Using second US passport for travel

[ExpatOregon]

I am a US citizen waiting for my Tier 1 General renewal. I applied 2 Nov with a 1 Dec expiry date. I'm traveling home for the holidays using a second passport (my original is still with UKBA).

Given some of the conflicting things I've seen online, I contacted a solicitor and the immigration office at the airport through which I am traveling.

A solicitor advised me to travel with:
-a copy of the passport submitted to UKBA
-a copy of my original Visa
-the letter from UKBA acknowledging receipt of my renewal application

I also contacted the Immigration office at London Heathrow today (where I fly-in/out of the UK - 020 8745 4700). The officer I spoke with said this should be fine. She did advise that clearance may take more time as they confirm the validity of my documents.

Hopefully this might help others facing the same situation.

[Lucapooka]

You have to be very careful that when you return the Officer does not assume you are a US visitor and stamps your passport on that basis. You need to explain the basis of your entry so that the correct entry date stamp can be placed rather than a visit entry clearance that states Leave to Enter for six months - employment prohibited. I'm not the UKBA so I can't say if this plan of yours is viable.

[ExpatOregon]

Thanks, Lucapooka. That's a good tip. I plan to hand them everything (docs and passport and make it /painfully/ clear what I'm doing.

[Greenie]

Section 3c leave lapses upon leaving the common travel area and therefore there is a risk of them refusing you re entry despite what you have been told. I recall a similar case where this happened.

[Lucapooka]

And further to Greenie's comments, if you leave lapses on departure this makes for a very interesting discussion. If you are refused re-entry under Tier 1 but are admitted as a US visitor, perhaps you would have to leave and re-enter with your Tier 1 leave (if that were later emitted) in order to continue using that Tier 1 leave. I can't see it being permitted to simply cross-over from visitor.

[Greenie]

See this thread also. The question you need to ask yourself is whether your trip is worth the risk?

http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewto ... highlight=