Applications Backlog in Sheffield

Hey guys, I heard some bad news. My immigration solictor just told us that there is applications backlog in Sheffield at the moment so spouse visas even with priority can take up to 24 weeks!?
Have you guys heard anything about this because its reaaally stressing me out as I was planning to apply priority spouse visa next month (August 17th) and was hoping to move to the UK in september.
Please let me know if anyone's heard about the backlog

Hey guys, I heard some bad news. My immigration solictor just told us that there is applications backlog in Sheffield at the moment so spouse visas even with priority can take up to 24months!?
Have you guys heard anything about this because its reaaally stressing me out as I was planning to apply priority spouse visa next month (August 17th) and was hoping to move to the UK in september.
Please let me know if anyone's heard about the backlog

Not the case for USA applications.

Hey guys, I heard some bad news. My immigration solictor just told us that there is applications backlog in Sheffield at the moment so spouse visas even with priority can take up to 24months!?
Have you guys heard anything about this because its reaaally stressing me out as I was planning to apply priority spouse visa next month (August 17th) and was hoping to move to the UK in september.
Please let me know if anyone's heard about the backlog

Are you sure he said 24 months and not 24 weeks?

Processing standards times for settlement visas are 95% processed within 12 weeks and 100% within 24 weeks.

Current priority applications from the US are taking around 25-30 working days (5-6 weeks), and non-priority around 50-55 working days (around 11-12 weeks).

I would allow around 6 weeks to get your visa after you have applied.

Oh lol sorry my bad. I got so stressed that I typed months instead of weeks. Yes, the lawyer said 24 weeks.
I am not applying from the US, so would you know of non-US backlog by any chance?

Oh lol sorry my bad. I got so stressed that I typed months instead of weeks. Yes, the lawyer said 24 weeks.
I am not applying from the US, so would you know of non-US backlog by any chance?

Where are you applying from? Each country has its own processing times

Ah, I see from your previous posts that you're applying in Tanzania.

Tanzania processing times for May 2017 were:
- 8% processed in 3 working days
- 16% processed in 1 week
- 25% processed in 3 weeks
- 100% processed in 12 weeks

(Based on the percentages, I'm estimating there were around 12 applications processed in May, given that only 25 were processed in Tanzania in the first 3 months of the year)

However, that was only for decisions made in May (i.e. those people applied in February and got their decisions by May) and they haven't updated the processing times since then, so we don't know how long they are taking now.

In theory, it could take up to 24 weeks, but it's impossible to say whether that will happen or not. Though, I would allow at least 12 weeks for your application to be processed.

Ah, I see from your previous posts that you're applying in Tanzania.

Tanzania processing times for May 2017 were:
- 8% processed in 3 working days
- 16% processed in 1 week
- 25% processed in 3 weeks
- 100% processed in 12 weeks

(Based on the percentages, I'm estimating there were around 12 applications processed in May, given that only 25 were processed in Tanzania in the first 3 months of the year)

However, that was only for decisions made in May (i.e. those people applied in February and got their decisions by May) and they haven't updated the processing times since then, so we don't know how long they are taking now.

In theory, it could take up to 24 weeks, but it's impossible to say whether that will happen or not. Though, I would allow at least 12 weeks for your application to be processed.

Ksand and co, given what seems to be happening with the current summer shortage of staff and backlogs, and the email message person got a few weeks back to say applications received after end July not being processed til September, would August applicants be better to wait a few weeks? What I am asking is do you think people stand a better chance of getting processed quicker if their applications don't arrive until mid-September now?

Wow, where did you get all this data about processing times in Tanzania?


Where did you get the information that all applications at the end of July wont be processed until September? Cuz that is so stressful!

Ksand and co, given what seems to be happening with the current summer shortage of staff and backlogs, and the email message person got a few weeks back to say applications received after end July not being processed til September, would August applicants be better to wait a few weeks? What I am asking is do you think people stand a better chance of getting processed quicker if their applications don't arrive until mid-September now?

I really couldn't say because we don't know how things will play out this year or when the backlog will be cleared. Last year, the backlog didn't get cleared until October/November, but this year is a whole different ballgame.

Wow, where did you get all this data about processing times in Tanzania?

Here you go:
https://visa-processingtimes.homeoffice.gov.uk/y/dar-es-salaam-tanzania/settlement-visas/settlement

Wow, where did you get all this data about processing times in Tanzania?


Where did you get the information that all applications at the end of July wont be processed until September? Cuz that is so stressful!

Sorry last thing I want to do is add to your stress, I just wanted to help you be in best position to get quicker decision, and you can see from Ksand's response, it's hard to call, even for those people here who have been following the trends for many years. That information was just one random UKVI email received a couple of weeks back by someone on this forum. I think the best policy is to hope for the best (some do get processed quicker) and prepare for a long wait, more around the 12 week mark. You're not on your own, there are lots of people waiting alongside you and hoping for the best for you.

Wow guys thanks so much for being so kind and responding so quickly!

Last quick question: Does the backlog problem depend on what country you apply from or does this backlog affect all countries regardless of where they apply from?

Last quick question: Does the backlog problem depend on what country you apply from or does this backlog affect all countries regardless of where they apply from?

I believe it's affecting applications being processed in Sheffield (not all countries are processed in Sheffield).

What happened is that earlier this year, they moved the processing of applications from a number of different countries to Sheffield... as a result, Sheffield are now processing thousands more applications than they were a few months ago. They seem to have become overwhelmed with applications and don't have the staff capabilities to deal with them all quickly... hence the backlog.

Wow guys thanks so much for being so kind and responding so quickly!

Last quick question: Does the backlog problem depend on what country you apply from or does this backlog affect all countries regardless of where they apply from?

The backlog appears to be affecting most applicants but from information someone received today some countries are being prioritised like US and Australia which unfortunately means that some other countries are affected worse. If you look on the priority thread there is an up to date log there which shows US and non US applications and current decision times for people who have been posting here.