Can you go home and re-enter on a 6 month UK Visit visa

[malct]

Just a quick Question, My wifes sister is here in the UK on a Visitors Visa. A family member is not so well at the moment in Thailand and she might have to return home. She has 3 months remaining on her Visit Visa after only spending 4 weeks here in the UK (she did not come here right away after the visa was granted so lost 2 months). Could she come back to the UK for the last month or would it be better to apply for another Visitors visa when she knows everything is OK in Thailand, That is on the understanding that you cannot spend any more than 6 months out of 12 months in the UK.

If she can return, Is it was possible to buy a cheap return ticket from the UK back to Thailand and keep her return ticket for her official return trip back to Thailand in April,

Regards

Malc

[theoldgit]

Yes she can return using the remainder of her six month multi entry visa, she must leave the UK on or before the expiry date.

She might get questioned on her return to the UK, so she should be prepared to explain why there has been a change of plans.

There's nothing wrong with purchasing tickets in the way you've outlined, she would be wise to carry her return ticket for when she finally leaves the UK, in case she's asked either when returning from Thailand or on her return to the UK.

[malct]

Thank you for your Reply, Least we know now.

Thank you

Malc

[Waterloo]

Malct

in your post you mention a visitors visa and the old git talks about a multi entry visa, are you discussing 2 different visa's?

[theoldgit]

Malct

in your post you mention a visitors visa and the old git talks about a multi entry visa, are you discussing 2 different visa's?

No, visit visas are normally multi entry. They can issue a single entry visa, though rarely do, but I needed to make the point.

[Waterloo]

Malct

in your post you mention a visitors visa and the old git talks about a multi entry visa, are you discussing 2 different visa's?

No, visit visas are normally multi entry. They can issue a single entry visa, though rarely do, but I needed to make the point.

Cheers for that old git, I was under the impression that standard visitor visa's were single entry only but the wife has just confirmed her mothers last visa was indeed multi entry.

She seems to think that this was a change around 2005 as prior to this she was only issued single entry visa's?

Looking on the UK GOV website I notice they do not volunteer this information!

Cheers again will beer it in mind next time the mother in-law visits.

[Basil B]

VAT1.3 Visa validity - When to issue a single-entry visit visa

The ECO should only issue single-entry visit visas in certain cases, such as children visitors sponsored by charities or in exceptional borderline cases where the applicant has not quite established on the balance of probabilities an intention to leave, but there is nonetheless a clearly established, verifiable and compelling reason to visit the UK. ECOs must obtain the authority of the ECM before issuing a single-entry visit visa. The ECO should not issue an entry clearance if the applicant clearly fails to meet the Immigration Rules on the balance of probabilities.

A non-exhaustive list of examples of where it may be appropriate to issue a single entry visit visa includes:

• Key witness at a criminal, civil or family court appearance;
• A visit at the request of the police or other agency to assist enquiries;
• To attend the funeral of an immediate family member;
• To attend a specific one-off bona fide event as an invitee, i.e a religious convention;
• To conduct a specific business transaction in the UK where the person’s attendance is essential;
• To visit an immediate family member who is pregnant or who is seriously ill;
• Children visitors sponsored by charities.

The ECO should not routinely issue single-entry visit visas to first time family or other visitors.

The ECO may also limit the leave granted in these types of cases by restricting the validity of the visa to less than six months. But the ECO needs to obtain the authority of the ECM and a brief note must be kept in the notes field of Proviso to explain the course of action and the name of the authorising ECM.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visitors-general-vat01/visitors-general-vat01