To be classified as a general visitor, a person must not plan to visit the United Kingdom for more than six months and she must intend to leave the United Kingdom after her visit. She must not be going to the United Kingdom to seek any form of employment, and she may not accept employment while there. A visitor must also have a means of financial support that does not include reliance upon U.K. public funds.
If a U.S. citizen can be classified as a bona fide visitor, she does not need a visa to travel to the United Kingdom. If a person is a visitor but is not a citizen of a country that has a travel agreement with the United Kingdom, she will need to apply for a visa before traveling.
Immigration officers who work at the borders and airports are agents of the UK Border Agency. These individuals have the right to ask questions of visitors before allowing them entry as visitors. They may also request documentation that is necessary to support claims made by a visitor. If a person has a visa, immigration officers will not usually deny her entry unless a problem or suspicion arises.
Most visitors are prohibited from staying in the United Kingdom for more than six months. There are, however, three exceptions. Academic visitors can exceed this limit. Parents who have children attending school in the United Kingdom can visit for up to a year. People who are seeking medical treatment may also apply for an extension. The application for this incurs a nonrefundable fee.
If a person plans to visit the United Kingdom for longer than six months, despite her reasons, she needs to apply for a long-term visitors visa. These are available for periods of one, two, five or 10 years. Obtaining a long-term visa does not always entitle a person to stay in the United Kingdom for the entire validity of the visa.
There are several other catagories of visitors visas, including those for entertainers and religious workers. Special rules pertain to each of these catagories. People who have such special needs should check the UK Home Office Border Agency website to ensure that all criteria are met.
