Post
by tt » Sat Apr 17, 2004 1:30 pm
Before the new regulations in August 2003 (and possibly before the 13 November 2003 "leave to enter" changes), I could enter Britain with indefinite leave on the basis of a "given leave to enter for an indefinite period" stamp in my passport, put there originally by an immigration officer into each new passport of mine on my first entry using the new passports. (Only the original passport having the necessary original ILR sticker).
Since August (or 13 November) 2003, the immigration officers say they can no longer put that stamp in passports on entry. One must apply to Home Office by mail or person and have a sticker put in (via application form NTL) which will cost GBP155 (mail), GBP250 (in person).
However, why would I need to put in a new sticker in my new passport, if the evidence is there (of my ILR status) in the old passport, and I carry that old passport with me.
Also, even if I don't carry the old passport with me, the entry date stamps already in the new passport do not have any restrictions to them (since I have up to now shown the old passport on each occasion showing my ILR status) and this, coupled with the fact that I am on the computer system as ILR, should surely make it obvious enough to the IO that I can continue entering the country with ILR, and thus continue to get entry date stamps without the "6 month, no work" type restrictions, even without me pointing out the fact to the IO.
Point is, I don't want to have to fork out the extra money for a new ILR sticker, nor carry my old passport with me. Can anyone advise?