UK stamp on spouse visa?

Maybe I'm daft, but I don't see this as vague.  To me it seems clear that 'we' still need to get that stamp to join our partners in the UK.  The UK is part of the EEA, so our partners are EEA family members ...     Do I have this wrong?

As larrabee said, if we were considered EEA in this context, then we would be able to use the EEA immigration rules to bring our family members to the U.K... but we can’t. We have to sponsor fiancé and spousal visas costing thousands of pounds.


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As larrabee said, if we were considered EEA in this context, then we would be able to use the EEA immigration rules to bring our family members to the U.K... but we can’t. We have to sponsor fiancé and spousal visas costing thousands of pounds.

Okay, that is a very good point that I was overlooking.  I reduced the facts too much.  I just worry that five years from now, we'll have a Windrush situation where people won't be able to prove when they entered as they try to apply for ILR.

Hi all,

As an update to this. I sent my wife out of the country (to Amsterdam) and she flew back into Gatwick airport again - cheapest flight we could find at short notice. She went to the clearance officer, she looked at her letter and let my wife through with no stamp! She argued with them that she needed a stamp on the vignette and the officer said they don't do that anymore. The clearance officer also spoke to her manager (i was on the phone with them) and they said they don't stamp anymore. I asked the clearance officer how will my wife determine her 5 year period for her ILR and they responded that it would (although they did sound unsure) be based on either the date her visa OR the date she collected her BRP

Weird... luckily my wife collected her BRP on the same day she arrived into the country so keeping the ticket stub and BRP receipt for safe keeping

Hope this helps people

I arrived May 2013 and I don’t recall picking up a BRP card; is this a new thing? I think I got a BPR last July as part of ILR.


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I arrived May 2013 and I don’t recall picking up a BRP card; is this a new thing? I think I got a BPR last July as part of ILR.

New since you arrived but it's been a thing for a long time now. 

I arrived May 2013 and I don’t recall picking up a BRP card; is this a new thing? I think I got a BPR last July as part of ILR.


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They were introduced for initial entry visas in May 2015.

Now, all entry visas valid more than 6 months are issued in two parts:
- 30-day visa vignette sticker for entry to the U.K.
- a BRP card valid the length of the visa, which you must pick up from a U.K. Post Office either within 10 days of arriving or within the 30 days on the vignette, whichever is later.


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I entered the UK with a spouse visa and also did not receive a stamp. I went to the "other passports" line instead of the e-gates and was told that they don't do that anymore.

I entered the UK with a spouse visa and also did not receive a stamp. I went to the "other passports" line instead of the e-gates and was told that they don't do that anymore.

That's interesting.  The agent directing passengers into the appropriate queue told me I could go to the "other passports" line and request a stamp.  I used the e-gates because the other line was long.  I'm glad I didn't wait in the line, only to be told they don't do that anymore.

This worries me still. Until we learn more about this situation, I hope you are all keeping indisputable evidence of the date of your arrival to the UK.

I entered yesterday and explained to the agent I was entering on a spouse visa and showed my vignette and was also just directed through the egates and received no stamp.

This is an excerpt from the gov.uk website showing updated May 20 2019:
“You should see a Border Force officer and get your passport stamped if you’re coming to the UK:

for short term study of up to 6 months
with a Tier 5 Creative and Sporting Certificate of Sponsorship for short-term assignments (up to 3 months)
to carry out Permitted Paid Engagements
as the family member of an EEA national seeking to join them permanently in the UK and you’re a national of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA
If you use the eGates, please see a Border Force officer before you leave the port to receive a stamp in your passport.”

Hopefully the stamp is no longer needed and this isn’t just teething problems for the new system.  Their website seems to say so!

I wish someone would ask them how they are going expect applicants to prove the date of entry so they can calculate the 5 years to ILR.

I wish someone would ask them how they are going expect applicants to prove the date of entry so they can calculate the 5 years to ILR.

I asked the agent managing the queue at Heathrow how they would know the entry date without a passport stamp.  She smiled but didn't give me an answer. 

I asked the agent managing the queue at Heathrow how they would know the entry date without a passport stamp.  She smiled but didn't give me an answer.

OK, let me rephrase that!  . I wish someone would obtain the answer from them!

OK, let me rephrase that!  . I wish someone would obtain the answer from them!

Has there been any update on this? Arriving Thursday at Gatwick, unsure what I should do.

I don't understand what not stamping achieves? When asking them if you could help them and just stamp and they still refuse to do so i just don't get why they do that? Just stamp the damn thing!

Has there been any update on this? Arriving Thursday at Gatwick, unsure what I should do.

As far as I know,  the IO's are still just telling people that they don't need a stamp but no-one has yet been provided with the relevant extract from the immigration rules verifying why this is the case.
I'm, expecting all sorts of chaos at renewal time when people can't find their boarding passes and oops, there was a computer glitch the day they entered. So definitely keep hard evidence of your arrival date.

If it were me, I would be trying as hard as I possibly could to get someone to stamp my vignette for me.