Visiting Boyfriend in England from USA

I think ianw is being controversial...

Common sense would suggest that the OP answers any questions asked openly and honestly with the basic minimum, only expanding if asked for further clarification. But she does need to be prepared and to be sure of her facts and have the evidence suggested above just in case she needs it.

There is no need to 'tell a story' or 'gush out her life history'. Chances are questions will be perfunctory and she won't experience any problems. But he may get 'jumped' on if the official feels she is trying to cover something up or being economical with the truth.

I can think of other words to use than controversial. You are doing nothing wrong you are visiting your boyfriend for a month you have accommodation and you have a return ticket if asked just tell the truth.

Where exactly have you been.. (Q:)

reading all of these horror stories people have with UK customs and being sent home?

While in general, Immigration is not usually the place to mention that the purpose of your visit is to be with your boyfriend, as they tend to an, often justified, assumption that hormones trump immigration law even in otherwise law-abiding people; it is not going to be a problem for a one month visit, it is more likely to be a problem with people that are planing to stay six months and perhaps overstay. The typical questions they will ask are 'where are you going', 'what will you be doing' and 'how long will you be staying' so think about your answers and keep them short, they do NOT want your life story, just enough to convince them that you are one of the 99% that are not up to no good.

Where exactly have you been.. reading all of these horror stories people have with UK customs and being sent home

Plenty of such stories on LP.

You are doing nothing wrong you are visiting your boyfriend for a month you have accommodation and you have a return ticket if asked just tell the truth.

I think you do have to be careful what you say. The problem is that people get denied entry not on the basis of the truth but on the basis of suspicion. Thus it is best to reveal the truth in a way that does not lead to suspicion of the things that worry them. Thus the philosophy is more one of telling them what they need to know. If OP had just finished her university course, or left a job, and was coming for 6 months, and didn't have much money, she would have reasonable basis for worry she might be denied entry, even if the truth was she was not coming here to live, work, get married, etc. Thus, while not telling any lies, which would of course be illegal and could result in severe problems, it is best not to guide the officer in the direction of the kinds of suspicion they might have to deny entry. But in the particular case of OP, this is rather unlikely. Visiting friends is a common and normal reason for travel.

Careful with what you say?
Just tell the truth. What could be more straightforward?
If your paperwork is correct & you've no criminal record that could threaten the security of the country you're visiting, you're in.. Easy.
I've asked about the horror stories the poster speaks about, but have yet to see a response.
Simples !

I'm partly speaking from experience.

I was in her shoes (although not 19) and I was an American visiting my UK boyfriend. I answered the immigration officer's questions honestly.

What was I doing in the UK? Visiting my boyfriend.

The IO asked a few more questions, confirmed with my boyfriend and asked him a few more details, and then stamped me through for 6 months.

There's no need to gush about your relationship and share personal details, but you do need to be honest about your reason for visiting. For me, that was visiting my boyfriend.

Obviously, opinions are going to differ on what you should say when visiting a partner, but my thought is that there is nothing illegal about visiting a boyfriend, you just need to be honest about your intentions and show you know the rules.

My boyfriend at the time is now my husband, so it all ended well.

I'm so glad you two were able to work out! We definitely have hopes we'll end up like that in the future :)
This definitely has given me more confidence with what to expect and i'll be sure to have everything you mentioned on me.
Thank you!

Thank you Mark. Most of the stories I had read with people being turned around had been them saying they were "visiting their boyfriend" and then IO got really quizzical after that, saying they had insufficient funds for their stay, or things didn't add up, and I have to say the funds is one of the things i'm nervous about as well, not that I won't have enough for my trip, but that they may think I don't.

I can think of other words to use than controversial.

I think it's interesting that most of the advice to tell the whole truth comes from those with a UK or fast-track European (Schengen Area) passports. I do not advocate lying by our intrepid traveller, but "I'm here to visit my boyfriend for a month." is not necessary - nor is it necessarily adverse, but why say it?

Anyway - I still think it's moot, and the questioning will be cursory, from my UK-European entering experience.

If your paperwork is correct & you've no criminal record that could threaten the security of the country you're visiting, you're in

You are misinformed. As I said, you can find plenty of these horror stories on this forum if you look for them. Many young Americans get refused entry to UK. Most common reasons are having British girl/boyfriend and volunteering schemes.