[ron]

i've overstayed my visa and are concerned that when i try to fly out from heathrow i could get in some trouble. i have heared stories of people being forced to re pay money illegaly earnt. would be grate to have my concerns put to rest. any info would be fantastic, thanks.

[don]

you broke the Law & you get punished.

Legally they can send you to prison on Imm offences, overstaying your welcome, not paying taxes, smuggling ( yes-technically you can smuggle yourself) in short for being a little criminal, but it doesnt happen often so dont worry... a lot.


Luckily for you this didnt happen in Singapore ( phew ) there Caning is the Mandatory Punishment for Imm offences and prison , etc.

Whats caning and how do they apply it, I hear ya saying?

Well Illegal entry into Singapore: At least three strokes.

Current caning procedures are carried out not in the public's view, with the subject to be caned strapped to a metal frame with the buttocks exposed. The rattan cane has been soaked in water overnight to prevent the cane from splitting and to maximize inflicted pain. Parts of the prisoner's body are padded to prevent accidental damaging of the kidneys, but the procedure can still leave permanent scars on the subject. They never Can-can girls, only males.

Anyway, back to UK, punishment varies: detention, fines, Int order for recovering you future earnings and assets thru a 3-rd country, ITP, EU Warrants, deportation, extradition and even Prison.

There are many circumstances that are regarded as pardonable, like amnesia, being kidnaped, or loving uk so much that you couldn`t bear to leave it. I happen to think its better to admit it first, than for you to get arrested at the customs in heathrow. So go to the nearest Police Station, tell them you didnt mean it, say how sorry you are and then they`ll give ya an " O-V Visa reference number" -i ts a formality, with this no one will bother you at the airport, just wave ya through.

It the famous Purple Form TPD-AS 67 and the security knows it.

With this form, some guys- although I dont know the full details- but someone might come along to clarify it for you- have been able to claim towards the cost of the ticket. You should be able to prove extreme hardship, a bank statement showing that you got little money or not at all, and a real desire to go back.

A GP, teacher, priest or solicitor Must write a " letter of guarantee" to support your statement and confirm your photos and true intentions.

I head this should be done 4 weeks in advance, before you leave and the state can grant You a non-refundable " hardship grant" up to 75% of the ticket`s cost! Ifyour application is approved you dont pay aiport taxes.

Also the law clearly states you cant return to the uk for 5 years, after this offence.

According to English Law, pleading Ignorance wont allow you to escape liability. Insanity yes, Ignorance no.

So act and act fast, sleeping till 11 AM wont help your cause I`m afraid.

Wake UP!

[Renee]

I've heard that airports other than Heathrow can be a lot nicer about those sorts of things.. so might be worth considering.
But I wouldn't worry about it too much really.. they'll probably just give you a few stern words and send you on your way.
And you've gotta leave at some point, so better to get it over and done with!

[crista]

where can we find this Purple Form TPD-AS 67 ?

I am thinking of leaving in June and like this idea.
Is it available online, or from the P.Office, solicitor etc...and can it be mailed to the HOME OFFICE without going there in person?
thank y.
c.

[laid_back saffa-guy]

my visa run out 3 weeks ago, i got the some thing as you man. Could they really arrest you? i dont belive this. but to be safe i think it could be safer to go to dublin and fly from there, somewhere anywhere but heathrow.
first time i hear people getting arrested on visa irregularities.
uk-hm, worse than ossies.

[Harshman]

Yes Dublin doesn't use the same fcking GLOBAL DATABASE OF PASSPORTS as the rest of the world. They use the one for Mars.

[laid_back saffa-guy]

this has nothing to do with databases or planets!

Its the attitude of different countries.

As the other dude said, if you want to go barbaric, you can interpret the law as Singapure does. Beatings and hard prison.

I didnt belive it at first then checked it online and it turns out to be true.

All it boils down to is how you want to interpret the Law and how flexible people are, British sadly are not.

Most of Countries seeing you leave say bye, bye, good riddance. Not UK though, they like to interpret the law to the letter and make your life harder. My friend left from Ireland they checked his pass, laughed and let him go though.
Overstaying your visa isnt as if you are a common criminal.
But to be safe I think I wont leave from uk, only ireland.

For all the talk this is only speculation and theory, I would really like some advice from someone that know what he is talking about and has first hand experience.

[Diddy]

I was advised it depends how long you have overstayed for and if in that time you were working/earning cash into your UK bank account.

The Home Office isnt going to worry for a week or two overstay as they have bigger fish in the sea they are trying to catch, people who have been here years after their visa expiry date. You may get a slap on the wrist as you leave, that's about it.

My visa is up on the 12th April and I cant leave till the 25th, (though I am ceasing employment.) Your employer can be fined £1000's if they are caught employing an "illegal overstayer".


Good luck with it!

[chase]

[simpleman2505]

normally they dont say any thing when u leave after overstay but they wont let u come back. so dont worry, i know someone who overstayed for 5 years and they did not say a single word to him after all u r leaving their country

[no-worries]

Was on a 2 year working holiday vise and overstayed for 3 years.
Left the country over 50 000 pounds in cash.

I'm from SA and they only took my passport stating that i will be black listed for 10 years and won't be able to travel anywhere in the world.
Believe that.
But hey!!!! look at the worry in my eyes.
Started my own franchise and coining it big time more than i ever earned in The UK.

My advise to you is....." life is about making choices" do i need to say more..... Get out while you can.

Cheers and Goodluck

[redturtle]

How can they check you overstayed on your visa at the airport? When I leave the country all they do is ask for how long and that is it. Do they really check through and then if they find out take you aside? I can see them checking if you had a return ticket but a one way? I also have never seen immigration check when I leave?

[fiestyone]

I am overstaying my visa by 6-months, then plan to go home for good. I wont be working in that time, just travelling and working on my portfolio - but I don't want to risk being kicked out of the country by applying for a tourist visa - because I don't have the appropriate funds (I work on a freelance basis from home, so will be living off the money I make from Australia).

I have my ticket home booked and I am planning to stop in Dubai, Sri Lanka, India and Bangkok - will they stop me there for overstaying here?

And will I have trouble when I arrive in Australia?

[redturtle]

No they will not stop you in Asia for your overstay here. How will they know. They care if you overstay in their country but dont care about UK. And yes I agree with the earlier post - UK does not check when you leave. I have only been checked once when I left and that was after 7/7 and at Gatwick.

[Jax]

So how do customs know if you have worked over the 52 week limit on the new NZ / Australian Working Visa's?????

[Bipolar Bear]

Customs dont know. Customs have nothing to do with that. Inland Revenue technically I suppose could catch you as you are (or should be) paying tax. But it was my understanding that they could never police that rule, which was why the WHP rules were relaxed to allow work for the full 2 years. Now they have re-instated the stricter WHP rules I dont know if they have found a way to police them, but my guess is not.

[beentheredunnit]

There is no emmigration control leaving the UK, the Tory government stopped this practise due to cost!The current Labour gov. have considered putting this back into practise to be able to control the figures regarding failed assylum seekers and illegal immigrants leaving the country!As things stand currently when one leaves the country the only people who will check your passport will be the airline check in staff followed by the security who will be more interested in seeing your boarding card.

I speak from a postion of experience, staying illegally is never good, it restricts your movement and often your chances of finding employment...it can also lead to a feeling of paranoia when one sees the bobby's one the beat!!That said I lived here 3years past the expiry of my visa and still managed to leave the country!
I am now back in the Uk having managed to secure a longer visa.
Do not panic if you have overstayed....its ok, keep your eyes close to any new developments within the immgration laws, and you will be fine Ron.
Good luck and enjoy the rest of your stay!!Summer is around the corner!!

[fiestyone]

What about when you arrive in Australia - what are the consequences of overstaying your visa here when you get back there?

[Bipolar Bear]

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE this question has been answered above. No country will care whether or not you overstayed in the country you've come from. why the hell would they care, and do you think they have the resources to check everyone anyway?? All they care about is that you have the legal right to enter their country.

[mr lee]

yes typical aussie look for the purple form and try and get the British taxpayer to fund your little grubby trip.
All you aussies are a bunch of poncers and spungers. why not be like us Africaners, and pay your fucking own way. the british people must be the most stupit fucking race on the planet to put up with this shit.

[kurtc76]

[Grant]

I am an Aussie working in recruitment in the UK (on a british passprt as well as Aus.) And I have to say the amount of African people that try and get work through recruitment agencies and have expired visas is second only to Russians - so hmm guessing no stats were actually taken into account when coming up with your highly uneducated reply!!!

[Davos]

[anon]

[a]

I've been checked several times leaving heathrow and gatwick over the past couple of years, sometimes just on domestic flights, after going through security they sometimes (it seems random at the moment) have people there who check through your passport for your visa etc. One guy was about to take me away for a chat about my passport till I pointed out my residence permit further through my passport! So don't think they don't check when you leave, I've also had friends who have left after their visas have expired and been told not to come back for 5 years.