HELP!! Registry Office / Passport Stamp Problem

Ok Guys....

So quick abbreviation of the problem.  OH arrived via Dublin yesterday.  Tickets were booked before we saw the huge thread on getting your passport stamped at Dublin in the Visa section.  I got advice from certain professional as to what we should do to obtain the UK entry stamp.  I also got helpful advice from Garry and Victoria on the thread and read other experiences.  We followed the advice to the exact point.  No IOs present on desks.  Used Immigration Phone, told no IO would be sent from anywhere because they were too busy and couldn't relieve anyone from their posts.  They wouldn't let us go to them.  We had to call the police and get them involved and they tried their best to help us.  The police contacted the IO and he then insisted we had our stamp done.  The IO asked where we were and we were outside the Common Travel Area and so it was to late...we have to go to Croydon.  Well OH was only outside the Common Travel Area because the police lead him there to use another phone. 

So I am sure we can get the stamp sorted..but its going to take time and we may to send the passport to the HO...but my worry now is we have to declare our intension to the Registrar to marry and we have a appointment in 3 weeks time. We both have to take out passports for I.D which means I can't send it off to Croyden.  OH has to show that he has been here for 7 days..then a further 15 days before the declaration of marriage.  Will his Dublin stamp and stubs be acceptable evidence to a wedding registrar?? otherwise we are frightened we are going to loose our wedding day plans...

We were hoping that we could still declare out intension's and sort the stamp issue out after....I was wondering what sort of evidence other people showed to the registrar to prove uk entrance??

P.S Sorry this is a long message!

You're in Andover, right?  Any chance of hopping a ferry from Portsmouth this weekend and re-entering from France?  An entry stamp from France would be just as valid and would shave off a lot of waiting time - you'd be able to give notice as early as Monday.

Can you take the passport tp Croydon in person? It could probably be sorted out on the spot.

I know I am panicking...just stressful I suppose...I am sure I will feel better come Monday.  I think its because I can't get hold of anyone at the Registry Office or the HO today..lines closed until Monday.

Found a cheap day flight to A-dam £35 return in the week..so if worse comes to worse..We will go there.  It sounds more exciting than than it really will be...

There will be none of this I can assure you!---->

We fly in and literally will turnaround and come back!

Hopefully we can just get it sorted at Croyden but at least we are now menatlly prepared to take a dummy flight back into Heathrow..Urrgghh..the thought is so depressing.

Thanx for the advice guys.

At least you've got a bit of time to get things sorted before it starts to play havoc with your plans.  Good luck!

Phone the IO in Portsmouth Harbour and see if they will stamp him.


Vicky

Just wanted to say sorry you are having to go through this. I really feel for people in this situation (having recently learned about it on the visa board), who despite every obstacle try to do the right thing, and end up having to spend a lot of time and money sorting it out.

Just a update guys....in case anyone else has the same problem 

Rang the HO at Croydon...Spoke to a WONDERFUL man (makes a change  ) and the first thing he said when I told him my partner didn't have a stamp..was "Oh he flew in from Dublin, he is one of hundreds" (you would think they would have sorted the problem if the HO sigh and groan about it!! and already know what I am going to say before I say it!)...anywho....vent over...

He informed me that the Registry office will accept the ticket itinerary and the tickets / stubs as proof of entry to the UK....and if they don't the Registry Office (not you) can contact this number 0208 196 5459 and the HO will vallidate your visit to them over the phone.  He then went on to say that after we are married and we proceed to send our FLR (M) visa application, we should state on a covering letter that he was not originally stamped when entering the UK as he came through Term 1 Heathrow.  They will process the FLR visa and back stamp the passport to show a entrance stamp that we should have got when he arrived.

So panic over....what a nightmare..and a huge sigh of relief.

Lets hope it really is that simple! 

That is good news. I thought it would be fairly simple to sort out once you got through to the right person. 

Thanx Britwife...Thank heavens..I can wipe the sweat from my brow with relief....as we don't have a huge turnaround in time with regards to the Registrars policies...

  <----------I have a big toothy smile today.

So now you can relax and enjoy having your OH with you! 

Glad everything is going to work out for you!