Process at airport while leaving UK for short duration

[ns7]

Hi,

I am on HSMP visa. This week I am going to India for 2 weeks.

I want to know following:

Is there any specific process which I need to follow at airport while leaving the UK?

What is the way to count of the period of leave outside UK? Do they stamp some date on the passport while leaving?

Last but not least what documents I should be keeping? (PS: My original HSMP approval letter is in India as I sent that for my dependents visa application, will it be needed while leaving UK?)

Thanks & Regards,
ns7

[ns7]

Members having this experience please respond.

Thanks & Regards,
ns7

[goldfish]

When you leave, there are no special processes to follow.

When you come back in, they are likely to ask questions about your work and you trip, eg how long you have been away.

There are no exits stamps. There might be an entry stamp in India (you would know better than me) but that doesn't prove when you left the UK. You need to keep records of your time out of the UK yourself (eg boarding passes).

You only need your passport, with your HSMP visa inside, when travelling. The rest of the documents you should keep just in case you need them for a future application, but you don't need to present them at the airport.

[ns7]

Thank you very much goldfish.

Regards,
ns7

[goldfish]

Also be aware that lots of immigration officials don't know what an HSMP visa is and think it is a work permit. They like to ask *lots* of questions sometimes like where you work, how long for, is it the same job as when you arrived... If they know what an HSMP visa is, they ask questions about your education, skills, etc. I just answer as briefly as possible while still being polite.