Advisable period of stay for uk visit visa for parents first visit - 6 month visa

[jasmine2022]

Hi Everyone/ @admins,
Need advice on what should be the duration of stay for UK visit visa for parents - 6 month visa
I searched through the threads on various boards and read a lot that it is not advisable to show duration of stay as full 6 months on the visitor visa application for the very first visit of the applicant.
We want to invite our parent in laws - short visa 6 months validity and this will be their first visit to the UK. Can someone please advice what should be the advisable length of stay people are requesting for while making successful application ? Is putting 4months stay for the first visit okay or it can be treated as too long for one stay. Ideally we want them to stay for 3.5 - 4 months.

Thanks.

[ywlgy]

I don't think 4 months is a problem as long as you put reasonable estimate of expenditures for your parent during the visit on the application form and the financial evidence submitted can cover it.

[jasmine2022]

Hi ,
I also want to apply for parents in law visitor visa for 6 months. This will be their first visit to the UK. Could you please advice if applying for 4 months of stay is advisable? Or is it too long for first visit.? Can this create an issue in subsequent application in the future?

Thanks.

[AmazonianX]

Hi ,
I also want to apply for parents in law visitor visa for 6 months. This will be their first visit to the UK. Could you please advice if applying for 4 months of stay is advisable? Or is it too long for first visit.? Can this create an issue in subsequent application in the future?

Thanks.

There is no limitations on the duration of stay till the expiration date of visa granted I.e. 6 months.
Ensure proof of strong ties to home country to convince they will return after visit, financial documents must also convince enough to sustain their visit without recourse to public funds.

[jasmine2022]

@AmazonianX, thankyou for your quick response. Any idea what normally people apply for while making the application?

Thanks.

[jasmine2022]

Thankyou ywlgy for your quick response.
Wanted to know in general what is the duration normally people apply for while making the application?

Thanks.

[ALKB]

Thankyou ywlgy for your quick response.
Wanted to know in general what is the duration normally people apply for while making the application?

Thanks.

Visits tend to be measured in weeks rather than months - if one can stay away from whatever responsibilities and ties to the home country for 6 months, it seems reasonable to assume that one can also stay away for longer than that, if not indefinitely.

Whatever length of stay you decide to put on the application, the one thing your parents should not do is to stay longer than mentioned. Like, apply for a two week stay, receive the usual six month valid visa and then stay considerably longer than the two weeks on record with Home Office.

[ywlgy]

Visits tend to be measured in weeks rather than months - if one can stay away from whatever responsibilities and ties to the home country for 6 months, it seems reasonable to assume that one can also stay away for longer than that, if not indefinitely.

I do not agree with this. A 6 months visit is still a visit and allowed by the Rules. Retired people can have that much free time whilst maintaining ties to home country through assets and family members.

[vinny]

Yes. But there may be two problems.

Best not to significantly understate length of stay in a visit application.

However, if staying for long period(s), then they may have doubts about being a genuine visitor.