ILE Issued Befor 2 April 2007

[2006British]

My wife was issued ILE a month before the "rule change." The issue date is the date it was issued by the Consulate in the United States and the expiration date is when her passport expires in nine years.

Because the sale of our home was delayed, we will be going to the UK next month. Our marriage is still in existence, finances are stellar......

Does anyone envision that she would have any problems entering the UK on the ILE Entry Clearance, because of the new requirement to take Life in the UK?

I think there would be no problem as the Entry Clearance was applied for and issued before the rule change. Declaring it no longer valid for entry into the UK because of Life in the UK, would be like declaring it no longer valid because we paid the prior much lower application fee.

Any thoughts?

[Smit]

You have got nothing to worry about. Just enter the UK before the expiry date stamped on the ILE. She can apply for naturalisation after 3 years from the date she enters the UK on her ILE and she will need the Life in the UK test pass then (and whatever other rules they come up with in 3 years time).