UK SETTLEMENT VISA IN OLD PASSPORT BUT STILL VALID

[dionbell]

I am a Zimbabwean national with a valid UK Settlement visa which allows me to live, work and remain in the UK INDEFINITELY.

My question is this: In my old passport which holds the UK Visa it says that the Visa is only valid until the 18/01/15 which is only stated because this is when the old passport expires. I currently have a new Zimbabwean passport and use this in conjuncture with the old one with the UK visa when leaving and entering the UK.

The problem is that when I went to apply for the Schengen visa for Austria on Monday they told me that they would not accept the visa because it had an expiry date even through they knew that it was an indefinite visa.They said my UK residency visa is expired and refused me the Schengen visa.

I can assure you that this is not the case and the it is very much valid. I would get a confirmation letter from the UK home office, but they don't offer such services.

I have been told to get a UK biometric residence card but this is very costly and I plan to visit Italy on the 26th of July and then Austria on the 1st of August and would not have the biometric card by then.

I have just come back from a trip to Spain where they were aware of this problem and said that they understood and gave me the Schengen visa.
I have scheduled an appointment with the Italian embassy for next Wednesday and hope they don't make the same excuse the Austrian embassy did.

Please could you let me know how to produce a document that will help my case in proving that my visa is valid and proven.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[CR001]

How long have you been in the UK?

What exactly does your visa say and dates does it state?

The ILR stickers in the passports did not have an expiry date. The expiry dates came into effect with the new BRPs a couple of years ago.

[dionbell]

I have been in the UK for over 4 years now. Please have alook at the attached document. The red box is what the embassies are refusing to accept. I looked on gov.uk and there is a small section stating a setlement visa in an old passport is still valid for the uk.
Im going to print that out and try show the embassy on Wednesday.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vfs4svq8jupue ... t.jpg?dl=0

I hope this link works.

Regards

[vinny]

See also ILE and 18A.

[navodwickra]

I am a Zimbabwean national with a valid UK Settlement visa which allows me to live, work and remain in the UK INDEFINITELY.

My question is this: In my old passport which holds the UK Visa it says that the Visa is only valid until the 18/01/15 which is only stated because this is when the old passport expires. I currently have a new Zimbabwean passport and use this in conjuncture with the old one with the UK visa when leaving and entering the UK.

The problem is that when I went to apply for the Schengen visa for Austria on Monday they told me that they would not accept the visa because it had an expiry date even through they knew that it was an indefinite visa.They said my UK residency visa is expired and refused me the Schengen visa.

I can assure you that this is not the case and the it is very much valid. I would get a confirmation letter from the UK home office, but they don't offer such services.

I have been told to get a UK biometric residence card but this is very costly and I plan to visit Italy on the 26th of July and then Austria on the 1st of August and would not have the biometric card by then.

I have just come back from a trip to Spain where they were aware of this problem and said that they understood and gave me the Schengen visa.
I have scheduled an appointment with the Italian embassy for next Wednesday and hope they don't make the same excuse the Austrian embassy did.

Please could you let me know how to produce a document that will help my case in proving that my visa is valid and proven.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I know this solution is not the most appropriate but you can get Schengen again from Spain again and then go to Italy. There is no passport control with in Schengen. Most of the time they don't even care about port of entry.

[dionbell]

Thank you everyone for your help!

My visa was approved and gave me 90 days to use in 6 months which is amazing.

Only thing they were not happy with was digital signatures. Make sure that all documents are original and pen signed.