Hi All,
I'm just writing this to hopefully ease some stressed out minds (for which i have been one) who search in the future that are in a similar boat.. over 31 and require a vignette transfer.
I'm over 31 and have just completed the same process, i turned 31 in February and couldn't travel until late august.. i applied in january and said my intended travel date was 3 months out (early april) my vignette expired early may and 1 week* after my vignette expired i lodged a vignette transfer NOT A NEW APPLICATION saying i would be entering the country in august
*(unsure if leaving the vignette longer matters as mentioned in an above comment but i don't beleive it does).
This has now been completed successfully, i paid the vignette transfer costs of $369 AUD, did my biometric testing again and sent off the forms and passport with a return envelope and everything went through ok.
It seems like bottom line as long as you have applied before your 31st birthday and set you entry date to at max 3 months out that entry date is the start of your 2 years and you can change the entry date with a vignette transfer but your 2 years is still from that first entry date so the later you enter the less of the 2 years you have.
some helpful information:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... __OLF_.pdf
"Successful applicants will be issued with a vignette in their passport which is valid for 30 days. The vignette is proof only of your permission to enter the UK and will allow you to travel to the UK. If you do not travel
to the UK within this 30 day period you will have to apply for another 30 day vignette,for which there will be an additional fee."
PHONE - 1800 640 327 - An Australian number that i think diverts to somewhere else maybe uk or Philippines and costs about $3 per minute, regardless of the cost sometimes you just need to talk to a human and they are very helpful and will guide you in the right direction.
goodluck!