We applied for a two week visit visa that was approved but we got 6 months.

Does that mean she can stay in the UK  for 6 months now?

Or does she still have to return after 2 weeks?

Moved to Visas.

She may stay until her visa expires, subject to the visitor conditions. However, staying longer than requested may affect future visitor visa applications.

Edited December 21, 201015 yr by vinny

She wasn't granted a visa to stay in the UK for six months. She was granted a visa to allow her to stay for the amount of time she applied for, but yes, the visa is valid for up to six months and, as Vinny states, legally she can stay until the visa expires. But, there are other things to consider. Why did she only apply for a two week visa ? Maybe it was because she has a job here, and only two weeks leave. If so, then it would be unwise to stay longer than the two weeks as it will definitely affect any future applications if she loses her job or doesn't return to it. Don't forget also that the immigration officer in UK will have electronic access to her visa application, and can see what she applied for.

A standard visit visa is valid for 6 months and multi entry. (The ECO can issue it for a shorter time and/or make it single entry, but this is rare and they must have a good reason for doing so.)

This means that the holder of a 6 month multi entry visa can legally enter and leave the UK as often as they wish during it's validity and remain in the UK until it expires. Remember that the expiry date will be 6 months from the issue date, unless a different start date was requested in the application, not 6 months from first using it to enter the UK.

As said, there is no legal reason why 'she' (whoever she is) cannot stay in the UK until her visa expires. However, as also said, having said that she only intends to stay for two weeks were she to then stay for longer, especially much longer, this could damage her credibility when (if) she next applies. Even more so if, as VP says, she said she had to return after two weeks due to work or some other commitment.

Peoples plans do, of course, change and the ECOs appreciate this. However, in her next application, whether it be for another visit, settlement or whatever, to avoid awkward questions she should explain why she stayed longer than originally stated and how she was able to do so.