Does this IO know what she's doing?

So, I just came back to the UK after a weekend in NY.  This is my second entry on my fiancée visa.  The IO at Heathrow first asks me if I'm married. 
"No, I am engaged, which is why I have the fiancée visa."  Ok fine.
Then, she asks if the wedding has been booked and where it is being held here in the UK.  Fair enough.  So I tell her.  No problem.  Then she says, "You know that after you're married you have to go back to the US to get your 'wife visa'."
What is she talking about?  I politely said that I believe she is incorrect; since I'm already in the UK on a fiancée visa, I would just apply for FLR here after I'm married.  She says that to her knowledge, I am incorrect.  She says the rules have changed.  I didn't want to argue, so I said my thank-you and good-bye.
What is she talking about??

Sounds like she is talking through a hole in her rear end.  I double cheked on the IND website and can't see anything to suggest that what she says is correct:

   Spouses, Civil Partners, Fiance(e)s and Proposed Civil Partners

How does my fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, qualify to come to the United Kingdom?

Your fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, must show that:

    * you plan to marry or register a civil partnership within a reasonable time (usually six months);
    * you plan to live together permanently after you are married or have registered a civil partnership;
    * you have met each other;
    * there is somewhere for him or her and any dependants to live until you are married or have registered a civil partnership without help from public funds; and
    * he or she and any dependants can be supported without working or having to get help from public funds.


We will give your fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, permission to stay here for six months but they must not work. After you have married or registered a civil partnership, your husband, wife or civil partner, may apply to stay here. If we approve the application, we will give your husband, wife or civil partner, permission to stay and work for 2 years. Near the end of 2 years, your husband, wife or civil partner, may apply to stay here permanently.

Your fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, must get entry clearance before they travel to the United Kingdom

That's got to be incorrect- I'm sure Garry or Victoria would have let us know if indeed the rules had changed.  That's a pretty basic thing to mess up,  though..I wonder what other kind of advice she's been giving people 

Sounds like she is talking through a hole in her rear end.

That's what I'm thinking.

. . . . That's a pretty basic thing to mess up, though..I wonder what other kind of advice she's been giving people

Yeah, eek!

Don't feel bad; I had an uninformed IO as well.  Coming in on a fiancée visa, the IO looks at my visa, leans over to the IO at the next desk and whispers, "So what do we do with Americans on fiancée visas?" 

Don't feel bad; I had an uninformed IO as well.  Coming in on a fiancée visa, the IO looks at my visa, leans over to the IO at the next desk and whispers, "So what do we do with Americans on fiancée visas?" 

To the dungeon with them!

Some IO's are morons.  Does this surprise you?

 

Seriously though, this is disgusting.  She is talking out of her backside, and if she had been speaking to someone less canny than you she could have caused real problems.

I do wish people would make complaints when they hear about this sort of thing......


Victoria

I do wish people would make complaints when they hear about this sort of thing......

I thought about it, but I didn't want to make a big scene inside the immigration hall, and I couldn't discreetly make-out her name on her nametag.  I even started second-guessing myself.

I'm glad that I've kept myself informed of the immigration requirements that apply to me.  If I hadn't, who knows what I would have done.  It's a pet peeve of mine when people do not effectively know their own jobs, especially those who are in positions of such authority, since whatever they say can have a direct impact on someone's life and future.

If you can be bothered you could write a letter about it.  Who knows what other rubbish she is telling people? It doesn't matter if you don't know her name, if you tell them the date and time they will be able to narrow it down to her shift and may even be able to identify her from the stamp in your passport. Those stamps have all kinds of hidden features.

Of course!  There's a number smack-dab in the middle of the stamp.  Maybe that's the IO's badge number.  Here goes the letter.  Good thinking.  Thanks, Britwife.

Let us know what they say about it!

Include terminal number, date, time of day, and physical description...

Let us know what they say about it!

Nothing! 

It's been over a month, and they haven't responded to me.  Oh well.

Nothing! 

It's been over a month, and they haven't responded to me.  Oh well.

Could you send me a copy of the letter you sent them?  If they have not responded within the time-frame, perhaps I can help.  Perhaps not, but perhaps can.  It depends...

Could you send me a copy of the letter you sent them? If they have not responded within the time-frame, perhaps I can help. Perhaps not, but perhaps can. It depends...

Thanks for the offer, Garry.  Honestly, though, I'm not too worried about it.  I know that they received my complaint.  I supplied them with all of the information that they need.  How they handle it is entirely up to them.  I'd like to think that they are just handling it internally and taking it into account for their training/corrective measures.  The IO's incorrect information has no impact on me, because I knew she was wrong.  I was simply expecting a form letter saying something along the lines of "Thank you for your feedback.  We are looking in to this matter."
(Additionally, and rather selfishly, I'm about to file for FLR[M] and I don't want to incite a big red cross next to my name in the IND's system, especially since I supplied them with copies of my passport and my visa.)