Anyone know current T1 processesing times in Chicago?

 Congrats on getting your visa!
~A

I have applied for a fiance visa to the UK at the Chicago embassy.

They acknowledged they received my application on November 3.

I am still waiting. 

Update:  12 hours ago UPS delivered my Tier 1 visa!

That brings the final timeline to:

Oct. 24 - Visa application material UPS'd to Chicago consulate
Oct. 28 - Received email saying they had my application
Nov. 17 - Mailed a letter to the "Visa Section Manager" asking about the status of my application
Nov. 20 - Got a very polite call from the visa section saying they were waiting on "one more check"
Dec. 4 - Received email saying I'd been approved
Dec. 5 - My passport and documents arrived at my home via UPS
Dec. 9 - Me on a flight to sunny Glasgow.

Congratulations! Just in time!

Update:  12 hours ago UPS delivered my Tier 1 visa!

That brings the final timeline to:

Oct. 24 - Visa application material UPS'd to Chicago consulate
Oct. 28 - Received email saying they had my application
Nov. 17 - Mailed a letter to the "Visa Section Manager" asking about the status of my application
Nov. 20 - Got a very polite call from the visa section saying they were waiting on "one more check"
Dec. 4 - Received email saying I'd been approved
Dec. 5 - My passport and documents arrived at my home via UPS
Dec. 9 - Me on a flight to sunny Glasgow.

  I'm doing the Happy Dance for you!

I too will be going through the Tier 1 General process after Christmas. Before you jet off to Scotland, can you please share with us anything your visa says about when you/should enter the UK? Or any or instructions or suggestions it notices.

I ask because there's been much discussion and hand-wringing about time limits for initial entry and such because we've had no input on results from Tier 1 applicants this side of the pond.

It'd be nice to know what to expect. Anything you can share would be much appreciated!

Again, congratulations!

Good news for me too!
Picked up Tier 1 visas for me and my family today from the courier.

Here is my timeline:
Oct. 2 - filled out online application
Oct. 7 - biometrics
Oct 20 - dropped off all documents with a courier
Dec 8 - received a phone call from the consulate that our visas are ready

Hopefully everyone else waiting for Tier 1 from Chicago will receive their visas soon.

Exciting news! Congratulations, Papagus!

I got my visa too! 

Oct. 1--filled out online application
Oct. 29--biometrics, submitted application to courier
Dec. 11th--called courier, told that my visa has been issued!

Congrats to everyone who's gotten their visas, and good luck to everyone who's still waiting!

Congrats! Quick question: why so long between online app and biometrics appointment?

Congrats! Quick question: why so long between online app and biometrics appointment?

I was out of the country at the time I did the online application, and I didn't come back to the US until mid-October.  I'd had a trip planned with my grandma for right after I got back, so I made the biometrics date for right after I got back to Chicago.  I also wanted to wait until I got my bank statement for my maintenance funds, since those have to be less than 7 days old.

Good luck with your visa--I hope you hear something soon!

Thanks for the update. It hadn't occurred to me you could do biometrics so far after the online app. Good to know and that info might help others here.

I haven't applied yet. As it turns out the earliest date we can is 25 December (due to not moving maintenance funds from "early withdrawal penalty" funds to bank account until 26 September).

So the online app will become DH's and my most peculiar Christmas present to ourselves ever! Would have thunk!

I had to wait for my maintenance funds as well--originally I was going to apply at the end of August, but because I didn't know how much the T1 requirements were going to be, I didn't get the funds transferred into my bank account until the beginning of July. 

I hope the process goes well for you!

Thanks much. I'll keep you posted. 

Congratulations to all the new Tier 1ers! Hopefully, I will be joining your ranks in a few years.

Touch wood, but it would seem that as was suggested that things are picking up again...  Really good to see the Tier 1s speeding up.