Visit Visa 10-Year Entry Ban

Are you at risk of a UK entry ban? Have you received a Visit Visa 10-year entry ban?

Our UK Immigration Lawyers can help you understand when and how the Home Office imposes Visit Visa entry bans and how you can challenge them.

UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors 

For expert entry ban and immigration advice from UK Immigration Lawyers call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.

Our lawyers speak Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, French/Mauritian Creole, Spanish, Tamil Tagalog/Ilonggo, Urdu/Punjabi.

What is a Visit Visa entry ban?

An entry ban means:

1. You won't get a visa from the Home Office during the period of your entry ban and
2. You will be refused entry by border officials if you travel to the UK without a visa

Entry bans can range from a year to ten years.

Our Legal 500 recommended Immigration Solicitors in London can advise you on whether you can challenge the imposition of the ban or its length. You need expert immigration help before you apply for a new Visitor Visa or other type of visa or before you travel to the UK without a visa.

Why does the Home Office issue Visit Visa entry bans?

The Home Office can impose an entry ban for several reasons. Common entry ban reasons are:

1. Home Office finding of deception in an earlier visa application or in other contact with the Home Office
2. Overstaying after UK entry on a visa or after entering as a tourist without a visa
3. Breach of visa conditions
4. Illegal entry into the UK
5. Deportation order

The entry ban isn’t limited to Visitor Visas. You won't be able to successfully apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, Family Visa, Student Visa or Business Visa unless you can challenge the entry ban.

Deception and entry bans

The Home Office can rule there was deception and make an entry ban. Examples of deception in immigration applications include:

• Not in a genuine relationship for a Spouse Visa. For example, a sham marriage that is the subject of a Home Office investigation
• No genuine job offer when applying for a Skilled Worker Visa. For example, a UK-based relative with a business and sponsor licence has ‘’created’’ a job for you
• Assuming someone else’s identity with a clean immigration record so you can secure a visa
• Deliberately deceiving the Home Office by not disclosing a relevant conviction or providing false information

It is essential to get specialist legal advice from UK Immigration Lawyers on whether you meet the visa eligibility criteria and the documents needed to support your visa application.

Breach of visa conditions and entry bans

Any breach of visa conditions could result in an entry ban. For example, working outside permitted hours while in the UK on a Student Visa or not telling the Home Office if you separate from your partner after UK entry on a Family Visa.

Our London Immigration Solicitors recommend you take immigration advice as soon as you realise you may have breached a visa condition. We can advise on your best options and let you know the potential implications for visa renewal and re-entry.

Deportation and 10-year entry bans

A maximum ban period of ten years is made if there is a serious breach of the immigration rules or deportation.

If you are facing deportation and want to reduce the length of your entry ban you can agree to leave the UK voluntarily. That will usually result in a shorter entry ban.

Why does the Home Office impose entry bans?

There are three key reasons for entry bans:

1. Deterrent effect to discourage widespread breach of visa conditions, deception and overstaying
2. Reduction in illegal entry by encouraging those seeking humanitarian protection or asylum to enter the UK through legal routes
3. National security to protect the UK

Why you should challenge a ten-year Visit Visa entry ban?

You may think that there is no point in objecting to an entry ban but our Entry ban Lawyers recommend you consider:

1. Changing plans – even though you don’t think you want to return to the UK during the entry ban your personal or work circumstances may change
2. How the entry ban may affect travel to other countries – a UK entry ban can be a red flag if you are applying for a visa to enter another country

How long does a Visit Visa entry ban last?

The length of a re-entry ban can range from months to ten years depending on:

1. The seriousness of the breach in visa conditions
2. The length of the overstay
3. Whether a deportation order was made or if you agreed to leave the UK voluntarily
4. Whether the Home Office made a finding of deception

The rules on the imposition and length of entry bans are:

• No entry ban will be made if you overstay on a visa for up to 30 days and you leave the UK voluntarily at your own expense
• If you overstay for over 30 days or breach your visa conditions and the Home Office must pay for your departure from the UK the entry ban could be for two if you leave within six months of being given notice of removal by the Home Office. It is five years if you leave after six months
• If you had a finding of deception against you the entry ban may be for ten years
• If you are being removed or deported from the UK the ban will normally last ten years

When does a Visit Visa entry ban start?

The entry ban can start from the:

• Date you leave the UK or
• Date of visa application refusal if the Home Office makes a finding of deception

Ten-year entry ban appeal guide

You may have the grounds to challenge an entry ban where the Home Office:

1. Got the facts wrong
2. Got the law wrong
3. Followed unfair procedural practices

You can challenge the ban by applying for a judicial review of the Home Office decision.

You can also challenge a ban if you prove:

1. There are human rights reasons or exceptional circumstances why you should not face a ten-year entry ban
2. You are exempt from the ban. For example, if there was deception in your visa application but you were a child applicant or a victim of human trafficking

A human rights application may involve you making a new visa application and asking the Home Office to grant it because of your human rights. For example, the right to family life. You could also ask for:

• Discretionary leave to remain outside of the immigration rules or
• Leave outside the rules

You will need to be able to demonstrate that your situation is exceptional and compelling.

Help with applying for a UK visa after a ten-year entry ban

Our Immigration Lawyers in London can advise you on whether you can apply for a UK visa at the end of your ten-year entry ban.

Paragraph 9.2.1 of the immigration rules and Home Office guidance says that with a ten-year ban you must be refused entry after the ban’s expiry if:

• The Secretary of State directed you be excluded from the UK

• You received an exclusion or deportation order

Winning a judicial review, human rights or discretionary claim is tough. You need a highly experienced Immigration Appeal Lawyer in London who can:

1. Explain your options and the timelines
2. Investigate your case
3. Correspond with the Home Office
4. Represent you in tribunal or court proceedings 

UK Visa Refusal Lawyers  

To speak to an Immigration Appeal Lawyer in London call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.

Our lawyers speak Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, French/Mauritian Creole, Spanish, Tamil Tagalog/Ilonggo, Urdu/Punjabi.

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