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Going to england after overstaying in US

I went to US as a tourist and overstayed for years, never got caught, and came back on my own 26 yeras ago.

Since then, I went to Cyprus twice and had no problem. Didn't overstay there.

Now I want to go to England for a month or two, but I worry because it's one of the five eyes countires, and I don't want problems in the airport after landing.

Does anyone has experience with this, or knows someone who'd overstayed in US or one of the five eyes coutnries, and then went to England (or another five eyes countries), and did they have any problem?

Posted by
833 posts

I think your question may be outwith the scope of this forum sadly. You don't say where you currently live, but the best idea is probably contacting the British Embassy if you want to find out for sure before travelling.

Posted by
11404 posts

What country issued your passport? Does UK require a visa for entry from that country?

As Gerry noted, the best source of info will be a UK Embassy/Consulate

Posted by
6517 posts

The Five Eyes Countries as I understand it relates to sharing intelligence about terrorism rather than about what individuals do as regards over staying, or in their daily lives

But yes you must seek proper advice from the relevant authorities including the US State Department if that is where you now live. No one on this forum can give you binding legal advice, just opinions which will be worthless at the border.

If you are now back in the US it would sound as if you were never recorded as an over stayer 20 odd years ago- otherwise surely you would have been stopped on returning from Cyprus or indeed when you first re-entered the US. Thus there may have been nothing to share with other countries.

The real risk is that if your original over-stay is unknown, by asking the questions now you may cause a case to be opened which never existed. My memory is that US border control was less onerous in the days of paper- recorded a lot less- than now in computerised days. But that may just be my memory. Wasn't it landing and departure cards in those days?- so if you went into one city and out of another (like me) joining the dots would not have been easy. I went into Denver and out of LAX, and into Chicago and out of SFO- or something like that.

Posted by
2554 posts

To clarify, any UK embassy will not give advice on immigration/entry - it's not their role/expertise.

They will refer you https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

The Five Eyes countries share intelligence. You will not be on their radar (literally or metaphorically) unless you are involved in something likely to harm the national interests of its members.

Posted by
833 posts

To clarify, any UK embassy will not give advice on immigration/entry - it's not their role/expertise.
They will refer you https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

Thank you.

There you go.

Bear in mind that other people may not want to be as candid as you might on their experiences with overstaying lol. If they're smart, they probably don't want to talk about it online too much or tout on their pals :)

It brings to mind a work by one of my favourite British contemporary artists, Martin Creed, who works in a variety of media including song - https://youtu.be/wiK107EEhrU?si=wSxDPzNjuoLUxc6x

Posted by
6517 posts

That is useful to know that the OP is from Israel- hence the visits to Cyprus.

Posted by
33148 posts

I am sure it is difficult in Tel Aviv now, Gail - do you intend to move to the UK?

Posted by
963 posts

Due to a few reports, I'm checking in to say that this post does not invoke guideline #7 regarding law breaking. If this were 26 years ago and the OP was asking how to overstay, that would invoke #7. Or, if the OP knows it's a problem to go to the UK and they're seeking to circumvent this, that would invoke #7. This thread is to see if it's a problem to travel to the UK for this person, and I assume the best in that the OP is intending to travel on the up and up as a tourist these days.

Thanks everyone. Please do not comment on this post. Back to the subject...