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Say a person used to require a visa for the UK and was once refused. Now they've become a visa-free national, but was detained for a long time upon a visa-free entry. The only way to nullify the refusal and prevent this from happening in the future is to obtain a visa (a phenomenon unique to the UK).

I wonder: should the person apply for a visa for every future UK visit in their life, or does a single visa approval permanently eliminate the flag caused by the original refusal, so that once the visa expires, applying for visa-free entry won't cause complications specifically due to the original refusal?

Crazydre
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2 Answers2

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Keep in mind that even as a traveller from a visa-free country you should bring the evidence required for a visa application with you when travelling.

Once your receive an entry clearance, you can move freely without applying for a visa beforehand - just like any other visa-free person as this will supersede the refusal mark.

But at the very same time, unless you are in a hurry, it is always good to apply for the visa before travelling. If no for other reason than to make your landing quicker and usually pain-free, as most immigration concerns will be already dealt with.

Aida Paul
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How did you become visa free? Did you gain new citizenship? If so, then everything from your past is, well, past. At least this is my understanding and interpretation of Dual citizenship passports and visas / https://travel.stackexchange.com/a/64891/4188 .

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