Thanks to all the great contributors at the site. It has been an informative read.

I am currently in the process of applying for a UK settlement visa on the basis of my current relationship with my unmarried partner. I am based in Australia. I think we meet the criteria.

However, I noted with interest the stated intention of the HC in Canberra that they will only issue Visas for persons intending to enter within the next three months. However, the current processing times are listed at three months (this is the stated goal and I am not sure if this is reality). Obviously we are concerned that if we leave it to exactly three months before we want to depart then we might not get the visa in time and this could create enormous problems.

Is the three month criterion simply there to stop people applying way too early? Or is the case that when the HC issues the visa do they put an "effective from date" which in order to activate the visa you must enter within a certain period (for example if the visa is active from 1 October 2007 must I enter before the end of 31 December 2007?)

Also once the visa has been issued is there any restriction on me leaving the UK with my partner for a holiday? I can come back in cant I? This may sound like a silly question but I read other posts saying that they were refused re-entry and I could not find the reason why.

Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.

 

Thanks Kaitain. Any news on the 3 month rule?