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waleed205
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Overcrowding question

Post by waleed205 » Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:37 pm

We jointly own 2-bedroom 1-living room Spam bathroom flat. We are husband, wife, and 2 sons. In this forum, I was advised by some people that the living room is counted as a room, hence 3-room sufficient for 5 people. No problem, and thanks to all for clarification. It is only 4 of us, and that's how I answered the question in the application.

I see that many people are doing "home inspections report" to confirm the space/area, etc. I did not do that. Did I miss it? or will I be asked to do it later during the application process?

Thanks

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Re: Overcrowding question

Post by seagul » Tue Sep 24, 2019 4:23 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:37 pm
We jointly own 2-bedroom 1-living room Spam bathroom flat. We are husband, wife, and 2 sons. In this forum, I was advised by some people that the living room is counted as a room, hence 3-room sufficient for 5 people. No problem, and thanks to all for clarification. It is only 4 of us, and that's how I answered the question in the application.

I see that many people are doing "home inspections report" to confirm the space/area, etc. I did not do that. Did I miss it? or will I be asked to do it later during the application process?

Thanks
You have correct understanding. And in your case you won't need property inspection report.
The opinion expressed as above is neither a professional advice nor contesting/competing to other member's opinion/advice.

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Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by waleed205 » Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:18 pm

few quick general questions:

Spouses get 2.5 year visa then renewable for another 2.5 years. Why do I see people talking about 33 months?

Where is the 33 month given ? Is it the expiry of BRP? Or I need to count 30 months from entry stamp even though the brp may be valid for longer?

Applying for extension is 28 days before expiry. Expiry of brp? Or expiry of 30 months from entry date?

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by geoeng » Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:30 pm

The visa expiry date is the date noted on the BRP. 33 months is the length of leave to enter/remain granted for the first spouse visa if applied for from outside the UK. Extensions or Further Leave to Remain (FLR) is granted for a period of 30 months (2.5 years). General suggestion is to apply for an extension (FLR) within the period 28 days prior to BRP expiry.
I'm just a guy on the Internet who immigrated to the UK. My opinions are based on my experience and interpretation of the immigration rules and should not be considered legal or immigration advice; your mileage may vary.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by seagul » Thu Sep 26, 2019 6:28 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:18 pm
few quick general questions:



Applying for extension is 28 days before expiry. Expiry of brp? Or expiry of 30 months from entry date?
My usual words:
" Unless the immigration rules/personal circumstances are not changing the extension should be applied very close to BRP/visa expiry to avail the maximum length of visa to prevent every single possibility of any shortfall that may arise towards the qualifying period for ILR".
The opinion expressed as above is neither a professional advice nor contesting/competing to other member's opinion/advice.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by waleed205 » Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:57 pm

Thanks for the replica.

I’m trying to prepare a plan for moving and have the following questions,

When I submitted my bio at VFS and kept my passport, VFS staff told me if your visa is approved we will send you an email to bring your passport, you will have 28 days to bring passport otherwise your application is canceled.

Is this 28 days part of the 1 month vignette? Or the 1 month starts from the day they attach the vignette?

If I have to go ahead of my family(sponsor is my wife), will that be an issue? I.e arriving before my sponsors by about 2weeks. Do they need to call her when I land and confirm?

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by CR001 » Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:58 pm

Or the 1 month starts from the day they attach the vignette?
This one.
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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by waleed205 » Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:59 pm

Just to clarify, although I never lived in the UK, we are setup with our own flat and UK bank accounts etc. I don’t need her to be there the first few days. In fact I want to go earlier so that I can renovate the flat and paint it

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by seagul » Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:29 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:59 pm
Just to clarify, although I never lived in the UK, we are setup with our own flat and UK bank accounts etc. I don’t need her to be there the first few days. In fact I want to go earlier so that I can renovate the flat and paint it
When you will be arrived at airport then airport immigration staff will definitely ask you about your sponsor. But on explaining your plan you will be alright. Ideally keep your marriage certificate and sponsor's passport copy handy.
The opinion expressed as above is neither a professional advice nor contesting/competing to other member's opinion/advice.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by Jaune08 » Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:33 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:59 pm
Just to clarify, although I never lived in the UK, we are setup with our own flat and UK bank accounts etc. I don’t need her to be there the first few days. In fact I want to go earlier so that I can renovate the flat and paint it
As long as you have your vigenette on your passport, you can travel anytime within one month. If your wife joins you later and you want to travel first, that’s fine. Unlike some European visas, holding a vignette and subsequent spouse BRP doesn’t require to travel with the spouse all the time. If they ask you about documents at the UK border control, give them the letter where your visa was granted.

Don’t forget that your vignette must be valid at the time you collect your BRP once in the UK.

seagul wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:29 pm
When you will be arrived at airport then airport immigration staff will definitely ask you about your sponsor.
Not always. At least not in my case: they just saw the vignette after I handed over the acceptance letter and no question asked about my sponsor.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by waleed205 » Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:47 pm

Thanks for the great replies, it’s a relief.

Speaking of marriage certificate, I can’t remember if I mentioned it before,

My wife and I are originally Syrians, she was born in UK and hence is British citizen. I hold Australian passport.

We got married in Syria 25 years ago and our marriage certificate is in Arabic and English translation, both certificates were stamped and authenticated at that time. We have kids.

My original certificates are lost in Syria due to war. I had a copy authenticated by my Barclays relationship manager in Dubai when I opened my account. I returned the original to Syria in one of my old trips ironically for safeguarding. I asked the same banker as he knows me personally by now and he knows me for 15 years now as a client. I asked to to authenticate another copy for me with a more recent date.

For ukvi I uploaded the scanned copy of the originals as I had it scanned many years back.

Will they ask for the originals? Can I give them the authenticated copy by the banker.

Any advice on what to do in the future?

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by seagul » Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:01 pm

Jaune08 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:33 pm
seagul wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:29 pm
When you will be arrived at airport then airport immigration staff will definitely ask you about your sponsor.
Not always. At least not in my case: they just saw the vignette after I handed over the acceptance letter and no question asked about my sponsor.
Usually there is question about it on the application form (not sure about new online form) that whether the sponsor/applicant will fly together or not/if yes then which date. Also the environment of airport such as whether any strike/delayed flight, shortage of airport staff, security alert (most occurring in now a days) etc may also lead to different experience which may not happen the previous day.
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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by seagul » Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:18 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 6:47 pm
.

? Can I give them the authenticated copy by the banker.
It would be sufficient if asked
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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by Fizzy513 » Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:48 am

waleed205 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:57 pm
Thanks for the replica.

I’m trying to prepare a plan for moving and have the following questions,

When I submitted my bio at VFS and kept my passport, VFS staff told me if your visa is approved we will send you an email to bring your passport, you will have 28 days to bring passport otherwise your application is canceled.

Is this 28 days part of the 1 month vignette? Or the 1 month starts from the day they attach the vignette?

If I have to go ahead of my family(sponsor is my wife), will that be an issue? I.e arriving before my sponsors by about 2weeks. Do they need to call her when I land and confirm?
Hi I hope you are well. It's actually 21 days from when you receive email. Does this mean it's definitely been accepted? My partner receive Denali and handed passport Friday? How long does it usually take to receive back? Can they also refuse if so would they really ask for passport? Thanks

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by vinny » Sun Sep 29, 2019 6:27 am

waleed205 wrote:
Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:18 pm
few quick general questions:

Spouses get 2.5 year visa then renewable for another 2.5 years. Why do I see people talking about 33 months?

Where is the 33 month given ? Is it the expiry of BRP? Or I need to count 30 months from entry stamp even though the brp may be valid for longer?

Applying for extension is 28 days before expiry. Expiry of brp? Or expiry of 30 months from entry date?
See also FLR(M) visa length 30 months or 33 months.
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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by waleed205 » Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:54 pm

I was hopeful that the process may take shorter time but it doesn’t, spouse visa outside UK.

- can I travel to UK with my Australian passport (same one I used for application) while pending application? I read that if someone lived in Uk and applies can’t travel but not sure the other way around?
- a friend told me that once you receive an email from vfs to bring passport, you can take it to any vfs office anywhere in the world. Is this correct? According to him vfs applies the vignette and is not sent to UK embassy.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by seagul » Mon Sep 30, 2019 3:10 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:54 pm

- a friend told me that once you receive an email from vfs to bring passport, you can take it to any vfs office anywhere in the world. Is this correct? According to him vfs applies the vignette and is not sent to UK embassy.
I guess its an incorrect advice and even the authorities might not like or give this advice.
The opinion expressed as above is neither a professional advice nor contesting/competing to other member's opinion/advice.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by waleed205 » Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:45 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:54 pm
I was hopeful that the process may take shorter time but it doesn’t, spouse visa outside UK.

- can I travel to UK with my Australian passport (same one I used for application) while pending application? I read that if someone lived in Uk and applies can’t travel but not sure the other way around?
Any thoughts on this question?

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by seagul » Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:49 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:45 pm
waleed205 wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:54 pm
I was hopeful that the process may take shorter time but it doesn’t, spouse visa outside UK.

- can I travel to UK with my Australian passport (same one I used for application) while pending application? I read that if someone lived in Uk and applies can’t travel but not sure the other way around?
Any thoughts on this question?
Yes you can travel. But if during your visit your visa gets approved then you will have to return to collect it.
The opinion expressed as above is neither a professional advice nor contesting/competing to other member's opinion/advice.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by CR001 » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:26 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:45 pm
waleed205 wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:54 pm
I was hopeful that the process may take shorter time but it doesn’t, spouse visa outside UK.

- can I travel to UK with my Australian passport (same one I used for application) while pending application? I read that if someone lived in Uk and applies can’t travel but not sure the other way around?
Any thoughts on this question?
You could potentially be refused entry as the IO will see that you have a pending settlement application and the might not allow you entry as a visitor and send you back.
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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by waleed205 » Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:35 am

Spouse visa outside UK
Regular service no priority.

5 weeks since biometric, I received this email:

“ Thank you for your online application which has been received at the UK Decision Making Centre. Your application is currently being prepared for consideration by an Entry Clearance Officer.

PLEASE NOTE: This email is to acknowledge receipt of your Settlement application, if you or your UK sponsor have not already submitted your supporting documentation please ensure you follow the process listed below: UKVI is unable to consider your application without these documents. “

1- does this mean a decision may come soon? I believe my application is “straightforward“.
2- I uploaded the documents in the VFS website. I don’t think my sponsor nor myself have to submit anything. Is this correct?
My sponsor is living with me outside UK.

Thanks for the help.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by geoeng » Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:46 am

It's a standard template email they send to pretty much everyone.
waleed205 wrote:
Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:35 am
1- does this mean a decision may come soon? I believe my application is “straightforward“.
Maybe but unlikely. They send it to pretty much everyone, it's more an acknowledgement of receiving your application than anything else. Nothing you can do but wait and it's more likely than not they will take at least the quoted 12 week processing time.
waleed205 wrote:
Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:35 am
2- I uploaded the documents in the VFS website. I don’t think my sponsor nor myself have to submit anything. Is this correct?
Yes. It's a bad email template because it makes people think they have to submit something. As far as I can tell from others who have received it, they would have listed any specific missing documents in the email.
I'm just a guy on the Internet who immigrated to the UK. My opinions are based on my experience and interpretation of the immigration rules and should not be considered legal or immigration advice; your mileage may vary.

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by seradane » Fri Oct 11, 2019 1:55 pm

waleed205 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:57 pm
If I have to go ahead of my family(sponsor is my wife), will that be an issue? I.e arriving before my sponsors by about 2weeks. Do they need to call her when I land and confirm?
I know some others have weighed in but I just wanted to mention my experience here.

When I applied for my first partner visa in 2017, we weren't quite ready to move by the time my entry visa was about to expire, so I decided to fly over for 1 week to start the timer/pick up my BRP/etc and then return home before moving permanently a couple of months later. My british citizen partner stayed home (because why spend the money on 2x flights if we didn't have to). I had the return flights booked and ready to show them.

Well I got to the border and the border guard said my entry clearance was "to join/accompany partner", neither of which I was officially doing, so technically my entry visa wasn't valid. After a long and nervous wait in the waiting room, eventually they said to me that they were "taking a pragmatic approach" and letting me in, because as an Australian citizen I was allowed to enter as a tourist anyway and there was nothing stopping me from just going to the post office to pick up my BRP once in the country. I was sternly warned that I was not allowed to work on this visit.

I was lucky - but it's easy to see how they could easily refuse to let me in if they deemed me suspicious looking. Or from a country where I didn't have automatic right to enter!

So - in conclusion - I'd be very cautious about arriving ahead of your partner if you don't absolutely have to!

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by seradane » Fri Oct 11, 2019 2:15 pm

From a bit more research it appears they may not use that wording any more so you may well be fine - but I'd still be cautious. :)

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Re: Understanding Visa Expiry Date

Post by CR001 » Fri Oct 11, 2019 2:28 pm

Just a note, it is really important to have the reference of that date of entry stamp in the passport for future visa applications and ILR and British citizenship, as the question is asked at all stages as well as other areas of dealings with government agencies where date of arrival is asked.

A small inconvenience on first arrival and going through the immigration officer to stamp your passport will save a lot of headache later on during the immigration journey.

Also note that the Post Office usually expects to see your visa vignette with a date of entry stamp on it when you collect your BRP card.
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