Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

I doubt it. Don't worry though, you're still within normal ranges, it just seems worse because others are getting theirs sooner. Hang in there! 

My wife stormed VFS in New York and apparently they sent my application as non-priority..... The website sold be the wrong thing (Silver Package) and they just ignored it and sent it as non-priority without contacting me. I've been fighting with them for 2 months to fix it (I realized the error soon after I sent the package) with no success. They told her that a refund will be provided to us, yet their refund link is not working! This whole place is a joke.....

Can anyone share their recent experience with non-priority? I've seen 46WD and was wondering if it's the average.

My wife stormed VFS in New York and apparently they sent my application as non-priority..... The website sold be the wrong thing (Silver Package) and they just ignored it and sent it as non-priority without contacting me. I've been fighting with them for 2 months to fix it (I realized the error soon after I sent the package) with no success. They told her that a refund will be provided to us, yet their refund link is not working! This whole place is a joke.....

Can anyone share their recent experience with non-priority? I've seen 46WD and was wondering if it's the average.

Ahh, that's extremely unfortunate. But it happens frequently because their website is so badly designed and unclear. 
Customer service is terrible too, I'm sorry.

Here is the non-priority thread. https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=90536.4230

I’m still waiting to hear about fixing the spelling error for my sponsor/husband. They are definitely slow.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My wife stormed VFS in New York and apparently they sent my application as non-priority..... The website sold be the wrong thing (Silver Package) and they just ignored it and sent it as non-priority without contacting me. I've been fighting with them for 2 months to fix it (I realized the error soon after I sent the package) with no success. They told her that a refund will be provided to us, yet their refund link is not working! This whole place is a joke.....

Can anyone share their recent experience with non-priority? I've seen 46WD and was wondering if it's the average.

That's so frustrating!! Yeah, we only pay them a few thousand, it's not like we should expect them to actually be fully functional 🙄 At least you're most of the way through the wait already!!

My wife got her passport back today!
21 working days from when Sheffield received to when we got the decision email

Thanks to everybody who helps us out with the crucial information on this forum. We wouldn't have been able to do it with you all 

My wife got her passport back today!
21 working days from when Sheffield received to when we got the decision email

Thanks to everybody who helps us out with the crucial information on this forum. We wouldn't have been able to do it with you all 

Congratulations!!!!

My wife got her passport back today!
21 working days from when Sheffield received to when we got the decision email

Thanks to everybody who helps us out with the crucial information on this forum. We wouldn't have been able to do it with you all 

Congratulations! 

I know that the UK government says they aim to make a decision within 30 working days, but it seems like a lot of people posting here are getting their emails sooner than that. I also don't see others posting that they are getting an email after 30 days. I'm at WD 30 today and no word. Is it also possible that due to the complexity of the application (me/my son both applying, me supplying proof of savings for both of us since my wife the UK citizen doesn't have a job, we're all three living in the US) that our application would take longer? I know our applications are not "normal" for a lot of reasons and I sent in close to 500 pages of documentation, but will all this extend our review period?

I've also seen people on this thread saying they were going to "check on status", but who could I check with? The confirmation email I got 30 days ago said "don't call us, we'll call you" basically, and I don't remember seeing anywhere that I could check. The pay-to-email system is a joke from my experience and simply provides links to pages that people on this forum have already provided for free.

Thoughts? Or am I just going crazy with anxiety?

I know that the UK government says they aim to make a decision within 30 working days, but it seems like a lot of people posting here are getting their emails sooner than that. I also don't see others posting that they are getting an email after 30 days. I'm at WD 30 today and no word. Is it also possible that due to the complexity of the application (me/my son both applying, me supplying proof of savings for both of us since my wife the UK citizen doesn't have a job, we're all three living in the US) that our application would take longer? I know our applications are not "normal" for a lot of reasons and I sent in close to 500 pages of documentation, but will all this extend our review period?

I've also seen people on this thread saying they were going to "check on status", but who could I check with? The confirmation email I got 30 days ago said "don't call us, we'll call you" basically, and I don't remember seeing anywhere that I could check. The pay-to-email system is a joke from my experience and simply provides links to pages that people on this forum have already provided for free.

Thoughts? Or am I just going crazy with anxiety?

By the sounds of it it is exactly as you say. Our application came back after 21 working days, but it was straightforward (about 50 pages, standard cat A income, one person, I live in my own home in the UK etc) so I would imagine a more complex application like yours would indeed take longer. That and the 30 day thing is a guideline if you pay for priority. If you look at the first post in this thread (outdated yes) you can see that there is a wide range for people to be accepted and have their decision come back.

You are just hitting the 30 day mark and that period had included three public holidays, which I assume you have taken in to consideration but still worth pointing out. I wouldn't panic just yet. Your application will come back soon enough and I'm sure it'll be a yes! So try to relax and find something to do to pass the time in the interim, if possible. I know it's stressful but it'll be over soon.

As for contact you are correct the paid service is laughable. Most people I see request using their local MP for more info but I'm guessing you don't have a local MP? In which case the automated service is the only option sadly...depends how desperate you are for some reassurance I guess.

Good luck!

I know that the UK government says they aim to make a decision within 30 working days, but it seems like a lot of people posting here are getting their emails sooner than that. I also don't see others posting that they are getting an email after 30 days. I'm at WD 30 today and no word. Is it also possible that due to the complexity of the application (me/my son both applying, me supplying proof of savings for both of us since my wife the UK citizen doesn't have a job, we're all three living in the US) that our application would take longer? I know our applications are not "normal" for a lot of reasons and I sent in close to 500 pages of documentation, but will all this extend our review period?

Just to check as well, have you definitely omitted bank holidays like yesterday and the Easter 2 days in your count of working days?

I'm sure you have but just double checking before you go the route of approaching the local MP for help (which is more recommended) or paying yo contact UKVI (which is not so much recommended) so you have the correct timelines to avoid confusion

I had not included the holidays, so that makes sense to add a few. I wasn't sure of the UK holiday schedule but I can look into it and confirm how many days to add. Total oversight on my part on that.

And yes I wouldn't have a local MP, but if we're moving to locate in Scotland with my wife's uncle and stay with him (lifelong UK resident) could we contact the local MP for where he lives since they would be our local MP when we move? And if one does contact their MP, do they just say "hey, can you help speed things along with application number XXXXXXX?" or are they able to look into status and timeline as well as just leaning on the people making the decisions?

I had not included the holidays, so that makes sense to add a few. I wasn't sure of the UK holiday schedule but I can look into it and confirm how many days to add. Total oversight on my part on that.

And yes I wouldn't have a local MP, but if we're moving to locate in Scotland with my wife's uncle and stay with him (lifelong UK resident) could we contact the local MP for where he lives since they would be our local MP when we move? And if one does contact their MP, do they just say "hey, can you help speed things along with application number XXXXXXX?" or are they able to look into status and timeline as well as just leaning on the people making the decisions?

Your milage will vary for MP's.  Too many people took the MP route and so now the MP is unable to "apply pressure" for applications. 

But if you've hit 30 days and don't have your "we have received your application and are preparing it for processing email" they may be able to confirm that it was received.  Unfortunately not much more than that until after 60 days (service standard) and then they can raise an inquiry into why it's taking longer.

Unfortunately as we approach the summer months, we usually see processing times slow late April/early May.  Priority will likely stretch to 9/10 weeks for processing and non-priority to 5/6 months.

But if you've hit 30 days and don't have your "we have received your application and are preparing it for processing email" they may be able to confirm that it was received.  Unfortunately not much more than that until after 60 days (service standard) and then they can raise an inquiry into why it's taking longer.

I'm counting 30 WD from that email received. I got that 1 WD after my application was received by the NY scanning station which was 2 WD after biometrics. That seemed promising that they opened it that quickly, but with the complexity of my application and "summer slowdown" I now fear the 30 WD will drag on...

I was really hoping to be over there by June 1st as I have dogs to fly with and summer months are no good for them in airplanes.

I'm not sure if this will make you feel better or not, but we're at 41 WD priority today (not counting holidays). I've seen a couple of similar timelines on Facebook groups. We gave in an emailed our MP on Friday to see if they could find out why ours is taking longer than most. Not sure if that was the right thing to do, but we feel like we're slowly going insane so we did.

Jumping on here so I can follow timelines close to mine! 
I have applied using the priority service.

Married: 28/09/2018
Submitted online application: 16/04/2019
Biometrics: 29/04/2019
Documents sent to NY:30/04/2019
"Prepared for consideration by ECO" email received: 02/05/2019
Documents arrived in NY, refused and returned: 02/05/2019
Documents resent: 06/05/2019
Documents successfully delivered in NY: 07/05/2019


I definitely am confused about why I received the ECO email, considering my package was refused. However, I am just happy my package has actually been delivered, the countdown officially begins.