Multiple UK visiting Visas

[Kuladeep]

Hello,
I got a UK visiting visa to visit my family in the UK and the visa is valid from 26th Sep 2023 to 26th March 2024. After this my situation in my home country, India has changed resulted in rescheduling my travel to the UK. I have applied another visiting visa application and received a new visa which is valid from 3rd February 2024 to 3rd August 2024. But no information regarding the status of the initial visa (26th Sep 2023 - 26th March 2024) is received from the UKVI and no remarks like cancelled or not valid are not present on the initial visa vignette.
Now I would like to visit UK on multiple trips to spend time with my family during Christmas and Easter holidays. In this regard could you help me to understand the possibility of travelling using the initial visa (26th Sep 2023 - 26th March 2024) for the Christmas break.
Your suggestions and advice are highly appreciated.

Thank you so much.

Kind regards
Kuladeep

[Ticktack]

Hello,
I got a UK visiting visa to visit my family in the UK and the visa is valid from 26th Sep 2023 to 26th March 2024. After this my situation in my home country, India has changed resulted in rescheduling my travel to the UK. I have applied another visiting visa application and received a new visa which is valid from 3rd February 2024 to 3rd August 2024. But no information regarding the status of the initial visa (26th Sep 2023 - 26th March 2024) is received from the UKVI and no remarks like cancelled or not valid are not present on the initial visa vignette.
Now I would like to visit UK on multiple trips to spend time with my family during Christmas and Easter holidays. In this regard could you help me to understand the possibility of travelling using the initial visa (26th Sep 2023 - 26th March 2024) for the Christmas break.
Your suggestions and advice are highly appreciated.

Thank you so much.

Kind regards
Kuladeep

Both Visas are valid, The seco0nd has now been appended as an extension of the previous. So you can enter as much as you like from now till August 2024.

[Frontier Mole]

But don’t stay in the U.K. for a period totalling more than six months in the continuous period.
Also be aware that the latter visa can be cancelled at the point of entry if you arrive before the entry period for that second visa. Some Border Force staff will consider the second visa as void as you are entering with the earlier dated visa.

[Ticktack]

But don’t stay in the U.K. for a period totalling more than six months in the continuous period.
Also be aware that the latter visa can be cancelled at the point of entry if you arrive before the entry period for that second visa. Some Border Force staff will consider the second visa as void as you are entering with the earlier dated visa. That's surely not correct. I've seen it happen before, and both are valid. Also, the UK isn't in the business of cancelling previous visas like the Americans. You have to have switched from a visit visa to a residency visa for that to happen. Both visas are valid for entry!

[Frontier Mole]

I beg to differ - but my experience of the operational side of Border Force is probably somewhat different to yours.

[Ticktack]

Of course we're bound to see things differently. I'm talking about 1st hand experience with some of my friends.

Logically, one has been given a visa to enter the UK from January - July. If he has come yet or not, it doesn't matter.

He applies for a new one, because he has an existing one (not cancelled, nor expired). To the HO, it make no sense for it to run concurrently, so it's made consecutively.

Visa runs from July - December.

In what circumstance would the first one be invalid when he travels to the UK in June?

The Americans would "cancel without prejudice" (even expired visas) and start a new visa from the issue date. That's clear with no misunderstanding. They don't like fiddling with your passport at the POE. They need clarity.

[Frontier Mole]

The first visa was granted on a given set of circumstances - the OP then varies their dates and a second visa is then issued.
If the OP then decides to travel using the first visa based on the overlapping dates on each visa the BFO is able to decide whether the second visa is in play given the circumstances. Remember there is no absolute right of entry regardless of the visa held.
If it is felt that a change of circumstances has occurred, which plainly is evident here then they can cancel either or both if they so decide.
I would like to think it is unlikely but it does happen.
It is entirely possible to hold two consecutive visit visas for two separate trips. The issue here is the overlapping dates.

[Frontier Mole]

If the OP is served an IS81 and is asked to take a seat before more formal questioning they are better prepared knowing it is a possibility.
The “all is wonderful and don’t worry about It” version of immigration has a tendency to set expectations too high.
Better prepared and knowing the downsides is I accept a more negative approach but it at least sets a level of pragmatic expectation.

[Ticktack]

If the OP is served an IS81 and is asked to take a seat before more formal questioning they are better prepared knowing it is a possibility.
The “all is wonderful and don’t worry about It” version of immigration has a tendency to set expectations too high.
Better prepared and knowing the downsides is I accept a more negative approach but it at least sets a level of pragmatic expectation.

That same scenario could easily happen to someone holding a 10 years visit visa.

Visa issued under a set of circumstances in 2018 that the individual is travelling for 3 weeks that year. Are you saying that the person would be held accountable for the same conditions all the way till expiration in 2028??

We can deal with hypothetical conditions all day. But it helps no one. Lets deal with the basics on ground.

It's not all doom and gloom. If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. No need scaring the OP.

The HO issued the visa and know the rules. You and I see it as we see it.

[Kuladeep]

Dear All,
Thank you so much for your response and suggestions. Recently I have flew to the UK. At the border control, immigration officer has checked both the visas and asked general questions like how long I am going to stay in the UK before allowing me to pass the border control.