Issue date for Family Visitor Visas

[dlwt]

Hi there,

I am thinking to bring the in-laws to visit me and my wife (I am ILR holder and my wife is on 2-year spouse settlement visa not expired until Sep 2014) as family visitor between early Feb 2014 - early August 2014.

Considering the holiday season over the Christmas and New Year, and the processing time (roughly 15 working days), when should be the best time for them to submit their applications? 20th Dec or early Jan?

If they put in the planned visiting days as Feb - Aug 2014 in the application forms, will the issued visas be dating from Mid Jan (the issue date if submitted on 20th Dec) or the actual "planned" Feb?

I appreciate any input for the subject.

Thanks,

[Lucapooka]

Apply now an ask for the visa to begin in February. It's permitted to request a visa start date of up to 3 months from the date of applying. This will also give you time to apply again if you mess up the first application and are handed a refusal.

[dlwt]

Apply now an ask for the visa to begin in February. It's permitted to request a visa start date of up to 3 months from the date of applying. This will also give you time to apply again if you mess up the first application and are handed a refusal.

Thank you Lucapooka for the reply.

By saying "ask for the visa to begin in February", did you mean simply just putting the date in the application form or/and mentioning in a invitation letter?

[Lucapooka]

The application form asks the direct question: on which date do you wish to travel to the UK? Here you can cite a date up to three months beyond the date you will be submitting the application. But it will not do any harm to reiterating this again in handwriting next to that date field in the printed version of the form that you will be submitting.

[dlwt]

Thank you. You have been really helpful.

[lewdjoke]

Requesting a visa start date of up to 3 months from the date of applying is allowed. Giving you time to apply again just in case your first application is refused.