anything in it that you'd rather not have to explain.

[theoldgit]

If you carry the same evidence as was supplied with your application you wont go far wrong.

The list Richard has supplied is fine, and whilst medical insurance isn't required it's good for your own peace of mind. I would also take details of your studies in the US to confirm your future commitments.

The Border Force officer will just need to satisfy themselves that there has been no material change since your application, the visa wasn't obtained fraudulently and you are likely to leave the UK at the conclusion of your trip, chances are once the officer sees your US visa and entry stamps you will be stamped in..

Without splitting hairs, the Entry Clearance Officer is the person who issues the visa, the Border Force Officer is the one who actually lands (admits) you when you arrive at the UK Border.

[fernweh126]

If you carry the same evidence as was supplied with your application you wont go far wrong.

This is a great tip. You have been very helpful with my last few posts as well. Thank you!

[The Fat Controller]

My wife was asked very little, just who she was visiting and how long she was staying.

No documents were asked for apart from her passport of course.

The fingerprint readers at Glasgow were very slow she said, but if you have the visa in your passport and your fingerprints check OK it should be very easy.

You have already done the hard bit, getting the visa, so relax and enjoy your time in the UK !

[Seekingasylum]

Without splitting hairs, the Entry Clearance Officer is the person who issues the visa, the Border Force Officer is the one who actually lands (admits) you when you arrive at the UK Border.

Well, not quite. In fact that is very wrong.

The visa officer in issuing you with a visa is actually conferring leave to enter. The immigration officer's role is primarily to verify that you are the rightful holder of the document containing the entry clearance and to confirm that it is still valid. He then endorses your passport with a date stamp,usually on the visa if it is being presented for the first time. In doing so he may well ask you basic questions to satisfy himself of your bona fides but the stamp he gives is simply a signal and confers nothing beyond that which is contained in the visa itself.

Certainly, if he suspects fraud or a change in circumstances that would render the visa ineffective he has the power to detain you for further examination. In the course of this he may glean sufficient evidence to warrant a cancellation of the visa but this can only be achieved by reference to a chief immigration officer and an inspector. In such cases the holder has the right to appeal against the decision and to remain in the country until the appeal is heard. The onus is very much on the immigration officer to demonstrate sufficient evidence meriting the cancellation of a visa.

Very few visas, in proportion to those issued, are cancelled and most of these relate to bogus students, impostors, forgeries,drug mules and visitors maintaining clandestine residences whilst working in breach.

Edited October 17, 2014 by Seekingasylum

[theoldgit]

Yes, which is what I said.

Please don't edit my post to try to make one of your points.

16) You will not make changes to quoted material from other members posts, except for purposes of shortening the quoted post. This cannot be done in such a manner that it alters the context of the original post.

[Seekingasylum]

So, the UKVI no longer issues visas as leave to enter?

I was not aware of this change.

[bobrussell]

What change? The UKVI issue visas via ECO's.

The Border Force are present at the airports to check the visa when someone attempts to enter the UK.

Where is this different from what TOG stated? It may be a simplified version of what can be Border Force Officers interacting with the UKVI to check information etc but it seems perfectly accurate to me.

The Home Office oversees both.

Is this forum becoming a place for pointless arguments?

[Seekingasylum]

No, I don't think so.

The point seemingly missed is that as a matter of law a visa issued by the UK is not the same as a visa issued by other countries. It is issued as a form of clearance AND leave to enter. The right to enter the UK has already been granted. The immigration officer who encounters the holder simply verifies and permits the holder to carry on - he does not grant leave to enter or grant admission. It might seem a small point to some but to those involved in the law it is quite significant.

UK immigration law is based upon such niceties which may well seem abstruse to some but it can make all the difference to someone whose life could be thwarted otherwise.

I read so many posts where folk fret about being turned away for whatever reason simply because they believe the immigration officer they may encounter can overturn their visa upon a whim. It simply isn't the case and by drawing attention to this fact one hopes to assuage fears and get things into context.

In order to do that it is important to understand what terms actually mean. If you think it is mere " nit picking " then so be it but I assure you case law is founded upon it,

Honestly, I don't see what the problem is here. TOG used terms in lay speak which could confuse. I was simply clarifying but if ruffled feathers are more important then bugger it.

[bobrussell]

Try saying that to the Americans. They make it clear that visas and visa wavers do not guarantee entry on arrival. An immigration officer does this.

Nit picking and argumentative posts, for the sake of arguing are the surest ways of deterring people from asking questions. TOG's comments were anything but confusing to lay people IMO.

I don't have feathers to ruffle!

[Seekingasylum]

Why would I wish to tell the Americans of the significance of British issued visas?