Visitor Visa Rules

[sohaib5588]

Hello Gurus,

I will be very grateful if you could please advise me on duration of stay for my parents visiting the UK from Pakistan.
My parents have 10 years multiple entry UK visitor visa.
They visited the UK on 23rd Novemeber 2023 and returned to Pakistan on 29th March 2024 (4 months of stay).
They are now visiting again and arrived in the UK on 14th July 2024. My question is, how much can they stay in the UK on this visit? I am aware they cannot stay for more than 6 months on each visit. However, do I need to be mindful that they must not have spent 180 days in the UK in previous 360 days? Is there actually any such official rule?

Thank you.

[Casa]

Hello Gurus,

I will be very grateful if you could please advise me on duration of stay for my parents visiting the UK from Pakistan.
My parents have 10 years multiple entry UK visitor visa.
They visited the UK on 23rd Novemeber 2023 and returned to Pakistan on 29th March 2024 (4 months of stay).
They are now visiting again and arrived in the UK on 14th July 2024. My question is, how much can they stay in the UK on this visit? I am aware they cannot stay for more than 6 months on each visit. However, do I need to be mindful that they must not have spent 180 days in the UK in previous 360 days? Is there actually any such official rule?

Thank you.

Basically, your parents shouldn't be spending more time in the UK than they are spending in their home country during a 12 month rolling period. i.e not a calendar year

In your parent's case, this would be calculated from 23 Nov 2023 - 23 Nov 2024.

[secret.simon]

do I need to be mindful that they must not have spent 180 days in the UK in previous 360 days? Is there actually any such official rule?

The official rule is not numeric, but more nebulous.

They should "not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK their main home;".

The rule of thumb is that they should spend more time in their country of habitual residence than in the UK. But, they should not give the Immigration Officer at the border an impression that they are effectively living in the UK in the guise of a visit visa.

[Ticktack]

A long time ago, I have a friend that came into the UK in December and left in January. he cam back in April and the questions he was asked at POE is why he's come back so soon. Also that they would discuss all he did when he came before, and what he intends to do now.

The law allows you to obviously come back (that's what a visa does), but it doesn't guarantee you entry.

The officer at the POE can decide to escalate things if he/she isn't satisfied with their reasons for coming back so soon.

10 years visa doesn't mean 10 years of stay in the UK. Use it wisely or they could cancel it.

[sohaib5588]

That is all very helpful. Thank you very much !