Travelling with my spouse visa...

Hi! I was granted my spouse visa on the 4th of October of 2005. My husband and I are planning to travel to Munich on the 28 of September of this year for three days but I am wondering whether I will have any trouble getting back in Britain as my Spouse Visa runs out on the 4th of October of this year. I will only have three days left on my Visa.

What do you think? I know this sounds rather naive but I've been told that sometimes they won't let you travel if you have less than a month left in your Visa or Passport so I thought I'd ask.

Thanks.

Where were you granted your spouse visa? In the UK? Or abroad, and if abroad, when did you first enter the UK using that 2-year spouse visa.

Just trying to work out when you can apply for your ILR, because it certainly will be best to get that ILR visa in your passport before travelling. But a personal application at a PEO ... cost £950 ... would be needed, rather than a postal application costing £750.

Hi! and thanks for replying! It was granted on the 4/10/05 and I entered the UK on the 1/11/05. I was wondering about this, as I got into the UK 28 days after my Visa was granted. Since it was granted I've been in the UK but my husband and I wanted to have a little holiday abroad. But thinking about it we might have to stay here. What do you think?

I've read some of the messages and I've worked out that I would have to apply on th 4/10/07. In my head if I apply on the 4th then there will be ony 27 days remaining for me to complete 2 years in the uk. Does that seem right to you?

Thanks again. You are really helpfull.

Hi!! Sorry, I thought it might be handy to add that my Visa was granted in Mexico city.

It was granted on the 4/10/05 and I entered the UK on the 1/11/05.

OK, on those facts the earliest you can apply for ILR is 28 days before the 2nd anniversary of your date of arrival = 04.10.07 .... and the latest day you can apply is the date of expiry of your visa = 04.10.07!

Accordingly you do not have a lot of choice about when to apply, and certainly you cannot apply before your trip to Germany. Don't worry, if it is queried by the British Immigration Officer at the Port of Entry, say you are fully aware of the expiry date of the spouse visa and will be applying for the ILR not later than the expiry date.

How are you intending to apply for the ILR? If in person at a PEO then that must obviously be on Thursday 04.10.07. If by post, post by Special Delivery on say 03.10.07.

Finally you say your spouse visa was issued in Mexico City. I therefore presume you are Mexican, which therefore means that you do not need a Schengen visa to go to Germany. Which is just as well, because if your nationality had meant that you needed a Schengen visa, well you would not get one as less than 3 months left on your UK visa.

Hi!! And sorry for bothering you again!! I just wanted to clarify something. Is the date stamped on the proof of posting what counts as the day you apply or is it the day the receive your application that counts?

Now, I feel that going to the PEO might be the best thing because that way I find out on the same day whether they grant it or not and because I have so many papers that I might need a forklift to carry them all!!

I know that you need about ten documents but you never know!!! I have twelve for each year six of which we joint names (and two massive folders full of ever shred of paper that has our names and address) but I am still quite nervous!

I didn't need many things when I got my Visa. I was actually quite surprised as I had a huge folder full of things and they only asked for about four documents and that was it! I am wondering whether they will be harsher here!

By the way do you choose the date you go or do they choose it for you? I live in Chester to my understanding I would have to apply in Liverpool am I right?

Sorry for asking so many things!!

Thank you!

By the way do you choose the date you go or do they choose it for you? I live in Chester to my understanding I would have to apply in Liverpool am I right?

You need to make an appointment in order to attend at a PEO ... and in your circumstances you obviously want an appointment on Thursday 4th October.

Which PEO? You do not have to go to the Liverpool one. You can choose which one to go to. Just choose the one that is most convenient to you, and as you live in Chester I would guess that would be the Liverpool PEO.

Start to try to make an appointment about a month before your desired date, and certainly before you travel to Germany. If the Immigration Officer at the UK Port of Entry does mention your visa end date you will be able to say that you have an appointment to go to the PEO on the 4th.

Date of posting application? Technically it is the date of posting that counts as the date of application, but by the time the papers got to a case worker for consideration this would not be a problem if you posted the application on say 03.10.07 rather than on the 4th.