Quote Originally Posted by darren-b View Post
I wish I had as much faith in the immigration system as you have. Heard a story this week of a couple (British guy with a South African wife) who had been living in the UK together for about two years. Unfortunately they sent her application for ILR a few weeks or so after her current visa had expired. Not only was her application rejected as she was an 'overstayer', they witheld her passport and booked her a one way ticket back to South Africa.
thats common sense, you always apply for a new visa before your old one runs out, ignorance of the rules is not a defense, as is trying to cheat the system.

always go by the rules and always apply for a visa before your old one runs out, and you shouldn't have a problem.

no doubt all she had to do while back in SA was to apply for a new spouse visa, and come back again, sure its cost them money, time, heartache and form filling. but you can't beat the gov, they make the rules and you have to play by them