OVERSTAYED in UK as a Student
 

Hi all,

I overstayed my UK student Visa for one year. i volunteerly left the country[UK] when I leave one of the officers wrote down a reference number on the visa and filled out a form and handed over to me but there was no ban . Since then i have several questions such as
1. If i apply for a New Zealand visa will this affect my travel.
2. How can i clear this off my record and how long do they keep the records ?
3. what if I apply with a new passport?

Thanks in advance.

These are questions you should probably ask at your local UK Embassy or Consulate.

I agree with the first response. However, I would say that #3 would not help at all, because almost all consulates ask a question like "Have you ever been denied a visa or overstayed on a visa?" You would then have to lie on your application, which would likely lead to a ban should it be uncovered.

Welcome to FT!

Although there are folks here who may have some experience and/or references to point you to, be aware that FT isn't a visa and immigration expertise forum. You'd be best advised to direct your questions to the appropriate staff of the governments in question for an official response.

The fact that you overstayed your UK visa will not look good if you ever applied to enter the UK again. Illegal immigration is a hot topic in the UK these days. Those who overstay make it harder for genuine visitors trying to get visas.

If being able to re-enter the UK easily is important--for example, if it's a requirement for a job--consult a good immigration attorney. Asking the consulate can call attention to your situation.

I highly doubt that a UK overstay will have any bearing on a visa to New Zealand (unless you apply from the Uk while there illegally).

DanishFlyer

Applying for a NZ visa with a new passport may help. I can't see that hurting, but I could foresee circumstances where it could help.

With regard to applying for a UK visa, a new valid passport is highly unlikely to make a difference since the checks run for visa and other permit applicants are run based on the biodata information. That biodata information is presumably rather consistent across passports unless a name change took place; and even a change of name doesn't guarantee an old overstay won't be noticed.

What I am curious is about where and when the OP dealt with exit control on leaving the UK. The UK isn't generally known for having permanent staffed exit immigration control stations in the UK airports of exit.

As there are no exit controls in the UK I am curious as to how this happened?

Maybe this happened prior to 2000. when there were exit controls?

This has happened to me in 2013.

Rail or ferry perhaps? I've encountered border officers on both, albeit they seemed random.

Or at the times when they do, such as three of my last five trips out of Heathrow in the last twelve months. Several were quite thorough with everyone just before they entered security.

Heathrow Terminal 3 seems to get them more frequently than the rest of the LHR terminals, but it's after security when I've encountered it there.

The UKBF does very occasional departure checks at airports, normally at LHR T3 or T4. Most if not all other airports have some domestic departures so the UKBF would not be allowed to ask them for passports.