Clarification Of 30-Day Entry Rule For UK Spouse Settlement Visa

[Barns]

Well, we finally got my wife's passport back and it was good news so I'm very happy about that.

 

However, I think I may have misunderstood the "30 days to enter the UK" rule. I thought that it meant that you had 30 days to enter the UK from the time you received your visa and, therefore, was planning to book flights for about 2 weeks from now. However, since the visa itself has"Valid From 3rd December 2016" on it, I think I must have completely misunderstood the rule so thought I would seek clarification on the matter since I really don't want to muck things up now!

 

While it seems obvious that the visa is valid from 3rd December, since that's what it says on it, and forgive me for possibly sounding thick, but my confusion comes from the fact that 3rd December is exactly 30 days after the day we got the visa, 3rd November, so that made me think that maybe 3rd December was the date by which we had to enter the UK, if you see what I mean.

 

I was hoping to leave as soon as possible, in about two weeks once we've sorted everything here out but, in the application form, it stupidly asks for your "Date Of Planned Arrival In The UK", even though they specifically advise against booking flights before you get confirmation of your visa. As a result of their specific advice, I hadn't booked flights so picked a random date from the air about 6 weeks after the appointment for the submission of the form and documents, and the date I picked was 3rd December.

 

Now, while it does seem very obvious, I just want to make sure that the "Valid From" date they've put on the visa comes directly from the date I wrote in the form and we must arrive within 30 days after that date and cannot arrive before. The last thing I want to happen is to arrive on 4th December and be told we're past the 30-day limit so I'm happy to risk sounding stupid and ask for clarification here.

 

Am I correct? Can I go ahead and book flights for 4th December safe in the knowledge that it will all be fine when we arrive?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 5, 2016 by Barns

[theoldgit]

Yes, you've read it correctly, the visa is valid for entry into the UK for up to 30 days after the 3 December, and the BRP must also be collected during that 30 days.

 

As I understand it the UKVI did previously do as you suggest and make the visa valid from the date of issue, that was clearly daft as people were needing to arrange for flights and a move of home, and collect the BRP, within those 30 days. It seems that common sense has prevailed and the visa is now dated from the proposed date of travel, albeit one plucked out of thin air, but at least it gives you a fighting chance.

 

I hope your wife enjoys her swap of the sun kissed beaches of Thailand, for the UK.

[Barns]

51 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

Yes, you've read it correctly, the visa is valid for entry into the UK for up to 30 days after the 3 December, and the BRP must also be collected during that 30 days.

 

As I understand it the UKVI did previously do as you suggest and make the visa valid from the date of issue, that was clearly daft as people were needing to arrange for flights and a move of home, and collect the BRP, within those 30 days. It seems that common sense has prevailed and the visa is now dated from the proposed date of travel, albeit one plucked out of thin air, but at least it gives you a fighting chance.

 

I hope your wife enjoys her swap of the sun kissed beaches of Thailand, for the UK.

 

Thanks mate. Good to have some reassurance.

 

I was hoping to go sooner, but such is life. I shall go and book some flights for a month's time then!

 

P.S. She'll be swapping the dusty, chicken-and-goat-filled rural Lao village where we live, rather than sun-kissed beaches, for the beautiful shores of Post-Brexit Britain!

 

I also hope she enjoys it, or at least can cope with it!

 

Cheers