08. What if I stay longer than I am allowed to?

It is against the law to stay in the UK beyond your time limit, unless:

• you have applied to the Home Office for permission to stay longer or to settle and you are waiting for a decision; or
• you are appealing against a refusal.

Otherwise you become an 'overstayer' and you may be prosecuted and sent home ('removed').

The immigration authorities may also deport or remove you for other reasons. They can do this after you have settled here if:

• you are found guilty of a serious crime; or
• they discover that you told lies in order to settle here. For example, if you were allowed to settle because you married someone living here, and the Home Office later finds out that you were not living together.

However, you cannot be deported if you become a British citizen (see 'How can I become a British Citizen?').

Also, many Commonwealth citizens living in the UK since before 1973 cannot be deported.