Settlement Visa For Uk, How Long Is It Valid For?

[Guest jonzboy]

been having a good look through the very many posts about settlement visas for wives etc

one question I'd like to find the answer to from any lucky chappy who has actually seen one, is there any date by which the applicant must land in UK?

I'm anxious to get the visa issued just to know that things are OK, then plan the big move back to Blighty

thanks in advance

Jon

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Information via the UK/BA.

If your application is successful, we will give you permission to live and work here for 27 months. This is called your probationary period. At the end of the 27 months, you may be able to apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain') as the settled person's husband, wife or civil partner.

[Guest jonzboy]

Information via the UK/BA.

If your application is successful, we will give you permission to live and work here for 27 months.

thanks for that, but I'm interested in the time allowed between issuing the visa and when you have to arrive in UK to activate the visa

[kennkate]

I think you are given 27 months in order to arrange flights Ect I think you are expected to arrive in the UK within 3 months.

That will mean you have 2 years in the UK before the Visa is finished. You can of course go back on to Thailand to visit. But 90 days Max in the last Year.

[Guest jonzboy]

can anyone confirm you have three months to land in UK once the settlement visa is issued by the British Embassy?

cheers

[mark515]

You can come to the UK anytime once the visa is issued.

If you are talking 6 months before arrival. You may need to explain why so long. Also they give you 27 months as for the next visa your wife must of been in the UK for 24 months or she will have to apply for further leave to remain so to complete the 24 month period.

You can request the visa to start any date up to 3 months from application.

[sumrit]

can anyone confirm you have three months to land in UK once the settlement visa is issued by the British Embassy?

cheers

To apply to remain in the UK indefinately (ILR) after the initial visa you must have been resident in the UK for at least two years.

The settlement visa is valid for 27 months so to qualify for the 'resident for two years in the UK' you would have to arrive in the UK within three months of it's issue date.

If you arrive after that date, at the end of the visas validity, you would have to apply, and pay, for FLR to achieve two years residency.

[CharlieB]

UK visas can be post-dated by 3 months after the date of application if you don't plan to travel straight away.

[7by7]

As said, a settlement visa for a spouse/partner (I assume that's what you want) is valid from the date it is issued and for 27 months. To be time qualified for ILR the holder needs to have been resident in the UK for at least 24 months; so one has up to three months from the date of issue to first enter the UK.

If one needs longer than this then one can ask for the start of the visa to be post dated for up to three months when first applying. However, if doing this remember that one cannot enter the UK before the start date of the visa.

[Guest jonzboy]

thanks everyone for those comprehensive replies

it seems there's a need for me to explain my intentions in the covering letter from the sponsor (me) as we can't enter a date in the "date of travel" box

my problem stems from being an expat for too long and having nowhere to live in the UK and so we have the chicken/egg scenario, if I make arrangements for somewhere to live (buy/rent) and then apply for the visa and get refused then Jonzie's gonna be mad, apply without the proof of accommodation and I run the risk of being refused anyway

been reading all the other threads on this aspect and will post a Q on this in a mo (See here)

btw, i've been married for over five years so, if the OH can get her head around that LITUK test, we'll not be concerned about the 24 month rule

Edited February 24, 2010 by 7by7
Link to topic in accommodation added.

[7by7]

If she has passed the LitUK test already, no problem. but if she hasn't, and from what you say I surmise she hasn't, then she will have 27 months in which to do so and then apply for ILR.

See Uk Settlement; Spouse Visa Or Ile?, Have you been married for 4 years or more?

[Guest jonzboy]

yep, spot on 7X7, let's hope she's motivated enough to study hard, just sent off for the LITUK book from TSO

Edited February 24, 2010 by jonzboy