Would it be hard for a woman to pass Ireland immigration who is travelling alone from HK

Would it be hard for a girl to pass Ireland immigration who is travelling alone from HK?

Not usually.

Would it be hard for a girl to pass Ireland immigration who is travelling alone from HK (when you are obviously using it as a means to avoid UK immigration hassles)?

Yes.

The problem is not your gender or where you are from, but the fact you are obviously using Ireland as a way to avoid UK immigration. The two immigration services are in close cooperation and are on the lookout for just this kind of thing.

As others have already said, apply for a UK visitor visa, clearly stating your ties to home and the fact you have a return ticket. Either that, or encourage your boyfriend to visit you in Hong Kong.

I agree with the existing answers, but wanted to raise a subtle issue that you may be able to adjust to improve your chances.

In the title, you call yourself a “girl” rather than a “woman”. During your previous entry at Belfast the immigration officer ended up talking about you with your boyfriend, rather than talking with you directly, and you let your boyfriend decide what you were going to do.

It is possible that you are subconsciously communicating an attitude of dependence, rather than of being a fully competent adult. That could matter, especially if you travel without a visa and need to convince the immigration officer, in person, that you will not overstay. The more you give an impression of dependence, the higher the perceived risk of overstay.

The ideal impression to give is that you are a capable woman, running your own life in Hong Kong, although you do enjoy visiting your boyfriend. Of course, you also need solid documentation of that life, as discussed in earlier answers.

I have have traveled internationally while alone and female many, many times, starting in my early 20’s, and it has never seemed to be a problem.

Instead of taking a risk at the border, you may want to consider asking for a UK visa.

If you get rejected at the border, this will mean lost money (the cost of the ticket and any other non-refundable reservations you may have made), a stain on your record, a lot of hassle and trouble (as you noticed last time, it can be quite stressful when they start asking questions beyond the usual, so imagine if they actually say “no”, put you in a holding room — which in some places in more of a cell than a room, and send you on the first flight back home).

Given that:

• You have a boyfriend in the UK
• You have already stayed about 3 months in the last 4 in the UK, if I understand your travel history
• The last time you entered the UK, you were given only a one-month Leave To Enter instead of the usual 6 months
• You may seem to be trying to circumvent UK immigration by using alternative means of entrance in the CTA

The chances you would be rejected are not negligible.

Getting a visa, even though not a guarantee that you will be allowed to enter the UK with one, would significantly reduce your chances of being rejected at the border (if you were truthful in your visa application).

Requesting a visa will give you more time to gather all the required evidence (and understand what they expect — even from someone who would normally allowed to enter without a visa) and present your case in better conditions (with a lot less stress) than at the border.

You may also want to check if there aren’t any types of visas that could be more adapted to your specific situation (it’s unclear from your questions whether you are planning to spend a lot of time in the UK with your boyfriend or even intend to marry him). Weigh the pros and cons of the various types of visas carefully though.

As to the title of the question, no, being a girl travelling alone should not make much of a difference, if at all. It’s more likely it’s your travel history which is the issue.

Bring hard copies of any and all evidence of ties to HK (in a soft binder) to present at Dublin/Belfast airport if asked, and never lie about anything.

Signed/stamped employment/school letter with contact details, utility bills, proof of family ties, proof of income, bank statements, return ticket, notarised invitation letter from your boyfriend etc. Anything and everything to convince them that you can support yourself without resorting to employment/public funds and that you’ll return home, and not live in Ireland/the UK through multiple visits.

Have a look at this post, especially the “DOCUMENTS I CARRIED ALONG” section.

If you want the opinion of border control at Dublin airport, you can e-mail them at [email protected]. In that case, explain your circumstances (ties to HK) in detail and tell about your recent problems in Belfast. Don’t mention anything irrelevant, but everything that is relevant.