Multiple Entry Visa (And repeat Visa) Advice

Dear All,

Firstly, I am so glad to have found this forum. I have struggled through various mires of Immigration headaches for a number of years now, and am looking forward to airing a few questions and (fingers crossed) gaining enlightenment that has eluded me.

Of course, I'm more than willing to share my experiences and any advice/enlightenment of my own along the way.

Question 1:

My mother-in-law has travelled to the UK twice now on a Family Visit Visa. She is just coming to the end of her 6-month trip (returns home to Uzbekistan on October 5th 2007), and I am wondering what restrictions (if any) there may be to her re-applying for another family visit visa on her return.

For example, is she likely to be refused (on the grounds that she has already spent 6 months here and just returned home), or is there no stipulation as to how much time should pass before she is eligible for another visit visa?

(Background: she has just been getting to know her latest grand-child in the last 6 months, and they have just started to "bond" really well, and we were hoping that they might get some more time together. It's been around 2 years since the previous visit of my mother-in-law, and I just want them to have a chance to 'solidify' their relationship.)

Question 2:

I always have problems submitting half-a-forest full of documentation for each family visitor I sponsor. (I have sponsored 3 6-month visits thus far.) Also, we always struggle to book the best flights, as we always play safe and don't confirm any bookings until a Visa has been issued. Sometimes this means we miss out on a few weeks of visit-time, as the visitor is unable to arrange a timely flight once the visa is granted.

I have repeatedly asked the Consular Section for their rules on granting longer-length multiple-entry Family-visit visas. They have never given me a straight answer.

Frankly, I would like to apply for a 2 or 5 year multiple entry visit visa for my mother-in-law in future, so that she can come over to the UK with less hassle to visit her grandchildren. I personally consider the wish to have a solid relationship with grandchildren a strong enough "tie" with the UK to consider a longer length visa.

Does anyone know what critera the ECO's apply to the granting of longer length visas of this nature?

(I know the first visa is usually a 6-month one, but we've already crossed that bridge.) She's now had 2 6-month visas, and I really want to streamline the effort we have to go to in future for her visits.

That said, I don't want to apply for a 5-year multiple entry visa, only to get the "knock-back" and get given a 6-month validity one for the cost of the 5-year.

It seems really unfair that people are not given stringent criteria, and then end up applying, taking "pot luck", and hoping they get what they are paying for.

Any advice/enlightenment in these regards would be much appreciated.

Best regards,

- Tony

What nationality are you, and your wife?

Hi.

I am a British Citizen from birth.

My wife is Uzbek, but from around mid-day tomorrow she will be Naturalised as a British Citizen also.

- Tony.

If she tries to spend more than 6 months here in any 12 month period, they will start refusing her.

The guidance for issuing entry clearances longer than 6 months are in a volume commonly known as DSP2, which is classified and cannot be obtained via Freedom of Information.

I tried to obtain it, got refused and appealed. And my appeal was struck down. I tried again two years later with the same result.

The best insight I can offer is that it works on a country-by-country basis and the rules are different for men vs women.

Thanks very much for that.

I have had 2 refusals on Visa sponsorships thus far, which I have managed to get overturned almost immediately, but ONLY because I have examined all the ECO documents I could get my hands on, and showed them they were violating their own guidance documentation.

(In one case, they even tried to apply a criterion for refusal that had been ruled as violating human rights 2 years prior.)

I have been scouring the internet for any relevant documents, requesting information from the local Embassy, and also attempting to receive some guidance via my M.P., all to no avail.

Everyone seems to want to keep as tight-lipped and "vague" as possible about how such applications will be assessed, which seems absolutely ridiculous. I wouldn't mind SO much, if they only then charged the applicant the requisite fee for the length of Visa they were given, but from what I've read there is no such refund of overpayment.

The F.C.O. and it's officials really do seem to be a law unto themselves, and if they CAN engineer a vague reason to turn you down, they will.

Once upon a time I was proud of my country, that they would uphold people's rights and ensure that everyone knew what their rights were. This has been eroded over the last 4 years, from my dealings with both the F.C.O. AND the Home Office.

I have a relative who was an Entry Clearance Manager in various places around the world, but rightly (as you say), there appears to be some contrast in different countries as to how rules/guidance notes are interpreted and applied - such that if I asked for her advice on this issue, it would likely serve no purpose.

- Tony.