Visitors Visa To Uk. Post Dating.

[Skeatender]

Have managed to acquire several visas . Usually visit UK for approx. 3 months. However , despite written requests on the application form to date the visa from or just before departure date these requests are ignored . g/f also makes this request on lodging the application . This seems to have no effect. For five successive years visas have been issued dated shorty after the date of application . The point is that there is the intention to return months before the visa expires but there could be circumstances where it becomes necessary to stay longer . Always of course within the 6 months limit !

Obviously I am not making my position clear to the issuing agency since I can see no reason why the post dating request connot be granted .

The UK Border Agency guide states " We are only able to post-date visas by a maximum of three months from the date of the decision on your visa application. "

Thus post dating is , I would have thought , normal ,acceptable and to some extent necessary.

What am I doing wrong ? The request is always within the above stated period. On some previous occasions it has been made several times on the submitted forms and in very clear and bold type and positions. As well as being made verbally at time of submission of forms in Bangkok.

I would be very grateful for any guidance on this matter since another visit is in the offing.

[VisasPlus]

One thing you can do is write a letter of complaint to the First Secretary Visas at the Embassy. Be sure to mark the letter as a complaint for his attention as it will then have to be recorded as such. The Embassy does not like a lot of complaints as it goes against their record with UKBA in UK, and they have to justify their position.

Make it clear in the complaint that you are trying to use the UKBA's own guidance regarding post-dated visas, but your requests are being ignored by the visa section.

Unfortunately, the visa section at the Bangkok Embassy does not seem to be in the business of customer service, and they seem to sail happily along without considering themselves accountable for their actions. Indeed, as it is impossible to speak with anyone of any account at the Embassy, they are able to do as they please. It really does need more people to complain about poor service. The First Secretary Visas has only recently taken up post at the Embassy. Maybe he will bring a new work ethic to the visa section.

[7by7]

In addition to the excellent advice above, I would also suggest checking the date of the visa immediately upon receipt of the passport; particularly if collecting it from the VAC. If it is wrong then insist that the error be corrected immediately.