Post
by Mr Rusty » Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:39 am
Having entered the Republic of Ireland legally and not requiring a visa to enter the UK, you automatically have permission to stay in the UK as a visitor for 3 months from the date of your arrival in the UK. As you did not see an Immigration Officer on arrival in the UK, it is important that you keep copies of tickets and anything else that confirms your dates of travel in and out of the UK and the Republic.
I don't know for sure, and I don't know which bit of Irish legislation confirms the so-called "Common Travel Area" arrangements, but I would expect that they will class your return to the Republic as a fresh visit, although, again, you may well not see an IO on arrival there. It looks as though they kept a record of your first entry, so you could expect them to get a little bit difficult if your intentions when you return are anything other than a very early departure from Dublin.