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My boyfriend plans to come visit me in the UK next year. He is from the US so no visa required. He will be staying with me for 4 weeks in the UK. First 2 weeks, then we will travel Europe for around 3 weeks and then back to the UK for 2 weeks. The issue is, he would have just completed his long term volunteering course in the US so he won't have a job by then. Both me and his family will be supporting his stay during his time here (I have sufficient money) and he will be staying with me at my parents house. We will have all the documentation proof when the time comes. His strong ties to home includes one of his parents who is handicapped and he would never leave as he supports them and a potential job offer from the place he volunteered at. Just worried about the questions at the border as he isn't great with confrentation

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    These questions are impossible to answer. He may just get stamped through after the most cursory of questions. Or the immigration officer may get suspicious and ask more probing questions in secondary. It’s just important to tel the truth and to be prepared.
    – RoboKaren
    Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 0:21
  • I'm leaving it as a comment, as it's anecdotical, but I've been to the UK twice and have never been asked about my job/income.
    – Travis
    Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 17:26
  • Can I ask what questions you were asked?
    – Maya
    Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 17:30

1 Answer 1

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From May 2019, US citizens can use the ePassport gates at UK airports to clear UK immigration. It's most likely that he simply won't speak to anyone if he goes through the gates (unless he has something to declare at customs). This is in fact what happens to most people.

He might still need to speak to someone if the gates reject his passport. For instance, if the passport chip is broken or he has an adverse immigration history (i.e. previous trouble entering the UK). In this case the usual advice applies: Answer exactly what is asked using brief answers and don't volunteer information. (If in the rare event he is taken to the back for a secondary interview, that is the time for detailed explanations.)

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    They might make him talk on the second trip after Europe as he will have come to the UK twice in a short time... But just be honest and you shouldn't have any problems, do not lie, always comes back to bite.
    – BritishSam
    Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 8:16
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    @Maya Make sure he carries evidence of his return flight to the US in case he does get questioned.
    – Traveller
    Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 9:30
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    "Answer exactly what is asked using brief answers and don't volunteer information"?? Actually, as long as it's the whole truth, you SHOULD volunteer information. A lie by omission is still a lie. For example if you said "I'm visiting someone", while not revealing that that "someone" is actually a girlfriend, then the omission is an attempt to conceal the relationship. Immigration Officers value one thing above all else: complete honesty.
    – Chris Melville
    Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 9:46
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    @Maya If he's asked a question where it's relevant, then he absolutely needs to mention that he is your boyfriend and that he is staying with you. Trying to conceal romantic relationships is one of the things that triggers border officers. Be upfront about it and you'll have no problems.
    – Michael Hampton
    Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 18:28
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    @Maya - Purpose of trip, "tourism" - is not the whole story though, is it? If you weren't his girlfriend, would he still be coming just as a tourist in order to see the sights? The primary purpose of his trip is, in fact, to spend time with his girlfriend.
    – Chris Melville
    Commented Nov 28, 2019 at 10:50

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