Passport stamp, "Given Leave to reside indefintely"

[Old Salt]

Been here since1960. Filled in a host of forms, plus gave a financial undertaking to maintain sufficient funds to return to USA if asked to leave. Texas Instruments provided me permanent employment and the UK Government gave me a permanent visa. My wife is natural born English

Each time I renewed my USA passport, I simply carried the old one with me when I travelled outside GB, and the immigration desk stamped my new passport when I returned.

I have heard some terrible stories that now that stamp is going to cost me £400.00, and I shall have to submit some forms with passport pictures. I have looked at the UK Border Agnecy site and see various forms, but............

I would like to hear from anyone who knows exactly how that is going to work; especially, if they have already been through the process. Sure does seem a high price. I did notice on the website that it seem to say, "You don't have to get the stamp in your new passport, so long as you always carry the old one which has the stamp." Now that sounds almost too good to be true. i.e., carry the old passport instead of paying the £400.00

Thanks in advance to anyone who can supply a bit of reassurance

Old Salt

[buildersmate]

OS
You have what is known as 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' - you probably knew that. It means that you are regarded as settled in the UK though you do not (probably because you had no reason to apply for it) have British Citizenship. The visa that is stamped in your old US passport continues to be valid and is the critical thing that UK Border Agency staff want to see at immigration control each and every time you return to the UK. Unless the US authorities return you to old passport at any time, you can continue to use it, and the stamp contained in it, as the required evidence of your right to be in the UK indefinitely.
If you require to transfer the visa stamp into your current US passport for any reason then there is a fee - £169 currently for a postal application.
Most of what I know about this can be found at this webpage.
http://www.ukba.homeo...fer-visa-to-passport/
BM

[Old Salt]

Thanks buildersmate

Good news is always welcome. The website is what I stumbled across and was afraid to believe.

However, I will still wait until I have returned from a trip and the old stamp gets me back into the UK, before I really believe it.

It is very much appreciated that you took the time to reply.

Old Salt

[Dee Sa]

my husband has "indefinite leave to stay" stamped in his passport in 1985, he has a new passport now and just carries the old one with him when he travels, never had a problem.

[Old Salt]

Great Dee Sa

That is exactly the sort of feedback I wanted to hear.

Makes me feel a lot better and a lot less apprehensive about my trip to Virginia, this year....................hopefully around September or October. Now, if someone could tell me how to survive and keep my cool at airport check-in and security I would be a truly happy chappy. Air travel is a real strain on every fibre of your being these days.

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply

Old Salt