Uk Ilr Stamp And New Thai Passport

[citizen33]

My wife's Thai passport will expire in December 2010. She has been in the UK since 2004 and has ILR. We currently live most of the time in the UK but will be visiting Thailand in late March/April and again in July/August 2010. I thought one of these trips would provide a good opportunity to renew the passport in country. I believe the position in the past has been that one can then re-enter the UK by producing both the new passport and the old passport with the ILR stamp. However, I know that the UK regulations were overhauled last year and I wanted to be sure this didn't change the position. Having looked at the UK Border Agency Website, I have become aware of No Time Limit (NTL) stamps and the Returning Residence Visa from an overseas embassy, but apart from the high fee these seem much harder to arrange than just using the two passports. So I wonder if somebody can help with answers to these questions:

1. Is it still legitimate to use old and new passports together (showing the ILR stamp in the expired passport)?

2. If no, what is the best alternative for my dates and scenario (i.e. where to renew old passport and what to do about ILR stamp).

3. Is there any advantage in getting the passport renewed in April rather than August (December expiry date means wife wouldn't have six months left at time of UK re-entry with August passport renewal, but I don't believe this matters)?

Hopefully my wife will pass her exam and progress to the next level of her ESOL course soon and I can then avoid doing this again!

Thanks for any answers.

Edited February 28, 2010 by citizen33

[Sontaya]

Hi

You can still carry around both passports. I have just pulled this off the UK border Agency website:

"You do not need to transfer your residence permit to your new passport. If you choose not to transfer your permit, you should carry both your old and new passports when you travel to the UK - this will prove to our immigration officers that you have the right to be in the UK. "

[7by7]

Link to above, if wanted.

Is there any advantage in getting the passport renewed in April rather than August (December expiry date means wife wouldn't have six months left at time of UK re-entry with August passport renewal, but I don't believe this mattes)?

As she has ILR, it doesn't matter as far as UK immigration is concerned; but airline check ins are often reluctant to allow someone to board if they have less than 6 months to run on their passport as they fear the passenger may be refused entry at the other end.

I'd recommend renewing it in April.

[citizen33]

Thanks for both replies - very helpful.