Is this the maximum stay allowed for short-term family visitors to the UK?

I found this on the UKBA website but it is referring to long-term visit visas: "you can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 180 days during any 12-month period"

So, if the GF leaves UK on August 15th 2012 at the end of her 6 month visa and 6 month visit she would be able to apply to arrive again in UK on February 15th (or whatever 180 days is precisely after 15/8) 2013 and stay again for 6 months?

This isn't actually our plan, just trying to work out a 'from when' date.

Cheers for any help.

PS I have tried to use the search function but it returns gobbledygook

180 days from the date of entry into the UK, then she can travel back to the UK 185 days from first exit from the UK = 365 days

The only actual rule is that a visitor cannot spend more than 6 months in the UK on any one visit; with some exceptions such as a visitor for private medical treatment.

There is a convention that a visitor should not spend more than 6 months out of any 12 in the UK. It is only a convention, not a rule; but if when applying for a second or subsequent visa it appears that you will fall foul of it then you would probably be refused; unless you could show a good reason why you needed to spend so much time in the UK as a visitor.

See VAT1.5 Frequency and duration of visits

Similarly, long term visit visa holders could be refused entry by immigration at their port of entry if it appeared that they would be breaching this convention; unless they could show a good reason for doing so.

But as the UK does not stamp passports on exit, or otherwise record people leaving, the IO would have no way of knowing this unless s/he checked every page of the passport for other countries' exit and entry stamps!

Not 100% sure about the next bit, but I think:-

If applying for a new visit visa the 6 months, or 180 days, would be calculated back from the date the new visa would start.

If entering the UK with a long term visit visa it would be calculated back from that date.

Topic title amended to show country; PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE POSTING.

Cheers guys

Nonsense reply to a six year old thread removed.


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