Re-entry into UK without BRP card

[bono99]

Hi everyone,

 

My wife is currently living in the UK with me on a 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' settlement visa, unfortunately she lost her Biometric Residence Permit Card about a month ago, and her replacement card has not yet arrived. We are travelling to Thailand at the start of April and its look unlikely her replacement BRP will arrive before our journey. W

 

Is anyone available to advise the best way to get back into the UK?. We are considering the following:

 

• A single entry visa - Is this possible, and what is the exact visa type that will be required?
• Ask for a replacement BRP in Thailand - Is this possible if a replacement card is currently in progress and the card was originally lost in the UK?
• Speak with the Embassy and ask for a waiver to let her back in the UK. Is this possible?

 

Any help will be very much appreciated. 

 

Many thanks

John

[Tony M]

You cannot get any waiver, and BRPs are not issued overseas..  You will need to apply for a "replacement BRP visa"  while in Thailand. It costs 169 GBP at the moment, but that is likely to rise in April.    You must apply for the replacement BRP itself within one month of arriving back in the UK.

[bono99]

Hi Tony,

 

Thanks for the reply, i have been informed by someone else that applying from outside of the U.K. is possible, however I spoke with immigration yesterday and they informed me that you are only able to apply for the brp Visa if you lost your brp outside of the U.K, but the agent I spoke with did say there were no guarantees and it might work. Do you think there will be any issues if we do it this way? Thanks 

[Tony M]

15 hours ago, bono99 said:

Hi Tony,

 

Thanks for the reply, i have been informed by someone else that applying from outside of the U.K. is possible, however I spoke with immigration yesterday and they informed me that you are only able to apply for the brp Visa if you lost your brp outside of the U.K, but the agent I spoke with did say there were no guarantees and it might work. Do you think there will be any issues if we do it this way? Thanks 

As usual, the guidance from UKVI is ambiguous. It says this :

 

 Replace your BRP

You’ll need to replace your biometric residence permit (BRP) if it’s lost, stolen or damaged and it was valid for at least another 3 months.

How soon you must replace it depends on where it was lost or stolen.

You may also have to replace your BRP if your personal details have changed, for example you’ve changed your name.

You can be fined up to £1,000 and made to leave the UK if you don’t apply for a replacement in time.

If your BRP was lost, stolen or damaged in the UK

You must apply for a replacement BRP within 3 months.

If your BRP was lost, stolen or damaged outside the UK

You can’t apply for a replacement BRP outside the UK.

You’ll need a ‘replacement BRP visa’ which lets you re-enter the UK once only - you must apply online in most countries. It costs £169.

You must apply for a replacement BRP within 1 month of your return to the UK.

 

The way that reads, it seems to say that you shouldn't leave the UK if you lost your BRP in the UK ?