Source
r/ukvisa•
8__

How long, after a student visa expires, must I wait before I can visit as a tourist.

I was in the UK on a tier 4 visa while I did my masters, and I left a few day ago when my visa was expiring. My girlfriend (also on a tier 4 visa) is still there working on her PhD, so obviously I'd like to visit her. I'm not planning on going in the next four months, but I'd like to know how long I should be away before I can visit.

(I must also add that my passport is from a country that doesn't need a visa to visit the UK as a tourist.)

Posted Jan 30, 2016, 5:36 PM UTC

23
vipergirl•

When I was in the UK I wondered the same thing.

I was told as long as you have a return airfare and proof of it, there should be no problem.

1
wiseones•

When I did this (2 months post-graduation) they gave me a lot of shit at border control. I couldn't tell what the best way to handle this situation would be -- in my case they were pretty pissed until I mentioned I was looking at a PhD program while I was in the country. Probably my fault though -- stupid me hadn't slept in ~24 hours and wasn't awake enough to answer questions, haha.

Edit to add that I was staying with a friend and they really pushed to find out if she was my girlfriend. (She isn't.) I couldn't tell if I would've been better off if she was, or if it was good that I said no. I don't know how that might impact your situation.

Still... I can't say for certain but you should be fine provided you have a ticket out of the country, some way of proving you have money (showing my bank app worked, but ymmv), and/or a job back in your home country.

1
clever_octopus•

There's no time limit you need to be out of the country between visa expiry and another visit on a visa waiver.

However, it is not advised to come back immediately after your visa expires. I would wait a few months, at least. In terms of time alone, four months should be ok, six would be better. You may not get a hard time about it, but many people do - The biggest problem with visiting soon after is that most people coming back after a residence visa haven't reestablished their life in their home country yet, and thus are unable to show significant ties back to their home country in order to satisfy the Border Force officer that they intend to leave. I would not visit again until you have evidence of ongoing employment or enrolment in studies, that's really what they'll want to see.

1