Priority Service for Settlement/Spouse after application

Good morning UK residents and a Happy Thanksgiving to all American friends I have a question about the Priority service, my husband submitted his app with non-priority and confirmation email was received on Nov 5, 2015. Would there be an advantage in paying the Priority service fee NOW, as we can afford the funds having had a lean spending month between the 2 of us (me in Scotland, him in Virginia). I noted you should mark the document envelope PRIORITY but of course that's impossible now........what do you think? 

have I asked something that's silly or what? I would really like opinions if I should go forward with this.......if anyone who has done it recently has had a favourable result and considers it worthwhile? Much appreciated.

Sorry, I didn't reply earlier because I was at work.

Several people have upgraded after they have applied and have had no problems. There are instructions on the VFS Global website on how to do it.

However, the instructions they give tell you to email NYC with the priority service details, but doesn't mention anything about Sheffield, so you'll need to send your email to the Sheffield email address instead: VisaSheffield@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

See here: http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/usa/user_pay_services.html

From that page (black bold emphasis theirs, strikethrough and red emphasis mine):

We do not encourage you to purchase the priority service after you have submitted your application as it could take a minimum of 24 hours to locate your application and link your priority receipt. Once your application is located, it will be prioritized.

If you purchase the priority service after submitting your application you must:
Email your priority receipt to: UKVInewyork.Correspondence@fco.gov.uk. VisaSheffield@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Please include the relevant tracking number(s) for the package containing your application and supporting documents and the GWF Reference Number

Please put the following in the subject line:

Request for Retrospective priority visa service – GWFxxxxxxxxx.

Thank you so much for your reply, that is a big help! Thank you!

No problem .

There were a lot of people here on the forum who applied non-priority in May and June because the processing times appeared to be fast (i.e. non-priority in 3 weeks), but then everything slowed down and it was taking about 2 months for non-priority... so quite a few people ended up upgrading to priority processing after applying.

We did the upgrade to Priority today. Now to wait and see!

Hi
do you have an expected travel date/
or which expected travel date did you put on the original application?

Good luck and keep us all posted as we sent using the Priority (we have on paper a very straightforward case as we tick all the boxes and more) and still we wait...

Country applying from: USA
Type of visa applied for: Spouse/Settlement Priority
Married: September 11, 2015
Online Application Submitted: September 22, 2015
Biometrics Taken: September 28, 2015
Application Mailed: September 28, 2015
Package Received in Sheffield: October 1, 2015
Email confirming receipt of documents: October 1, 2015
Date Sheffield emailed to confirm decision has been made:

disheartening to see you paid priority almost 2 months before us, and still no answer. 

I have been trying to withdraw my application since last week, and they won't even respond! I am not paying to speak to their ripoff call center. 

 "UKVI aims to conclude settlement applications within 12 WEEKS of the application date."

Good luck and keep us all posted as we sent using the Priority (we have on paper a very straightforward case as we tick all the boxes and more) and still we wait...

Country applying from: USA
Type of visa applied for: Spouse/Settlement Priority
Married: September 11, 2015
Online Application Submitted: September 22, 2015
Biometrics Taken: September 28, 2015
Application Mailed: September 28, 2015
Package Received in Sheffield: October 1, 2015
Email confirming receipt of documents: October 1, 2015
Date Sheffield emailed to confirm decision has been made:

disheartening to see you paid priority almost 2 months before us, and still no answer. 

I have been trying to withdraw my application since last week, and they won't even respond! I am not paying to speak to their ripoff call center. 

 "UKVI aims to conclude settlement applications within 12 WEEKS of the application date."

Have you tried emailing Sheffield directly:
VisaSheffield@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

yes, already emailed VisaSheffield@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk several times and always get the same generic auto response email.

they should update their online statistics and put that the average 50% are reviewed in 12 weeks. 

Can't help but say the UKVI system from start to finish is misleading and inaccurate.

yes, already emailed VisaSheffield@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk several times and always get the same generic auto response email.

You're only supposed to email them once and then wait for a reply, which may take a few days. If you bombard them with emails, it's just going to give them more work to do!

they should update their online statistics and put that the average 50% are reviewed in 12 weeks. 

12 weeks is their target processing time - it doesn't reflect the actual processing time in any one month or week - it just means that they aim to process 95% of applications within 12 weeks.

I don't know where you got 50% in 12 weeks from because the processing times on the UKVI website currently show that 99% of US applications are processed in 12 weeks... which is higher than their target of 95%!

In fact, more than 50% of applications are processed in just 1 week.

Hi
do you have an expected travel date/
or which expected travel date did you put on the original application?

we put Nov 25 on the app, don't know why just picked it out of thin air!