The Mexican man, a chef, arrived on a flight from Los Angeles to Manchester Airport and told officials he was planning a short stay to visit a friend who was opening a Mexican restaurant in north west England.
But when Border Agency officers looked into his baggage, they found a huge collection of Mexican food recipes - and a good luck card from his church wishing him well for his "new life in the UK".
Under further questioning, the 40-year-old admitted he had intended to work at the restaurant illegally and planned to bring his family over from the States if the move worked out.
The man was detained and removed from the UK the next day, after his arrival last Friday. He is believed to have been now reunited with his family in Mexico.
A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "We will not tolerate people coming here to work illegally. People wanting to visit the UK must play by the rules. Those who do not are sent back."
linkI'm amazed that our Border Agency managed to do the right thing for once.
