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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to worry so much about my mum's visa?

40 replies

MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 21:24

My mum's not British and she has to get a visitor visa whenever she comes to see me.

We've never had a problem so far and it's all been fairly straightforward. Most of her visits have been less than 2 months, never more than twice a year and she's paid for her own trips. She's never overstayed, used public funds or done anything alarming.

It's easy for her to visit me for a couple of months at a time since she is self-employed in her home country and she manages to come see me during non-busy times.

She came over to see me this March and the plan was that she would stay for a couple of weeks (we had a special occasion in the family) and then leave. This is what was stated on her visa application as well. She is currently here on a six-month multiple entry visa.

Unfortunately, things have changed drastically for me these past few weeks and I really want her to stay until it's all sorted out. I've had to move cities, my personal life is a mess and I'm having problems at work too. :( I reckon this will take until the end of June to sort out and I want my mum to stay with me until then. She's happy to do that, but we are only concerned about whether this is acceptable on a visitor visa?

Her visa is valid until August so she won't be overstaying, but this will be the longest she has ever stayed with me at a go (4 months).

Given the fact that it is a long period of time and that she had originally said that she was coming over for 2-3 weeks, I am worried about the repercussions in terms of her future visa applications.

I don't want us to give out the impression that she is using a visitor visa to live in the UK because that honestly isn't the case.

if anyone else has ever been in a similar position with their parents/relatives visiting or if anyone has any experience with this whatsoever, please drop me a line and let me know your thoughts.

I've been told IABU to over-think this, but I'm worried about the next time she applies for a visa.

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 09/04/2014 21:27

It shouldn't be an issue as long as she doesn't overstay. I used to work for UKBA and I would not have seen a problem with this. Your plans have changed and that's fair enough. As long as she has money enough to support herself then there's no problem.

Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 21:33

Yes, she always funds her own trips. Since she stays with me in my house there is no cost for accommodation etc. and I earn enough to feed an extra person!

I know that she is allowed 6 months every year on a visitor visa, but she will use up her 4 months on this trip itself.

Will this cause an issue when she renews her visa in September? She will of course, explain why her last trip was for 4 months instead of three weeks on the application. But would the immigration authorities refuse to re-issue a visa for the remainder of the year because she has already stayed for 4 months?

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 21:44
OP posts:
Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 21:49

Should add here that my mum visits because I don't get much time off to be able to make the trip to where she is

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 21:54

The UKBA website states that people should not "live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits". and this is why I am concerned that we might be misunderstood.

OP posts:
Suefla62 · 09/04/2014 22:02

Haven't you posted about this 3 or 4 times already? Didn't you get the answers you wanted before?

PosyFossilsShoes · 09/04/2014 22:08

You have a message.

Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 22:36

Thanks for your message! I have replied.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 22:53

No, I haven't posted about this 3-4 times already Confused

OP posts:
HauntedNoddyCar · 09/04/2014 22:58

Gosh you have exactly the same situation as someone else.

Search for it, because they got an answer.

gordyslovesheep · 09/04/2014 23:02

I thought exactly the same as suefla62 we've had this exact same thread at least twice recently

are you new OP or did you name change - seems odd

hope some one can answer x

Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 23:06

I'm not sure I like this about mumsnet- is this about playing detective and trying to figure out who's who or about answering someone's question?

Any number of people can have the same problem or can want to post about the same thing twice.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 23:06

Sorry, don't mean to be snippy, but I can't afford an lawyer and I'd appreciate as much advice as possible before we make a choice.

OP posts:
gordyslovesheep · 09/04/2014 23:13

maybe post in legal or look for the other threads

Original poster
MrsJughead · 09/04/2014 23:50

:(

OP posts:
Terrortree · 10/04/2014 00:16

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2026281-AIBU-to-ask-if-anyone-here-knows-anything-about-tourist-visas

Here is a very similar question, but as I understand it you are wanting to know whether or not she could visit for an extended period of time after September, given that she has already stayed for a period of four months (and may have previous visits earlier this year).

I am assuming she has arrived on a Family Visa.

If your mother has repeatedly visited the UK in the past and left according to her stated plans, and this is an anomaly, then it is likely she would have no problem getting a visa renewal. If this is her first visit, it may be treated more suspiciously. If she has a strong visiting record, is financially solvent and has a home/job to return to, then there is nothing to worry about.

Frequent or successive visits refers to going back to one's country of origin, reapplying for a visa renewal, then spending the full six months in the UK, and repeat.

Her leaving in June, well in advance of the visa expiry, would also indicate that she resides elsewhere.

On balance, nothing to worry about.

Original poster
MrsJughead · 10/04/2014 00:30

Thanks for explaining Terrotree, I understand what was written on the website better now.

Actually, my mum is not going to visit for an extended period after September but she will be getting her visa renewed once it expires. This is because she may visit for a few days around Christmas and she likes to have a valid visa anyway for emergencies.

We are worried that the UKBA will think that there is no good reason for her to have a visa renewed when she's just visited for 4 months.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsJughead · 10/04/2014 00:31

And yes, she has always stuck to her plans until now. This is an anomaly and I don't really see it happening very often.

OP posts:
Terrortree · 10/04/2014 00:38

*Actually, my mum is not going to visit for an extended period after September but she will be getting her visa renewed once it expires. This is because she may visit for a few days around Christmas and she likes to have a valid visa anyway for emergencies.

We are worried that the UKBA will think that there is no good reason for her to have a visa renewed when she's just visited for 4 months.*

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me, and as I say, if she had a positive history with UKBA, then the visa renewal would be straightforward.

Pigletin · 10/04/2014 09:46

You have already posted about this and people have replied...what else were you expecting?

Mimishimi · 10/04/2014 10:06

Around half of my neighbourhood have their mothers and MiL's come out from the subcontinent on 6 month rotating shifts for childcare etc. I'm in Australia but think the laws are fairly similar. They have to wait a certain amount of time (believe it's 6 months) before they can come out again.

brokenhearted55a · 10/04/2014 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mummytime · 10/04/2014 10:42

Pigletin - she hasn't posted on this before its just a co-incidence - RTFT

brokenhearted55a · 10/04/2014 11:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NowLivingAbroad · 10/04/2014 11:19

I used to do this with my mum when I lived in the UK - it is OK to do what you want to do as she won't be overstaying her visa and she wouldn't have recourse to public funds.