Visitor Visa Granted, Dates To Be Concluded!

[swarveharve]

Hi

Firstly a quick thank you to everyone that posted on my previous posts. Also a thanks to the site and everybody that uses it and posts. Been a great help.

I managed to get a 6 month tourist visa for my girlfriend, hooray.

On the original application I requested for a 3 month stay.

I don't have the application with me as back in the UK. But am wondering if you have to stand by the dates of travel as shown on the original application form.

I put dates as 15th July (90% sure!) for a stay of 3 months. Does it matter if a few days either way??

Look forward to your replies

Many Thanks

[checkoutcomplete]

The visa is valid from the date you requested.

Eg. If the date is 1st of June, your gf/wife can enter the country any date from the 1st of June. She can not enter before this date.

Hope that answers your question.

[theoldgit]

Just to clarify the above post, the visa is valid from the date actually printed on it, which may not necessarily be the date requested.

But as 'checkoutcomplete' rightly says the visa holder can only present themselves to the UK Border on or after that date.

[rawhod]

You don't have to adhere rigidly to the dates you put on the application. You can enter the UK any time from the "valid from" date on the visa and leave before the expiry date of the visa. However,the immigration officer at your port of entry into the UK will have access to the dates you put on the application, and, in the past, have asked us to verify the proposed length of stay.

As I said, the visa holder can stay in the UK until the date the visa expires, however, if this is significantly longer than originally requested, there will be a need to explain why this was so in any further visa application.

[MunterHunter]

As I said, the visa holder can stay in the UK until the date the visa expires, however, if this is significantly longer than originally requested, there will be a need to explain why this was so in any further visa application.

So if you got a 6mth visa when you requested a 3mth visa... and decided to stay an extra month or two 'because the visa allows it' - would that be a problem? After all you are still adhering to the dates in your passport/visa - so at no point would you be 'illegally in the UK' just staying a little longer to make full use of the visa issued to you.

Not that it affects me, just curious to know

[theoldgit]

As I said, the visa holder can stay in the UK until the date the visa expires, however, if this is significantly longer than originally requested, there will be a need to explain why this was so in any further visa application.

So if you got a 6mth visa when you requested a 3mth visa... and decided to stay an extra month or two 'because the visa allows it' - would that be a problem? After all you are still adhering to the dates in your passport/visa - so at no point would you be 'illegally in the UK' just staying a little longer to make full use of the visa issued to you.

Not that it affects me, just curious to know

No you wouldn't be in the UK illegally, but you could just possibly encounter a few problems.

If the visa holder presented themselves at the Border clutching their six month visa and the IO asked to see the return tickets, unlikely but it does happen, the tickets were for six months hence and the IO decided to check the original application and found that the original travel plans were for three months, they could ask some searching questions.

If the visa holder decided to extend the original stay because of a change of plans they would have no problem.

A possible problem could be with any future application, if a person had applied for a visa stating that they intended visiting the UK for three months and then stayed longer, the ECO deciding on a future application might doubt the reasons for further travels.

All very what if, chances are that if a person decided to extend their stay they would have no problem whatsoever.

[bobrussell]

I would tend to go with the 'unlikely to cause a problem' opinion.

There is nothing wrong with changing dates, length of stay etc as long as it falls within the visa validity dates. When you make a future application just note in the covering information that you had changed your plans so stayed longer. Might get a raised eyebrow or two if your two week stay became five months but even here you can argue that plans changed.

The ECO is likely to show concerns unless the stays suggest an attempt to by-pass immigration rules.

[swarveharve]

Thanks for all your replies, kind of answers my question, well actually is does ha ha

Was wanting to clarify so as not to jeopardize any future applications. Will be sticking pretty much to my dates requested on application.

If I was to try extend the stay for my girlfriend would it be worth informing anybody of this? Would still be within the 6 month granted visa but maybe longer than the 3 months requested on the application.

Am also looking for help on purchasing the return ticket for Bangkok-London. Is it best to use a Thai company or Uk agent. Any info on most cost effective is apreciated.

Many Thanks again

[beano2274]

I believe that all visitor visas are for 6 months even if you only apply for three months. She can stay as long as she likes but only upto the validity of the Visa.

[Tony M]

I believe that all visitor visas are for 6 months even if you only apply for three months. She can stay as long as she likes but only upto the validity of the Visa.

That is not quite true. The majority of general visit visas are issued as multiple visit visas for a period of 6 months. However, the ECO can restrict both the number of entries to the UK ( for instance, single visit only) and/or the period of validity ( for instance one month). There are obviously occasions where an application for a single visit of only a short duration will cause the ECO to consider issuing a visa with the appropriate validity. For instance, someone with an adverse immigration history might need to visit a sick relative, or even attend a funeral, so the ECO can, if he wants to, restrict the visit to certain dates. But, he cannot just do this. He must have the authority of his Manager to restrict the visa. He must justify the reasons he wants/needs to do this to his senior officer, but he doesn't have to justify it to the applicant. If you receive a visa that is restricted in duration or number of entries, then that is what you have to accept.

[Basil B]

I would tend to go with the 'unlikely to cause a problem' opinion.

There is nothing wrong with changing dates, length of stay etc as long as it falls within the visa validity dates. When you make a future application just note in the covering information that you had changed your plans so stayed longer. Might get a raised eyebrow or two if your two week stay became five months but even here you can argue that plans changed.

The ECO is likely to show concerns unless the stays suggest an attempt to by-pass immigration rules.

Last line, did you mean unlikely?

In all applications one consideration is the applicants situation regarding the ability of the applicant to support themselves, so an application for say 2-6 weeks where they are to be supported by a sponsor with limited income and savings was granted for this short time but say a stay of 6 months would not have been.

Also I assume at "port of entry" when passports are scanned there are some that are flagged so any ECO issuing a visa is suspicious they may put a flag on advising to check return tickets at port of entry.