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Say that I applied the 6th December 2018, will I be able to post date my Visa validity date to be around 5th March? Because I wish to visit the UK in March and July (the Visa will still be available)

All of this because I have a lot of translated documents that will die by 2019 so I really wish I can submit and get the Visa now for the 5th March then count 6 months so it'll end around the 6th August.

EDIT: I'm using an invitation from an extended family member, some of my documents ( that have been translated are most likely going to lose their validity IN MY COUNTRY by 2019, I'm a student, I have an exam the 19th December, then itll be the end-of-year holidays, but my uncle that's in te UK told me he'll welcome me only in mid semester vacation (from 14th march to 1st april), I need time to prepare for my exams, 6th is the best I can do for application, It'll add 14 days to 3 months. And I want to travel by 15th March (1 day after mid term vacation start) is this tolerable by the consulate or not?

Traveller
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james smith
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1 Answers1

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A UK standard visitor visa, for which you apply no earlier than 3 months before a planned departure, has a validity period stated on it: it may be 6 months, it could be a number of years, it could be less. A visa validity period and how long you can remain in the UK are not necessarily concurrent.

Applying on December 6 would be 3 months from when you want to enter. If you ask for and are given 6 months, that's how long you can be there, entering on or after the beginning of the visa validity. You would have to exit on or before six months. March 5 to August 5, not 6; it's not counted in days but day of the month from entry. Even after a visa is issued, on arrival at UK immigration control, the leave-to-enter period (how long you can be in the country) may be specified by a border official.

A word of advice: if you ask for a shorter trip in your visa application, enter the UK as planned and then stay for 6 months, you may jeopardise future UK visa applications. UKVI doesn't look kindly when you say one thing and then do another.

Giorgio
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