3 ms·

Be careful with the VWP. I'm an American (for context I'm white) and recently tried to the same thing in the UK. Specifically, I wanted to work on my software

Be careful with the VWP. I'm an American (for context I'm white) and recently tried to the same thing in the UK. Specifically, I wanted to work on my software business in London for a little less than three months. Just because. The UK Border Force wasn't having any of it. I spent a night in an immigration detention facility (which is broadly speaking a prison) and was sent back on the next flight. For context: The border force found a receipt for registration as an Irish citizen in my luggage, which they interpreted as a sign I never intended to return to the US [1] [2]. US immigration is at least as severe and our immigration prisons are probably not any fun. Get a visa from the embassy if you are planning an usual trip even if you are not required to get one, because neither the US or the UK is required to let anyone in. [1] The irony that Irish citizens are entitled to live anywhere in the European Union was not lost on anyone during these proceedings. [2] But they also interpreted a card from my aunt that said "have fun on your trip" as a sign that I intended to abandon my life in the US. They are really imaginative people.

dubeye 12y ago
you were detained on a first visit? That's unlucky, are you sure you didn't accidentally admit to intending to work or something like that?
- _p6xs 12y ago
  That was my first time visiting the UK. I told them I intended to work on my company and they weren't bothered by that. They were mostly concerned that I didn't have a job elsewhere that I would have to go back to. But you are right, it is a matter of luck. Getting a visa may save you a lot of trouble. You really don't want to spend a night in a California immigration facility with MS-13 gang members [1]. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS-13 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS-13
  - dubeye 12y ago
    That sucks. I wouldn't have guessed that the UK were worried about people leaving the largest economy in the world to live in England! I think to play the VWP game, you need to have weighty social and economic ties to your home country. A full time job is good. Luckily my business has deep roots in the UK so I think I should be ok.

dubeye 12y ago

you were detained on a first visit? That's unlucky, are you sure you didn't accidentally admit to intending to work or something like that?

_p6xs 12y ago
That was my first time visiting the UK. I told them I intended to work on my company and they weren't bothered by that. They were mostly concerned that I didn't have a job elsewhere that I would have to go back to. But you are right, it is a matter of luck. Getting a visa may save you a lot of trouble. You really don't want to spend a night in a California immigration facility with MS-13 gang members [1]. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS-13 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS-13
- dubeye 12y ago
  That sucks. I wouldn't have guessed that the UK were worried about people leaving the largest economy in the world to live in England! I think to play the VWP game, you need to have weighty social and economic ties to your home country. A full time job is good. Luckily my business has deep roots in the UK so I think I should be ok.