we have been granted the unmarried partners visa to the uk.

The start entry date is the 20th January as we requested. We have flights booked for the 26th march but are considering delaying our departure from Thailand a bit longer.

Does anyone know if there is a certain amount of time that we have to actually enter the UK after the start date of the visa or

is any time ok ?

many thanks

Jon

The visa is valid for 27 months, and to be time qualified for Indefinite Leave to Remain she will need to have been resident in the UK for at least 24 months. So she has up to 3 months in which to first enter the UK.

If she has not been living in the UK for long enough when her settlement visa expires then she will need to apply, and pay for, an expensive extension. However, she can submit the application up to 28 days before her leave to remain expires, and as long as it is still valid when she submits her application it does not matter if it expires before the 2nd anniversary of her arrival.

Therefore, to avoid an expensive extension later, the latest date she can enter the UK is 19th May 2010. (If I've done my calculations correctly!)