visa processing times

Hi all!

Does anyone have any feel for how long it is taking to process student visa applications, or what it has typically been (if that is any indicator - I know it may be different due to all the changes)?  The application will go through the NY consulate.  Also, does anyone have any courier recommendations for NY?
 
Thanks!

Here are processing times for March (the most recent they have available)... http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/10368946/processingtimescustomers
They should be taken with grain of salt, but it will give you an idea.  Looks like they are saying 5 days max from NY.

Keep in mind that because student visa applications are mostly submitted at around the same time, those apps can really get backed up due to high traffic.  However, you can ask to have your visa post-dated by up to three months, so even if your course doesn't start until October, you are safe to apply as early as July.  It's probably best to apply as early as possible to be on the safe side.   

Thanks for the info and the link.  I was worried that it might take a month or two to get the visa!

I was thinking of applying late June for a mid-late September start.  Can't apply sooner due to being out of the US until June 17, then need to get biometrics done, of course.  I guess I can apply online and make the biometrics appointment while I am travelling, and set it up for the week I come home?  Does that make sense? 

Actually, thinking about it, you could apply for a September start in May.  This is because you are allowed to enter up to a month before the start of your course.  So if you applied at the end of May and asked to have your visa start in August, your application could still be post-dated 3 months.  If you don't intend to enter in August, that's OK, you can enter any time after your visa start date.  Of course, you may still be out of the country in May.  If so, then this

I guess I can apply online and make the biometrics appointment while I am travelling, and set it up for the week I come home?  Does that make sense? 

is perfectly fine.  As long as you are in the US for your biometrics and to mail your supporting documents. 

Those stats are meaningless, sadly.  They refer to student visas, which were abolished on 31st March.  It is almost certainly that tier 4 applications will take much longer - the form has gone up from about 14 pages to about 50 pages, and the criteria is such that caseworkers will probably take about an hour to look at them instead of about 15 minutes.

Vicky

Aaargh . . .   so back to my original question . . .  any idea of processing times?  Vicky?  Anyone?!  I am worried now that June 20-something may be too late to apply . . .

Apply as early as possible, which is four months before the course start date.

Vicky

Do they put different visas in different piles to go through or does it all go into one big pile?

If you're NOT applying as a student, are there better times of the year/less busy times to submit your application?

*Edited to add* how do you figure out the percentages listed?

They do one big pile in the consulates, I am pretty sure fo that.

Vicky

Am I understanding this correctly?

Settlement Visas 5 days 10 days 15 days 30 days 60 days 90 days 120 days Applications completed in period
Settlement 23% 24% 26% 66% 100% 100% 100% 135

within 5 days, they process 23% of all the applications, out of what is left, 24% get processed within 10 days, then out of what's left of that, 26% of those are done within 15 days, what's left is done within 30 days, and they aim to have everyone done within 60 days?

BeccaJane, I'm not 100% certain, but I think they mean ALL, not those left. So of all the apps, 23% get done in 5 days, additional 1% get done in 10 days and so on.

ETA: To be clearer: if you submitted your app in x date, you have a 23% chance of it being done in 5 days or fewer, 24% if it being done in 10 days  or fewer, 26% chance of it being done in 15 days or fewer, 66% chance of it being done in 30 days or fewer and so on.

BeccaJane, I'm not 100% certain, but I think they mean ALL, not those left. So of all the apps, 23% get done in 5 days, additional 1% get done in 10 days and so on.

Thats how I interpreted it as well.

BeccaJane, I'm not 100% certain, but I think they mean ALL, not those left. So of all the apps, 23% get done in 5 days, additional 1% get done in 10 days and so on.

I wasn't thinking that, because of it adding up to more than 100%

ETA: To be clearer: if you submitted your app in x date, you have a 23% chance of it being done in 5 days or fewer, 24% if it being done in 10 days  or fewer, 26% chance of it being done in 15 days or fewer, 66% chance of it being done in 30 days or fewer and so on.

Okay, THAT makes more sense.