Hi everyone I have a question r/e my wife and stepson's spouse/settlement visa application. Between my myself and my wife, we have gathered all the evidence necessary for their visas, and have met all the requirements. The only reason we haven't applied yet is that we are currently waiting for my biological British children's passports to arrive. It's been ten months waiting already, and i would like to move things along so as not to have any more time apart from my family. I would like to know the possible consequences of delaying entry on an approved visa. For example, if the visa was granted, then the passports take another 4 months, then their visa would only have 29 months left, rather than the 33 months the initial entry level visa grants. So that would be under 2.5 years, which means that after the further leave to remain, another 2.5 years, that the total would not be 5 years, it would be just under, so would that make them ineligible for the indefinite leave to remain? I just would like some clarity regarding this initial visa process, if the entry was to be delayed. What would the knock-on effect be, if any. I hope i have explained myself properly. Obviously i do not want to do anything to jeopardize their future applications, but i was just hoping we could move things along while we waited for the passports. Any information you can give me on this would be very gratefully received
I can't honestly answer you question in full with respect to the consequences of a delay entry. However, my understanding is that applicants must lawfully complete 5 years in the UK (I think there is a maximum of 3 months travel in/out of the UK over that 5 year period). Delayed entry is acceptable as long as it is no more than 3 months from the date on the visa. My suspicions are that if you delay more than 3 months from the visa date, you haven't completed the 5 years hence will have to apply for another FLR. It would be proper if you could contact the UKVI for written confirmation. I'm sure UKVI would be familiar with such a query and probably provide a "stock" answer upon such a query.
