Hello all
I will be arriving at Heathrow from Oz.
I am an Aussie citizen hence can stay for 3 months. I have visited before and filled in an immigration form (I think?) saying I was a tourist. Not sure if I put in the address where I would be staying.
Will I be expected to give further details? I read somewhere in this forum that one should not mention pet/house sitting as immigration may see it as a paid job.
Should I have a list of HO as “friends” with their addresses and phone numbers if asked by immigration?
Any thoughts?
Cheers
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Yes to all of those ideas. DON’t USE the dreaded THS letter whatever you do. You’re a tourist. You’re seeing the country, travelling and visiting friends. Make sure you have the full names and address of the HOs you’re going to first and possibly evidence of a what’s app exchange (but that depends on your level and tone of info/comms). Some people also delete the THS app off their phone but not sure we’d go that far. Do not start talking about the fact you’re a pet or house sitter, there are loads of threads on here with advice and incidents if you use the spyglass to look. #discretionisyourfriend
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You’ll be able to go through the e-gate with an Australian passport so it’s highly likely you won’t talk to anyone anyway 
(and you can stay up to 6 months)
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Technically, if you ‘elaborate the truth’, are you then classed as an illegal immigrant?
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This info is on the WWOOF UK site about entering the UK. Seems applicable to housesitters too. Better advice than the THS letter.
The main reason for your visit to the UK must be for tourism or to visit friends or relations. So, assuming you do not have a visa which you know will allow you to enter the UK to volunteer as a WWOOFer, WWOOFing should always be incidental to your visit, and not the main reason for it.
Although as mentioned, now that they have the e-gates, you probably won’t even talk to a person.
The e-gates were down last night all over the country. This caused terrible queues. But it is fixed now.
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@Hallt64 if you mean by ‘elaborating the truth’ that you would tell them you will be housesitting DON’T do it!!! You are a ‘tourist’ only and HOs (if you are asked for details) are the ‘friends’ you are visiting. I don’t think you’d be regarded as dramatically as an ‘illegal immigrant’ but you may be refused entry if you tell the truth to the wrong/unfriendly immigration officer! 
Don’t rely on the E-gates. Immigration can still randomly pick you out of the queue for a ‘chat’ if they feel so inclined, same as customs officers. Be prepared for all possibilities including the need to lie when necessary! 
Lying can get you in trouble. Maybe next time you seek entry to the country.
Just don’t tell them the whole truth.
Like I told them that I am on a cycling tour of England. Which is true. The officer asked for first destination, and I answered “Cambridge, maybe today or else tomorrow.”
@Karen65 your visa will be for six months not three. Also the entry forms have been scrapped now I read
International passengers arriving in Britain no longer have to complete a UK landing card. UK Border Force confirmed that with effect from 20th May 2019, non-European passengers will no longer need to fill out the paper form on-board an aircraft prior to arrival in the country.
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I have no intention of sitting abroad but i think it technically could be called illegal immigration, as in entry by not telling the truth. Whether it ever happens is another story, but you never know 
One is not immigrating, (relocation with intent to establish residency) when one is visiting.
Purpose of visit is to visit, tourism. Where we stay is at our discretion
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The UK has such a HUGE influx of tourists, it is almost expected that the majority of those arriving are just that - tourists. I believe it is one of the easiest countries to gain entry to, particularly being a member of the British Commonwealth.
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I bow to your superior knowledge. I still wouldn’t lie on my application to visit any country, but everyone is different.
Personally, I’m never travelling to house sit, I’m house sitting to travel. No lies told, I am a tourist.
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@lolrj Exactly. I would never fly to another country just for a housesit. I choose a destination that I would like to visit as a tourist. If I happen to find a sit that works with my dates, I add that to my plans. Otherwise I get an Airbnb or hotel. The purpose of my trip is not to housesit.
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@Hallt64 exactly as @systaran says. If you WERE to travel to the UK for example, you would be touring also for sure, you wouldn’t go just for one sit then go home. So tourism is your main reason for being there, which you would be doing, so you just don’t need to mention a short housesit. It’s not lying, it’s just not being an open book telling immigration about every move you intend on making whilst there. You WOULD be touring, no need to elaborate 
Lying is a completely different thing.
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Thanks for clarifying you points …but I stil wouldn’t do it. We are all different though, thats what makes these forums interesting. 
@Hallt64 totally agree
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It’s unlikely you’ll be asked in the UK, I believe it’s the US where problems have occurred. Yes, the owners are ‘friends’ because no doubt you’ve been corresponding and had video chats with them? I usually just put down the first address I’ll be staying at, whether it’s a hotel or house sit.
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It might be worth having an answer up your sleeve for “how do you know these friends?” which I was asked when I went the the US to stay with friends who I know from another online forum - my answer was “they’re friends of friends” which was true and accepted (I had a great time with them & they are now even closer friends, across the miles).