Marriage visa and bereavement outside UK

[wickedy]

Hi,

My partner's father (a British citizen by ancestry, born in South Africa) has recently passed away, with whom her mother (South African national) had a marriage visa.

They had already spent time in the UK (using the visa), but were actually back in South Africa when he passed away.

Brief timeline:
- Sep 2009: obtained marriage visa and moved to the UK to live
- Jan 2010: moved back to South Africa (to look after unwell grandparent)
- March 1 2011: intended date to return to the UK, to get ILM etc as per the original plan, permanently setttling in the UK.

Her mother still wishes to come to the UK to live with her daughter as before. They had literally just completed selling all their posessions were living in a B&B until the 1st March when he passed away.

Given the disruption in 2010, she never applied for indefinite leave to remain and so now just has a marriage visa valid until September this year.

Can anybody advise on what the options are now - I have a feeling it is not possible to enter the UK on this basis any more and obtain ILM?

Any assitance is most appreciated. The UK immigration line advised contacting the high commission in Pretoria, but given the unusual nature of this case I am very keen to gather info from other sources.

thanks

David

[pennylessinindia]

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ecg/settle ... s#18405467

is a useful link but not clear what you would apply for in order for them to follow this route, May be an email to the high commission how you can proceed and possible cite this

this is just a thought - it is one thing the worries many overseas what if?