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I'd been living in the UK for a few years as a student when I got denied entry some 25 years ago. I did appeal but after all it wasn't successful and consequently I was removed (deported).

I have no documents on my refusal kept with me and frankly I do not remember all the details after such a long time.

Now that I'm wondering if my refusal/deportation record is still kept by the UK Immigration Office?

Since I'm from one of the countries whose citizens are allowed to travel visa-free to the UK, I've been completely baffled all these years that if or how I can obtain "Entry Clearance" (I think that's what the IO advised me to when I was refused).

What on earth is Entry Clearance?? Do they mean a visa?? If it is, again, citizens of my country don't need a visa to enter the UK and I'm not sure if I'd still need a visa or what type of visa I should apply for to enter as a general visiter/tourist.

Could I travel visa-free with no trouble by now?

I'd appreciate any assistance/help and feedback on this...

Entry clearance means a visa https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673999/GGFR-Section-2-v29.0EXT.PDF ‘Leave to enter’ is the term applied to those requesting entry at a UK port (ie visa-free, and those with visas) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/674000/GGFR-Section-3-v29.0EXT.PDF

If you go to https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa and enter your nationality and trip details you’ll see that the response for visa-free Nationals wanting to enter as a tourist is that you don’t need a visa but you may want to apply for a visa if you have a criminal record or have previously been refused entry into the UK. If you don’t apply for a visa, the advice is to bring the same documents https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visitor-visa-guide-to-supporting-documents that you’d use to apply for a visa with you, to show to Border Officers if required.

If you apply for a visa you must declare your immigration history in the application; you’d also have to disclose it if asked if you attempted to enter visa-free. A deportation within the last 10 years is grounds for entry refusal.

If I were you, I would apply for a visa for my first attempted return as a visitor, it depends on your risk appetite (mine tends to be very low).

If you want to know what personal information about you is held in the UK’s Immigration records to help you decide which entry route to take, you can make a Subject Access Request https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/requests-for-personal-data-uk-visas-and-immigration/request-personal-information-held-by-uk-visas-and-immigration

Here's the downside. Suppose you skip applying for a visa in advance and then find yourself refused entry at the immigration desk in Heathrow. You'll pay for whatever part of your trip is not refundable, and non-discounted fare back home. A wasted trip.

As to the chances, it really depends what the reason for refusal was. They will know. You can't fool them*. Tell the truth about the past incident, don't hide something because you think they don't know; and if you don't know, say "I don't know", do not guess the answer you think they want.

In most cases, reasons for refusal fade with the passage of time, because your life circumstances change. Their rule of thumb is 10 years. Generally they want to know that you'll

• leave the country when agreed


• not seek employment


• not become a burden to publicly funded social services

You didn't describe the circumstances, but with a young student it is typically a) lack of sufficient ties to your home country, no house, job, partner, social ties etc, as a result nothing compels you to return home and you could just stay and make those ties in the UK instead; or b) a lack of financial resources to fund the trip, which would tempt you to fall back on social services.

I imagine after a quarter century those things are solved. So you should get a fresh start at immigration.

* Lying now, turns it into a big, new problem.