question about entry clearance

Hi,
I would appreciate it if someone could clarify this issue. Here is my query: It will be 6 months on 26th Feb, since my husband got the approval letter from the home office and we(my husband and I) got entry clearance 2 days ago. Now my question is, Does my husband HAVE to travel to the UK before 26th Feb, or can he wait and go when required? I ask, because it says (at the UK GOV SITE) that you have 6 months to get entry clearance from the date of issue of HSMP approval letter. Does this only mean that you have six months to apply for the visa or does it mean that you have 6 months to apply for visa AND enter UK before the 6 month deadline?
Thanks much.

n_mals wrote:Hi,
I would appreciate it if someone could clarify this issue. Here is my query: It will be 6 months on 26th Feb, since my husband got the approval letter from the home office and we(my husband and I) got entry clearance 2 days ago. Now my question is, Does my husband HAVE to travel to the UK before 26th Feb, or can he wait and go when required? I ask, because it says (at the UK GOV SITE) that you have 6 months to get entry clearance from the date of issue of HSMP approval letter. Does this only mean that you have six months to apply for the visa or does it mean that you have 6 months to apply for visa AND enter UK before the 6 month deadline?
Thanks much.

Hello. Barring any changes in the immigration laws that I'm not aware of, the six month deadline was only applicable towards EC. Not to travel to UK, but only to apply for EC...

Looks like laws are still the same, as you mention "(at the UK GOV SITE) that you have 6 months to get entry clearance from the date of issue of HSMP approval letter." no need to plan a last minute trip for this purpose

jagacharaja wrote:Hello. Barring any changes in the immigration laws that I'm not aware of, the six month deadline was only applicable towards EC. Not to travel to UK, but only to apply for EC...

Looks like laws are still the same, as you mention "(at the UK GOV SITE) that you have 6 months to get entry clearance from the date of issue of HSMP approval letter." no need to plan a last minute trip for this purpose

My initial understanding was the same- that you need to only APPLY for EC before said 6 months. Then the immigration officer from the consulate called to ask my husband about his travel plans and why our potential date of travel to UK was 1st march and not 26th Feb as the deadline is 26th Feb. Then she said as it is only a matter of 4 days it should'nt make a difference and then half hour later, she issued the Visa. Hence the confusion. Anyway, thanks for your reply. Cheers.

The INITIAL approval letter has the validty of 6 months from the date of issue. You already got the EC, which means you are safe. Now its up to him that when your husband or you want to travel. The initialy visa is issued for 2 years. Its better to come early and search jobs to make it easier for you to get extention after two years.

T_mahmood wrote:The INITIAL approval letter has the validty of 6 months from the date of issue. You already got the EC, which means you are safe. Now its up to him that when your husband or you want to travel. The initialy visa is issued for 2 years. Its better to come early and search jobs to make it easier for you to get extention after two years.

Thanks for the response. This does make life easier as there is no pressure to travel within that date, although i agree with you in that it would make things easier for the extension down the road, if we were to enter UK as soon as possible.
Cheers