Confusion with standard visa duration

[isarwar]

Hi,

My mother got standard 6 months UK visa last month. She entered the UK on 25th December 2017 but she informed me that Immigration Officer has told her that he has reduced her visa to 3 months from the date of entry.

He has not provided any document or written on her visa sticker regarding change of visa duration. It has just normal entry stamp. I am confused what her visa's actual expiry date is.

I contacted UKVI 020 3481 1736 (very expensive call) but the lady told me she has no info and all she can say is if my mother's visa is multiple entries for 6 months then she can enter and leave any time in those 6 months. And she said she has never seen a case of standard visa duration getting reduced.

What should I do? Who should I contact to get correct information? Kindly help. Thank you

[vinny]

Any curtailment or changes or conditions must be notified in writing > Anwar v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 2134 (15 December 2017).

[isarwar]

Thank you for the reply. I agree my mother should have been given a written document for curtailment of her visa. Since she is not very comfortable with English so I am not even sure what discussion they had.

It looks there is no way to find out if her visa was curtailed or not.

[secret.simon]

Has she been making frequent and successive visits to the UK?

[isarwar]

This is her second visit. The last one was in September 2015.

[Casa]

How long did your mother request to stay in her visitor visa application

[isarwar]

In the application, I wrote a month. But according to her, immigration officer was asking her why she needs to stay for so long. (Maybe) He was not happy with her answers, and then told her that her visa will expire 3 months from the date of entry, which is 25th December.

I am concerned if my mother plans to come in April again, how would we know if she has a visa or not. Immigration officer gave no written document.

[isarwar]

Should I wait for a letter in the post or email for confirmation? Is there any other way?

[vinny]

If the Immigration Officer had reduced her visa to three months, then he should have given her written notice accordingly.

[secret.simon]

If she was not given a written notice (ideally on the spot) and there is no notation on the visa stamp in her passport, I am inclined to ignore the advice and treat it as a normal six month visa.

However, I would also suggest treating it as a warning that her travel history has flagged her up to the Border Force. It may be worth asking her to make an SAR to the Border Force (which is not a part of the UKV&I, but a separate part of the Home Office) while she is in the UK to see if there are any adverse comments on her travel history to the UK.

It is worth remembering that visit visas can be curtailed by Immigration Officers at the airport if they believe that the visitor is not complying with the requirements for visit visas (one of which prohibits "frequent or successive visits"). They must of course give such notice in writing, as Vinny has already mentioned.

PS: She did not give the impression that she was coming to the UK to look after her grandchildren or something along those lines, did she? That may be classified as unpaid work, which is also not allowed by the Visitor Rules.

[isarwar]

Thank you for the replies.

No, she didnt say much. According to her he was a bit rude and constantly talked to her angrily. But as I said I am not fully aware of their conversation.

[Casa]

It would also be wise to bear in mind that if your mother stated she would stay for one month, this is the length of visit that she will be expected to adhere to. Extending the stay can result in a refusal for future visits.

[vinny]

Casa is right to be concerned.

Be careful if stayed longer than previously requested.