vaf2 ILR question

[kasnc]

Hello
New here and sorry if this ? has ben asked before
We will be applying to the New York Consulate for a ILR/visa for my American wife.
If and when the visa is granted how long (time wise) has she got to get to the UK? ie - weeks or months before it becomes invalid or problems at UK immigration arise.
Just asking in case I have to return first or we are held up here in the USA

Regards
Kasnc

[John]

How long have the two of you been married, or at least living together? At least 4 years? If so then ILE ... indefinite leave to enter ..... could be issued. In which case the entry to the UK needs to be no later than the date printed on that ILE visa.

If less than 4 years together your wife will be issued with a 2-year spouse visa, and should enter the UK within the first 28 days of the validity of that visa.

[kasnc]

Hi

Yes we will have been married for over 4 years
Sorry but do you mean she has to move to the UK on the day it is issued
ie. the date on the ILE visa should be the date it is issued
Sorry am confused

Regards
Kas

[John]

Ah right, technically she will apply for a spouse visa, but because the two of you have been married for at least 4 years, instead of the usual 2-year visa being granted she should be issued with ILE.

It will do no harm at all pointing this out to the relevant British Mission ... that the marriage has lasted at least 4 years .... and ILE should be issued if the application is granted.

The ILE visa will have an "expiry date" on it. That date could be years away, and is often the expiry date of the person's passport. As long as the person enters before that "expiry date" ... well after that the date can effectively be ignored ... the ILE will not expire on the stated date.

Or turning this round, if for some reason the person does not enter the UK before the stated date, well yes, the ILE visa effectively lapses.

[kasnc]

Hi

Thank you so much for clearing up the ILE (4 year marriage ?)
What you say about the date stamped may be awhile away
It would not then matter if we applied before I left the USA or when I was back in the UK, if time is not a problem

Regards
Kasnc

[Smit]

I believe an ILE entry clearance is issued for 2 years i.e. the person has to travel to the UK within 2 years of the ILE visa being issued to "activate" it.

The validity of the visa will thus state that it is issued from say 25/10/2006 to 25/10/2008 and the remarks will state "indefinite leave to enter" meaning the person has to travel to the UK on or before 25/10/2008 to activate the ILE.