Two US Passports? Entry Clearance for 2nd?

DH has 2 US passports because he travels so much for work. The problem is his UK work permit is in one and he needs some sort of UK entry clearance in the other to make it truly effective. He had both his passports with him recently and tried to ask an IO what to do. She freaked out and told him that she can't believe that the US would issue two b/c the UK definitely doesn't do that. Rubbish. His boss has 2 UK passports for exactly the same reason DH has two US ones. Anyway does anyone know how to get some sort of clearance for the second passport? Who do you talk to? Any forms to fill out?

he might have 2 US passports, but he doesn't have 2 valid US passports as you can only have one at a time.  The State Department should have cancelled his original passport when he got his new one.  As far as the entry clearance goes- he should just carry both passports with him every time he travels. The passport with his entry clearance is no longer valid, but his EC itself hasn't expired so it's still in effect.  A lot of people do this when they have visas in a passport that then expires....the new passport allows them to get into the country, and the valid visa in the old passport allows them to enter under that specific visa category.

I'm not sure what he needs to do to get his work permit placed into his other passport, but it's perfectly okay to have two US passports (the UK allows this as well): http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/acs/passports/second.html

I'm not sure what he needs to do to get his work permit placed into his other passport, but it's perfectly okay to have two US passports (the UK allows this as well): http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/acs/passports/second.html

Thanks for the link tanis!  This is definitely a specialized circumstance though, but that might be the case with neeps' DH

It is certainly possible to have two UK passports.  It is most common where people travel a lot to countries where visas for other places would not be welcomed...for example, a journalist who travels to Israel and Iran a lot may be given two passports so he can have the Israeli visa in one and the Iranian visa in the other.

However...I have never heard of duplicate visas be issued.  I can't really think why this would be necessary.  What is the problem with making sure he always travels with the correct passport when coming to the UK?

Vicky

Tanis - this is exactly why DH has 2 valid US passports, given to him by the state department. The second passport is only valid for 2 years.

VictoriaS - he has two passports b/c he travels A LOT. For example, he will be traveling in Kazakhstan on one passport. While at the same time his other passport is being sent off to an embassy for a visa to Uzbekistan. He'll come back to the UK for a day or two, trade out his passport for the one with the Uzbek visa, fly to Uzbekistan while the other passport is then sent off to some other country for another visa. So when he's traveling on the one without the UK visa it's a pain.

Aha, of course!  The lengthy visa application.

Call the Home Office.  They may be able to help, but don't be surprised if they charge another £335!

Vicky

The Home Office charge more money? Surely not...

Thanks Vicky!