American overstaying travel visa by 2 days

[Brycicle]

Hi All,

I am an American citizen who has been travelling in the UK and the EU for several months. I entered the UK on August 7, 2017, and I plan to fly out of Belfast Feb 5, 2018. During this time I have travelled to several European countries and as I bussed up to Belfast from Dublin I have no other re-entry stamp into the UK.
Is it problematic that my flight out of the UK is two days over the 6 months? Will this result in a travel ban for me in the future?
Any insights help!

Thanks very much!

[vinny]

Normally, a visitor's leave lapses every time they exit the Common travel area. The Immigration Officers would have granted new leave on each entry from outside the Common travel area.

Unfortunately, if you didn't encounter any Immigration Officers due to your bus journey from Dublin to Belfast, then that's understandable. But it makes it more complicated for you, as it appears that you were inside the UK and Common travel area this whole time. Do you have entry stamps into any other European countries during this period? Did you keep proof of travel?

You may overstay up to 30 days without any entry ban. However, if they think that you are not a genuine visitor in the future, then they may also refuse you entry.

That said, why don't you plan to depart the UK a few days earlier, within the 180 days from initial entry?

[Brycicle]

Thanks for the reply!

I do have a passport with stamps showing entry to Spain and Ireland. I found a good deal on flights and booked it before confirming what date I had to leave by. I'm flying to Australia where I have a travel visa. I'm just concerned about incurring some sort of ban to the UK because I'm hoping to come back for a month or two next summer. If the next time I entered the UK I had a flight booked to leave already would it be easier to consider me a visitor?

Thanks very much!

[vinny]

How long were you outside the UK? Apparently spending more than six months per year in the UK may send a red flag. You may have to explain that you were not continuously in the UK previously. You may have to convince them that you have strong ties outside the UK, etc, with full intention to depart at the end of the visit.

[Brycicle]

Thanks Vinny! I think I will change the flight just to be safe.