Visitor Visa - Staying Longer Than Declared

[IanB]

Someone comes here for a one week package tour holiday, but has a six month visitor visa. They decide to stay in the UK for a few more months to see friends etc.. I am worried that they may be in trouble because they stayed longer than stated on their application form?

Would this prejudice future visitor visas?

Would this prejudice future settlement visas?

Thanks chums!

[DaveUK]

It possibly might affect future visitor visas, but I doubt settlement visa as somthing similar happened to a friend of a friends Turkish partner.

He visited the UK on a tourist visa originally stating he was going to stay a month. He got a visitor visa valid for 6 months. Once the guy arrived in the UK he decided to stay a further month before returning.

When he applied for another tourist visa later, although it was acknowledged that he hadn't been an overstayer, it was noted that the guy had still stayed longer in the UK than he said he would, so he was refused a visa on that basis.

Following on from that, the guy married his British fiancee in Turkey, applied for a settlement visa and was successful!

[Terpe]

Someone comes here for a one week package tour holiday, but has a six month visitor visa. They decide to stay in the UK for a few more months to see friends etc.. I am worried that they may be in trouble because they stayed longer than stated on their application form?

Would this prejudice future visitor visas?

Would this prejudice future settlement visas?

Thanks chums!

Firstly, UKBA recommend that you limit your stay to the period stated on your visa application or to a maximum of 180 days within a 12 month period.

My experiences relate to Family Visitors who have often stayed longer than stated on their application form and have had no subsequent problems with entry visa's.

Doing what you suggest does not contravene Immigration Law. Nor does it breach the conditions attached to your entry to the UK

However, there is a small potential risk that future visit applications may cause an immigration or visa officer to question your intentions.

All settlement visa applications are made on their own merits, so the actions you describe would not prejudice future settlement.

[IanB]

Thanks. although another vv would be nice!