Immigrationboards.com

Hello,

I have a similar timeline to the this user, but my document dates are in a different order.
Can I please clarify what is meant by 'visa qualifying period' or 'date of the first visa issue'?

Visa route: Skilled Worker Set(O) 5 year
- I initially applied from outside of the UK, and it was not during COVID concession period.
Visa approval (outcome) date: 20 Oct 2021
- I did not receive an email, but confirmed in my immigration history document from a SARU request to home office.
BRP issue date: 16 Nov 2021
Passport vignette "valid from" date: 30 Nov 2021
Entered UK: Dec 11 2021

Can you please confirm if the first visa issue date is:
1. the outcome date of my first application
2. the BRP date
3. vignette date

Speaking with a solicitor they said to use the vignette date, and a letter that came with my BRP card says: "Your application for a UK visa has been successful. ... you will have permission to be in the UK (known as Leave to Enter) as Skilled Worker Migrant from 30 Nov 2021 to 14 Nov 2024."

This certainly makes it sound like the vignette date should be used, even if my original visa approval and BRP card have earlier dates.

This user had a similar timeline and he was advised to use the BRP date, however the user from this thread used the vignette date.

Thank you!

COVID concession never applied when you applied for a Visa outside the UK, so it is not relevant.

You should use the earliest date on an immigration visa document issued to you, which in your case was the BRP.

The vignette was simply issued so that you can enter the UK as the BRPs were only printed inside the UK. So while they issued you a visa, there was no way for you to enter the UK and collect your BRP. The embassy had to put an entry sticker in your passport so that you can board the plane to the UK. Note that a visa vignette cannot be backdated and its issue date is always the day it was printed. This does not mean your initial visa issue date was actually moving, your visa was in fact first issued as per date on your first BRP.

> You should use the earliest date on an immigration visa document issued to you

That is very clear, thank you for the detailed response.