ubermensch – I never answered your specific question.
No, I don’t believe you’ll face prison or fines. But you are likely to be dumped on a bus immediately, driven to the airport and refused entry to that country in the future.
<< and they all have to deal with the stupidity of the bureacracy… >>
Well, I ain’t gonna get into the position of defending bureaucracy, but there is a legit rationale behind the visa requirements. Most countries have social programs – health care, welfare, etc. Even the U.S. has a Medicaid program to provide health care for the poor, and most European countries have far more significant social welfare programs, such as nationalized health care. Those programs are expensive, and paid for through high tax rates. Countries do not want an influx of people who do not pay taxes coming in to take advantage of their social welfare programs. The U.S. is no different, of course, and Californians face severe problems from Mexican immigration (legal and illegal.)
The other consideration is unemployment. Every government wants to keep unemployment down, and there is a fear (sometimes irrational) fear of allowing foreigners in to take jobs that local citizens could hold.
I deal with businesses that are transferring employees from the U.S. to Europe and vice versa. (My firm doesn’t deal with the visa side, so I only know that arena peripherally.) They don’t have a problem, because the company stands behind the employee – guarantees the employee will have income and not become dependent on the state-provided benefits.
So, it’s usually not a problem to get a fixed-term visa if you are a student. It’s not a problem to get a visa if a company is transferring you to work. It can be difficult if you just want to live in Paris to soak up the atmosphere, and rely on government welfare to survive. So the game is to prove that it’s not that latter case, and to find a visa that will suit your needs.
L_C – does this mean the UK does grant working holiday visas to Americans? Pretty much everything I’ve read has stated – or at least heavily implied – that you have to be a citizen of the Commonwealth.
On a related note, how often can I (U.S. citizen, young, poor, often have somewhat unstructured travel plans) visit Britain before the immigration officials start getting suspicious? And can they forbid me from entering the country if they merely suspect me of living / working there illegally, or do they have to have proof?
Powers106—Now, THAT sounds like a plan! Can I give you a call when I arrive in la belle Paris? Meet you for drink on the Boulevard?
Americans do not require a visa to travel to the UK as a tourist. A 6-month visa is granted on arrival, but don’t take my word, check Visa Requirements (Visitors) PDF. The exact length of your stay is at the immigration officer’s discretion, but I doubt they would shorten it unless you really annoy them. The rules are slightly different for students – Visa Requirements (Students) PDF.
Unfortunately, you’re right, Fretful Porpentine. Working holidaymaker visas are only available to Commonwealth citizens (Canadians, New Zealanders, Australians, etc) – Working Holiday Visa PDF. I guess that’s what you get for having a War of Independence…
All of the above details are from The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).
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*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine *
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Hi Fretful!
Immigration officers don’t need proof for anything. They can deny you entry merely on suspicion.
The last couple times I entered the UK (prior to my obtaining an Irish work visa) I went through MAJOR hassle at customs because of the number of stamps on my passport. I had spent the past several years in a pattern like this: several weeks’ visit to Britain/Ireland, go home and work a few months, pay off the credit cards from the visit, then go over again (I did temp work for years, so I could get away with that, job-wise). It did finally get to the point where customs were extremely reluctant to let me in again, though they always did, after a long grilling and lectures about “you’re not allowed to work, you know” 
Actually I think the last time I went through UK customs (after flying from Dublin via London to Madrid and back again) I probably wouldn’t have got back in if I hadn’t thought to bring my return ticket back to the US with me to show to immigration.
Sorry, that was confusing. What I meant to say was that’s its fine to sort out the UK stuff first (from home) and then any other visa requirement (Europe, etc) once you’re here and working.
See also MattK’s post above. The best thing to do (in my understanding) if you want to work and stay here for 6 months is to get a student visa. The student ID and classification was crucial up to a couple of years ago and i doubt whether that’s changed.
The last American friend I know of who went this route had a pretty tenuous relationship with a US Uni but because she had a student ID getting the work visa was not a problem (maybe she was a part-time student, or had already graduated… I’m not sure). The student thing is important - they may attach an age limit to that, also.
The visa reqirements are something you need to understand like a contract before you sign - the small print is what will get you what you want - I wouldn’t feel comfortable giving definitive answers as the rules change.
I’d suggest looking at the posted links and getting the requirements really clear in your head, then get a UK student working visa from the US end. After that, hey ! - get here, work, buy a round-the world ticket and start collecting Embassy visa’s (maybe things have changed in the US but they would have to change a lot to be as atuned with the travelling student culture as is London)
B/S doesn’t work like it used to around the world’s Immigration Desks - drugs, economic migrants, EU law have all contributed to a general tightening up. And the fact is, everyone now expects hoards of students to head their way so the rules are clearer - if you blow it, it’s your own fault. Deportation is sooooo passe LOL
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*Originally posted by London_Calling *
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I did this several years ago. I needed a letter from the registrar stating that I was a fulltime student and a letter of recommendation from an employer. Check out BUNAC’s web site for the current requirements.
EVE - Absolutely! There is a good cafe on the Champs-Elysees called Le Paris (recently bought and remodelled by the Costes bros.). We could meet there and celebrate your arrival. Drop me an email. Powers106@hotmail.com
Cheers