Leave to enter for 6 months with no recourse to public funds

[Sari]

Hi.

I am an EEA National, and my husband is an Australian citizen. Prior to arriving in the UK he was issued with a Entry Clearance Visa for 6 months. During this 6 month period we applied for his 5 year extended visa with the Home Office.

The 6 month visa expired in February, and we had to tavel to Australia for compassionate reasons in at the start of April.

Upon re-entering the UK, the immigration officer at the Airport issued my husband with the 'Leave to enter for 6 months with no recourse to public funds' Visa as he had no other visa to enter the country. The immigration officer informed us this visa would be null and void if he left the country again during this period, and there would be no guarantee he would be supplied with another one if he re-enters the country again during this time.

Our problem is this. The application with the Home Office could take as long (and probably will) as August to be completed (which is 6 months since submission). We need to travel to Norway for a wedding in July. Our friends are in a similar boat in that they have been given the same 'Leave to enter for 6 months with no recourse to public funds' Visa but have been informed that they COULD travel back into the country (which they have already done).

Does the 'Leave to enter for 6 months with no recourse to public funds' Visa allow for multiple entries to UK during this 6 month period or will this Visa be null and void at next re-entry?

Thanks,
Sari

[Jeff Albright]

I got sort of intrigued by this, did an extensive search yesterday but could not find the exact answer!

From what I have read it appears as if leave to enter for visits endorsed by an IO to non-visa nationals is actually a single entry leave. That means that it will lapse when an individual leaves the UK. Next time he will have to have another leave stamped on arrival.

In my honest opinion, after doing some reading, only entry clearance as a visitor obtained from British High Commission actually allows multiple entries. I would therefore advise to do so, if so needed.

However, as I say, I could not find exact answer to this question. Perhaps the best suggestion would be to contact the Home Office directly and ask this question, or Immigration Service at the airport.

Regards