Minister for Immigration on eGate Use for Spouse Visa

Here's an update on the initial entry for spouse visa holders with a valid 30 day vignette. The letter is from the Minister of Immigration to an applicant's MP, clarifying whether we are allowed to use the eGates or must see an immigration officer on arrival. Page 2 is really were the decisive info is. It's interesting to note that VFS is still sending letters with returned passports indicating the applicant must present the letter to an immigration officer on arrival. Just another case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing? Who knows. In any case, I'm glad I got a stamp when I entered last month but for those who have been using the eGates hopefully this provides some clarity. Frankly, I would print this letter out just to be safe when it comes time to calculate days in the UK if there's any issue having to prove an entry date without a stamp.

Here's an update on the initial entry for spouse visa holders with a valid 30 day vignette. The letter is from the Minister of Immigration to an applicant's MP, clarifying whether we are allowed to use the eGates or must see an immigration officer on arrival. Page 2 is really were the decisive info is. It's interesting to note that VFS is still sending letters with returned passports indicating the applicant must present the letter to an immigration officer on arrival. Just another case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing? Who knows. In any case, I'm glad I got a stamp when I entered last month but for those who have been using the eGates hopefully this provides some clarity. Frankly, I would print this letter out just to be safe when it comes time to calculate days in the UK if there's any issue having to prove an entry date without a stamp.

Thanks very much for sharing this, Dana.

Call me a cynic but I trust their method of implementation about as far as I can throw the Home Secretary. I'd still be asking for that stamp and if not able to get one, keeping all the evidence I could of date of arrival in the UK.

Perhaps they are being deliberately vague for reasons of security, I don't know! It's certainly not ideal, I can see applicants forgetting the date they arrived and not knowing themselves when they can apply!

  Totally agree!

Holy crap...I did not even think about this. I only used the gates once in July. I tried in May but it didnt recognise my face so I had to go to the officer anyway.  Now I wonder if I should get a letter too. Crap crap crap.

Holy crap...I did not even think about this. I only used the gates once in July. I tried in May but it didnt recognise my face so I had to go to the officer anyway.  Now I wonder if I should get a letter too. Crap crap crap.

We're only talking about the very first entry on the spouse visa. For all other entries, it doesn't matter.

Holy crap...I did not even think about this. I only used the gates once in July. I tried in May but it didnt recognise my face so I had to go to the officer anyway.  Now I wonder if I should get a letter too. Crap crap crap.

Why would you need a letter?

You moved to the UK and got your stamp years ago, so the topic discussed this thread is irrelevant to your situation - it is only relevant for people applying for their first entry clearance visa now.

The question of whether or not you need a stamp only applies if it is your FIRST entry to the U.K. on your FIRST settlement visa... because the stamp proves what date your 5-year count to ILR starts...and if there’s no stamp, there may not be a record of the date you arrived in the UK.

For all entries to the UK after that first entry, you can use the egates with no issue... so there is no problem with the fact that you used them in July.


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Ooooooo. Sorry guys. I thought this was referring to any travel. Good to know though.

Ooooooo. Sorry guys. I thought this was referring to any travel. Good to know though.

There's a huge level of paranoia with visas, isn't there?  I remember that.  Over thinking everything and constantly questioning things which, in hindsight, were so different from my situation.  This process screws with your sense of sanity and perspective. 

There's a huge level of paranoia with visas, isn't there?  I remember that.  Over thinking everything and constantly questioning things which, in hindsight, were so different from my situation.  This process screws with your sense of sanity and perspective.

Absolutely! And half the issue is that things are constantly being tweaked by UKVI and their partners, and there's very little straightforward information about what is current and most correct. It's madness. And particularly in this case, it's bizarre that the Minister for Immigration is stating something completely different than the border force agents are saying, and even they aren't consistent from hour to hour. There's an awful lot at stake here for us the lack of transparency is scary.