Warning Stamp - Anyone know?

Does anyone know what this code means?

"EXP 34670"
leave to enter for/until 6mos / No work or recourse to public funds.

I'm a US citizen attending a Masters program in Sept and am applying for a student visa. In 2003, I did the 6 month Bunac work program. Left the UK in late Feb 2004 (before 6 mos were up) for a vacation outside the UK. Came back early March 2004 with no problems. Stayed in and around the UK for exactly 5 months and came home Aug 2004.

Came back to the UK in Nov 2004 for a visit and the immigration officer said I overstayed, but I didn't and "almost denied" me. He put the above handwritten mark in my passport, but let me through. Came back to the UK and April 2005 and immigration said I was almost denied entry last time, so it took a little longer to process me. BUT I have been back at least 8 times to visit since 2005 with no issues.

I'm trying to ascertain the meaning of the code. Thinking about hiring a immigration lawyer to explain the issue or non-issue just to be safe.

I think that if you've been back to the UK 8 times since the incident, then there is no problem! I wouldn't hire a lawyer to tell you that

I know there are other posters who have more knowledge about actual entry procedures who may be able to tell you what the stamp means.

From the dates you give, it looks like you might have aroused suspicion by returning to the UK so soon in November 2004: as a visitor (i.e. entering the UK under the visa waiver programme) you would be expected only to stay for a total of 6 months in any 12.

However, they let you in: you have not been refused leave to enter at any time, it seems. So there shouldn't be any problems with your student visa application on that score.

Thanks Kitty.

Since the officer hinted that I overstayed, maybe that is what the code is in reference to. I would like to be sure because I can really only apply for a student visa once and if I get denied over a reason I could have addressed beforehand, it would be unfortunate.

Thought I'd try here first to see if anyone knew of the warning code.

You could make an FOI request and let us all know what you found out

Pure speculation, but it would sound like either a code meaning that you had an issue before or a code referring to a remark on their system??? Pure speculation though...I have no idea what it means...

I might have seen this before in my old passport when I applied for my first visa, but I'll have to check. It was written on a completely separate page from where they stuck the visa and mine was written when I applied for the visa, not when I entered the UK.