Visa expiry dates - technicalities with the date

[annasophia]

Hello,
My UK spouse visa expires on the 1st August 2018 but we do not wish to extend it as we are going to Australia to have our baby that is due on December 19th. Having said that, August 1st is soon approaching and I was hoping to leave more towards late August – early Sept. We will return at some point to the UK so I do not want to jeopardise any opportunity to obtain visas in the future. So, I have 2 questions:
a) Is there a grace period from my visa expiry date that would permit me to stay past 1st Aug for a short period?
b) Could I leave the UK before my visa expiry date (visit a European country) and re-enter on a visitor visa if I have proof of my flight home?
Hoping I do not have to be away from my husband for longer than necessary (he has to fulfil his 3 month notice period) but I also do not want to fork out for a visa I will not be using just to extend my stay for a very brief period.
Any advice or links to relevant information would be greatly appreciated as I am uncharacteristically emotional and worried about this.

Thank you in anticipation of your responses.

Kindest regards,

Anna

[CR001]

1. No there isn't. You need to either apply for an extension or leave the UK no later than the date of expiry.

2. You face a challenge to re enter the UK so soon after a spouse settlement visa has expired. You might be denied entry and returned to Europe.

[annasophia]

Thanks so much for getting back to me. Much appreciated.

[annasophia]

My spousal visa is "valid until" the 1 August 2018. That could be open to interpretation and I want to avoid any ambiguity and overstaying by any amount of time. So my question ...
Is it okay for me to leave the UK on the exact day the visa is marked as "valid until"? To be clear I want to leave the UK on the 1st August.

[CR001]

My spousal visa is "valid until" the 1 August 2018. That could be open to interpretation and I want to avoid any ambiguity and overstaying by any amount of time. So my question ...
Is it okay for me to leave the UK on the exact day the visa is marked as "valid until"? To be clear I want to leave the UK on the 1st August.

Topics merged.

You can leave at any point up to and including the 1st August.

[annasophia]

Thank you very much! You are the best!!