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My fiancé was granted a Standard Visitor visa in November and has just returned back to his home country after spending two weeks in the U.K. as stated on the application.

Can he return again for another holiday in a few months or will this be an issue?

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  • He can come back but the border agent will ask questions anyway and will need to be convinced he isn't trying to be a resident. And if he does this very frequently then there might be trouble at the landing interview.
    – DumbCoder
    Commented Jan 3, 2017 at 8:56
  • Thanks all he has a legitimate reason to return to visit myself and my family again I also have used all my annual leave to visit him
    – Jenna
    Commented Jan 3, 2017 at 9:08
  • @Jenna if you're happy with the answers, you should accept your favourite by clicking the "tick" outline next to it. That drives the local reputation system, and is local etiquette. Thanks!
    – MadHatter
    Commented Jan 3, 2017 at 16:13

2 Answers 2

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There is always a risk anyone turning up at a border may be refused entry. A second visit slightly more than a first visit (since might be a sign of a visa run) and slightly less than a first visit (since now applicant has a track record of having not overstayed, etc).

But a multiple entry visa exists to permit more than one entry so it is almost expected that someone with such will return within the validity period. There is no particular reason to expect any issues but, as usual, no one can guarantee there won't be. With ½ month visit plus ~3 months away there is nothing specific to raise concerns.

"I didn't have time to see all I wanted to when here last" is quite a plausible rationale and will probably be found acceptable if believed.

There has been mention on TSE of a "rule of thumb" for CBP, something like "spend more time out of the country than in or Immigration will be sure to be very interested in one's motives". This is similar to some official regulations such as the 90/180 visa rule. Given the all-round bother of travel (eg costs and time), rather than say ½ month visit plus ~3 months away plus another ½ month visit a single visit for 1 month instead may make more economic sense, hence there is some implication within ½ month visit plus ~3 months away plus another ½ month visit of strong ties to 'overseas' - in other words something is 'pulling' the visitor back home (it's usually a job!) and that can reassure the IO that the visitor is not seeking to set up permanent residence in the UK (illegally).

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The UK Standard Visitor Visa is a multiple-entry entry clearance that runs for 6 months. During that time the holder can come and go much the same as a non-visa national (e.g., Americans, Canadians, and so on).

The big issue arises when someone's visit pattern implies that there has been a change of circumstances since the visa was issued. For example, if someone claims to be employed full-time (studying full-time, etc) at the application stage and then proceeds to visit for 3 or 4 months at a time or builds up 5 or 6 visits in a short period of time, it raises a flag. The flag says that the person's visit pattern is out-of-whack with their stated lifestyle.

Immigration Officers are trained to spot those flags and follow up on them. A change of circumstances will get them annoyed because the rules say that the person will declare them. So if there's been a change of circumstances your fiance should always take care to declare it up front. IO's will also get critically annoyed if they think the person misrepresented their lifestyle at the application stage. This would also be indicated by a person spending lots of time in the UK because people who are employed do not usually do that.

Can he return again for another holiday in a few months or will this be an issue?

The best rule of thumb is to look carefully at what was portrayed at the application stage. If nothing has changed and the visit sync's up with the person's lifestyle and circumstances then of course, enjoy another visit (or several visits). Your fiance would say something like...

The purpose of my visit is to maintain a relationship and there are no changes in my personal circumstances between now and when my visa was issued.

It needs to be an honest statement. As always, interaction with a British Immigration Officer is largely governed by personal impact and articulation skills. Everything (literally everything) is in the discretionary zone.

Also I like to advise people arriving on Standard Visitor Visas to have all of the original evidence they used to hand. They should also have accommodation plans to hand. Sometimes it's helpful, sometimes it doesn't matter.

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  • Thanks a lot and circumstances haven't changed. His father is his boss and knows the importance of our relationship so is always happy to allow the time off
    – Jenna
    Commented Jan 3, 2017 at 9:23
  • @Jenna It might help to have a letter from his boss confirming that he is still employed, and the circumstances under which he is given time off work (using standard vacation time, unpaid leave, etc).
    – Guan Yang
    Commented Jan 3, 2017 at 15:55

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