How Long Can A Uk Holiday Visa Be?

[technocracy]

Essentially it's possible that I might be returning to the UK to work for about 1 year - obviously I want to take my wife & son with me. My wife has not only had holiday visa but previously had a Settlement Visa (of which she only spent 11 months in the UK).

My son has a British passport so there is no problems there. My wife also holds a Lao passport with an Oz Permanent Residency visa . . . we being living together married side of the UK for 3 years so not enough for the 4 years thingy. We've been married for over 5 years in total but as she's already been granted a settlement visa previously they've previously rubber stamped that our relationship is genuine.

So the questions are can you get 1 year holiday visas? Or would I need to go through the Settlement thing again (which seems OTT in my opinion)?

Cheers in advance for an advice.

[7by7]

The maximum stay in the UK with a visit visa is 6 months on any one visit and a maximum of 6 months out of any 12 in total.

I think that a settlement visa is your only option.

If it is possible for you to extend your stay in the UK for 3 years then at the end of that period she would be able, providing all the other requirements are met, to apply for British citizenship and a British passport. Then she would be able, of course, to enter and leave the UK as often and as long as she wished; same as any other British citizen.

[technocracy]

Thanks for that. I had a feeling it was 6 months but I didn't know about the 6 out of 12 rule.

Hmmm how long do settlement visa take these days? Taking into account our background i.e she previous had a settlement visa - initially we'd stay with my parents until I sorted out somewhere to rent (my parents house is plenty big enough being 3 bedroomed - we'd have a room to ourselves etc etc).

[vinny]

If parents' accommodation is adequate, then there is no need to move out.

Edited December 7, 2009 by vinny

[ThaiVisaExpress]

We have been getting these back in 5 days recently.

[technocracy]

If parents' accommodation is adequate, then there is no need to move out.

Well I'd have no intention wanting to stay for an entire year at my parents - anyway the work wouldn't be near where they live...

. . . .

5 days sounds good as the work could be at relatively short notice. All this said I might not be going yet . . . but cheers for the info guys.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

A pleasure good luck.