Visa Approved but already expired! Help!

I just received my passport back from Sheffield today, 16/05/2016, but the entry clearance spouse visa was dated from 31/03/2016 to 30/04/2016... what do I do?

Well there's a first for me!

This is the email address for an actual human at Sheffield.  I suggest you start here.  Let us know what happens!

VisaSheffield@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

As we used a solicitor, I am letting him handle this situation. I will keep updating here as I get more information.

So far in an effort to prove our case he has asked for copies of the visa and the date stamps on the return packaging.

Do you think there is a chance your solicitor had it and didn't get it back to you in a timely manner?  Or was the package returned directly to you?

 The package was returned to me directly from Sheffield via UPS. I was able to track the package via UPS website from the day they sent me the email about shipping the documents back.

I have had my lawyer draft a letter to the email address you provided stating the details of our visas and circumstances, including the photo evidence of the expired visas.

My husband is also contacting his MP to see if he can get any help through him in this matter.

Cool, should be pretty easy to resolve then.  Did you email them?  I'd simply share a screen shot of your tracking showing that it wasn't even sent until after the vignette expired.  I would think they will provide instructions on how to get it correctly quite quickly.

Oops, posted after you replied.  Great news!  It'll work out.

If you paid priority, I would request a refund!

I had a kind of similar situation where I needed a correction of the length of my visa (not the vignette in the passport like you, though). I contacted UKVI through email with my GWF, passport number, etc. and was instructed to send my passport and a letter explaining why I needed a correction (also including a return address for documents). They cancelled my original vignette without prejudice and added a new vignette on the next page. The whole process was very quick-- I just wrote 'Priority Visa Correction' on the outside of the package and it was already sent back from Sheffield the morning of the next business day. I'd think it's quite likely you'll need to do something similar as you'll need a new vignette to enter the UK. Rest assured things should go quickly though if that's what you have to do!


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My husband got in touch with the MP who contacted someone who might be able to help us. Both this official and my solicitor have sent emails to UKVI, but we have not gotten any type of response yet.

If I do have to send my passports back to Sheffield, will I have to pay for return postage again as well?

The MP is a good step as they have a special request number for UKVI.

I'm assuming your solicitor has followed this guidance already?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/correcting-an-incorrect-endorsement-ecb19/correcting-an-incorrect-endorsement-ecb19

I'm not sure how it works since you have a solicitor, but for me they paid for UPS Worldwide 2-day shipping to return my passport since it was their mistake. If they feel they didn't make a mistake, you would have to pay for the return. So sorry you're not getting any communication back from UKVI-- their applications and questions are likely starting to pile up for the summer.


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I received this response from Sheffield this morning:

Thank you for contacting the UK Visas and Immigration enquiry service.

We have received a response from the Decision Making Centre following our
request for information on your visa application, which was the following
quote:

" Just to rectify the previous email sent, your passport need to be send
directly to Sheffield-UK.

They will also need to include a written statement of why they believe the
vignette was incorrect (E.g. DATES) and the address of where they would
like the corrected passport to go.
If in fact the vignette was printed incorrectly the shipping back to the
customer will be covered by UKVI, if it was actually correct the shipping
will need to be covered by the applicant.

We also recommend to write on the outer of the envelope "Priority
Correction" , in order to prioritize your case."


We hope that this has answered your query. For any further details, or
should you need to contact us again, please refer to our website at
https://ukvi-international.faq-help.com/

Kind regards,

UK Visas and Immigrations international service

If anyone can just give me ideas of anything I need to put in the letter. I am on bank holiday until Tuesday so I cannot mail anything until then. Thanks for all the help guys.

Also, they didn't tell me what address to send them to, as I my solicitor sent them last time for me, where do I send them?

Also, they didn't tell me what address to send them to, as I my solicitor sent them last time for me, where do I send them?

The address is on this page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visa-in-the-usa#post-your-application

Settlement applications

International Operations and Visas
6 Millsands
Vulcan House
Sheffield
S3 8NH
United Kingdom

For the letter, I would just explain what has happened - that you applied for a spousal visa, to be issued as a 30-day vignette, but when you received it, it had already expired and could not be used. I would include evidence of when the package was delivered to show it was after the vignette expired.