Entry Clearance: No Work or Recourse to Public Funds

Hi there,

I got my entry clearance and have successfully entered the UK. I went to pick up my BRP card and was told it wasn't in yet. But my entry clearance says No work and No recourse to public funds (this is an unmarried spouse visa). This is a huge issue because I work remotely and can't NOT work right now. I was assuming it was until I picked up my BRP card, but it's not available yet. I haven't found anything that says other people's entry clearances say this, so it's got me worried there's been an error or I'm actually not allowed to work at all, even after I get my BRP.

What is the procedure? Is this common? Can I work now that I've entered the country?

Hang on, that shouldn’t be right.

For Settlement visas, only fiancé visas have ‘No work’ written on them. As you have a Unmarried Partner visa, it should only say ‘No recourse to Public Funds’.

What exactly does it say on your visa vignette for the type of visa and the validity dates?


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Hang on, that shouldn’t be right.

For Settlement visas, only fiancé visas have ‘No work’ written on them. As you have a Unmarried Partner visa, it should only say ‘No recourse to Public Funds’.

What exactly does it say on your visa vignette for the type of visa and the validity dates?


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I just double checked and I applied for unmarried partner on my application of Visa4UK. But it looks like I was given a Marriage/CP visa.

It says Type: D-Marriage/CP (My partner's name). I thought it was just because we were treated the same as a spouse.

Did you pay an IHS fee when you applied?

Though if it was issued as a fiance visa, you shouldn't have had a BRP to collect.  Sounds like UKVI issued the wrong visa!

It says Type: D-Marriage/CP (My partner's name). I thought it was just because we were treated the same as a spouse.

Marriage/CP is a 6-month fiancé visa, not an Unmarried Partner Visa.

What are the validity dates on it? Sounds like you may have been issued the wrong type of visa.


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Did you pay an IHS fee when you applied?

Though if it was issued as a fiance visa, you shouldn't have had a BRP to collect.  Sounds like UKVI issued the wrong visa!

I did pay the IHS fee, yes! Ugh, what do I do now?

The vignette was 05/12/18 to 05/06/19...I thought that was a long time for a vignette, but I assumed with all of the changes, this was something new that had happened.

I paid the IHS fee, but I never got a receipt from WorldPay...but it was definitely taken out of my account AND I got a letter confirming I paid it.

I paid the IHS fee, but I never got a receipt from WorldPay...but it was definitely taken out of my account AND I got a letter confirming I paid it.

Oh wait, yup, I got the confirmation that I paid $810 for the IHS fee.

I did pay the IHS fee, yes! Ugh, what do I do now?

The vignette was 05/12/18 to 05/06/19...I thought that was a long time for a vignette, but I assumed with all of the changes, this was something new that had happened.

Ah, no, that’s the 6 months for a fiancé visa, which has no work, no IHS and no BRP.

It should have been issued as ‘To Join Partner’ with the validity: 05/12/2018 to 04/01/2019.

Someone has obviously made a mistake somewhere!


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They have issued you the wrong visa then.  I'm sorry!  The six month validity isn't right.  And obviously the no work is correct either.

There should be something in your letter or with your BRP on who to contact if anything is incorrect.  You'll need to go through that. 

Ugh, what a cluster. 

This should help too:  https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/report-problem

I don't have a biometric card...so I sent an email to Sheffield from this site: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/correcting-an-incorrect-endorsement-ecb19/correcting-an-incorrect-endorsement-ecb19

Hopefully I can get this resolved.

I don't have a biometric card...so I sent an email to Sheffield from this site: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/correcting-an-incorrect-endorsement-ecb19/correcting-an-incorrect-endorsement-ecb19

Hopefully I can get this resolved.

Ah, I see.  So they 100% issued the incorrect type of visa.  I thought you had the BRP but it said no work. 

You'll get it resolved but it could be quite painful to do so.  You may want to involve your MP.  Do you have a copy of your application?  I know you have proof of your IHS payment so it definitely sounds like an error on UKVI's part.

I'd also recommend taking out insurance to cover you if the need medical treatment while this is being sorted out.  I suspect it'll take a bit of time.   

Ah, I see.  So they 100% issued the incorrect type of visa.  I thought you had the BRP but it said no work. 

You'll get it resolved but it could be quite painful to do so.  You may want to involve your MP.  Do you have a copy of your application?  I know you have proof of your IHS payment so it definitely sounds like an error on UKVI's part.

I'd also recommend taking out insurance to cover you if the need medical treatment while this is being sorted out.  I suspect it'll take a bit of time.   

Am I not allowed to work at all while this is being sorted? This is a huge problem if that's the case.

Am I not allowed to work at all while this is being sorted? This is a huge problem if that's the case.

You won't be able to take a job in the UK... but I know you said you work remotely.  While technically not legal to work on the visa you were issued...  I'd probably take the risk.  Not necessarily sage advice.... but just what I would do. 

You won't be able to take a job in the UK... but I know you said you work remotely.  While technically not legal to work on the visa you were issued...  I'd probably take the risk.  Not necessarily sage advice.... but just what I would do. 

Okay thanks. I just worry it will come up when I do taxes here or something that they see I made money during this month and I technically had a different visa.

I also didn't save most of the documents, but I do have copies....