In message , at
11:05:11 on Fri, 29 Jul 2005, Mortimer remarked:
The Home Office are reported on the BBC news site as saying that Menezes'
visa had expired. 'A passport stamp apparently giving him indefinite leave
to remain "was not in use" on that date, added officials.':
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4725659.stm.

What on earth does 'a passport stamp ... "was not in use" on that date'
mean?

Immigration people have rubber stamps that they use to put entries in
people's passports. Over time, the rubber stamps are redesigned, new
ones introduced and old ones scrapped. The entry in his passport was
apparently made by a stamp that was not current at the time it claimed
to have been made.

What's this a euphemism for? Had it been granted but later revoked?
Does it mean that there was an issue date on the stamp and that this type of
stamp wasn't being issued on that date (ie that the stamp is a forgery)?

The phrase "not in use" sounds as if it deserves a "Clear as Mud" award for
its inability to say exactly what it means!

I think they are politely saying "the entry is either a complete
forgery; or was made by a rubber stamp that someone had stolen and
subsequently used, either not knowing or not caring that it was an out
of date design".
--
Roland Perry