ILR & Human Resources

Haven’t had a chance to look at your correspondence again - I’ve only had 6.5 hours of sleep since Sunday morning and I’m 4 hours into a 12-hour shift right now (yesterday was not a fun day - I worked an early morning shift on exactly zero minutes of sleep)

Flipping heck ksand. Do you work for the NHS by any chance? When Lily was born our midwives were working 13/14 hours consecutive shifts. Absolute superstars. I appreciate when you, or anyone, gets the chance. Again, everyone's dedication to this site and helping people is magnificent and very very appreciated.

That's partially why I paid for my priority processing "24 hour decision", but it turned out to have the REVERSE impact as they royally screwed up somewhere and took a month, so I then panicked that the worst had happened! LOL I wish they had the in person appointments as that might've saved me the extra stress on my coronary! haha

We did in-person for FLR(M) which was extremely lucky as I submitted the payslips that I didn't need and left out the ones I did need. As you say, out of sheer panic and checking things 20 times my brain was fried. Luckily, I was there and handed them over.

Yup, if that had been an in-person appointment, it would have saved you that month of worry. So sorry they put you through that.

Nothing for you to apologise for I've just come to expect this type of scenario from UKVI hah It was just NOT great on my rational thinking. I kept thinking "did I mess something up somehow!? But KF saw my stuff and I KNOW it's all fine!" lol

Lesson to you, Ben. If it isn't processed within their quoted time-frame, try not to panic as it doesn't automatically mean there's an issue.

We did in-person for FLR(M) which was extremely lucky as I submitted the payslips that I didn't need and left out the ones I did need. As you say, out of sheer panic and checking things 20 times my brain was fried. Luckily, I was there and handed them over.

When putting everything into an envelope in preparation a few days before the appointment, I freaked out as I hadn't remembered where I put my LitUK pass certificate. It was in it's folder, where all the important documents were but, as you said, my brain was totally fried at that point so I was struggling to remember just where the folder was! lol

Nothing for you to apologise for I've just come to expect this type of scenario from UKVI hah It was just NOT great on my rational thinking. I kept thinking "did I mess something up somehow!? But KF saw my stuff and I KNOW it's all fine!" lol

Lesson to you, Ben. If it isn't processed within their quoted time-frame, try not to panic as it doesn't automatically mean there's an issue.

When putting everything into an envelope in preparation a few days before the appointment, I freaked out as I hadn't remembered where I put my LitUK pass certificate. It was in it's folder, where all the important documents were but, as you said, my brain was totally fried at that point so I was struggling to remember just where the folder was! lol

This has raised a curious question from me that I'll raise in 'Chit Chat'

This has raised a curious question from me that I'll raise in 'Chit Chat'

In a (probably failed) attempt to be psychic and answer your question already:

1. If it's not processed in the time-frame quoted, don't panic. It will not impact your wife's right to work even if it goes over the date (as discussed). They can take up to a certain amount of time (I can't remember if it's 6-8 weeks or if I'm confusing that with something else)  depending on the processing service you pay for and you will get a refund if it's processed outside of the time frames you paid for (you just need to raise a request and - if you're me - chase them up about it too lol).

2. if you forget something on the day but it's uploaded, I wouldn't panic too much unless it's your passport. Out of the two time I've used the "new service" since the beginning of the year, the ONLY document they specifically asked to see was my passport.

3. If you forgot to upload something but you have it with you on the day, they should be able to upload it for you.

In a (probably failed) attempt to be psychic and answer your question already:

1. If it's not processed in the time-frame quoted, don't panic. It will not impact your wife's right to work even if it goes over the date (as discussed). They can take up to a certain amount of time (I can't remember if it's 6-8 weeks or if I'm confusing that with something else)  depending on the processing service you pay for and you will get a refund if it's processed outside of the time frames you paid for (you just need to raise a request and - if you're me - chase them up about it too lol).

2. if you forget something on the day but it's uploaded, I wouldn't panic too much unless it's your passport. Out of the two time I've used the "new service" since the beginning of the year, the ONLY document they specifically asked to see was my passport.

3. If you forgot to upload something but you have it with you on the day, they should be able to upload it for you.

I am so confused by this new system. Do they actually take any documents? Are they purely satisfied by scans? Also KoD, we will be applying with the super premium 24 hour decision like yours. How much of a refund did you receive from the £800?

Flipping heck ksand. Do you work for the NHS by any chance? When Lily was born our midwives were working 13/14 hours consecutive shifts. Absolute superstars. I appreciate when you, or anyone, gets the chance. Again, everyone's dedication to this site and helping people is magnificent and very very appreciated.

No, I work for the Met Office . The lack of sleep was my fault though - I got back from the US Saturday night and the jet lag plus a pounding headache meant I got no sleep at all Sunday night... and I had to be back in work at 6:30am yesterday. Luckily I got 5.5 hours of sleep last night.


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Nothing for you to apologise for I've just come to expect this type of scenario from UKVI hah It was just NOT great on my rational thinking.

I was sympathising.     

Do they actually take any documents? Are they purely satisfied by scans?

No. You scan everything in at home ahead of the appointment (or you pay them to scan it in at the appointment). I think I may have even advised this on one of your previous posts earlier in the threads, but literally you don't send ANYTHING. You scan the documents and upload them to the Sopra Steria website in the designated area and then take them to the appointment in case they need to re-scan or check anything before sending the application off. That is it. Yes, they are satisfied with the scans only (but they have to be scans of the ORIGINAL documents which is why you must take originals with you to the appointment in case they need to see them for whatever reason). Thankfully they realise we live in a digital age now.

Also KoD, we will be applying with the super premium 24 hour decision like yours. How much of a refund did you receive from the £800?

All of it. I can't remember if I paid £800 or if the price has gone up AGAIN since they introduced the new process (will be surprised if it has but ILR and Naturalisation applications are bleeding together in my brain just now), but I DEFINITELY got it all back. You should be refunded for the entire amount if they deem that they did not process the application within the paid for period (unless they can provide evidence that it is your fault for some reason - I.E. they required more information).

I was sympathising.     

hahah I know I just always feel bad not acknowledging the sympathy but I am rubbish at people sympathising for me as I'm like "Oh well, there are people in far worse situations than mine! Don't feel bad for me!" hahah

All of it. I can't remember if I paid £800 or if the price has gone up AGAIN since they introduced the new process (will be surprised if it has but ILR and Naturalisation applications are bleeding together in my brain just now), but I DEFINITELY got it all back

It increased from £610 to £800 around March or April 2019 - whenever the new fees came out. Luckily, most of the visa fees stayed the same .



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It increased from £610 to £800 around March or April 2019 - whenever the new fees came out. Luckily, most of the visa fees stayed the same .



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haha was going to say I thought I was going crazy because I was sure I paid more like £600.... I know that it increased very slightly (by like £100 max) from November until January when I applied as I remember somebody else applying at a slightly lower price AND they hadn't started charging for the extra services initially when the other person had their appointment but they DID start charging by the time I submitted mine at the beginning of the day. There's a chance that the additional services might've changed again as well I suppose, but almost £200 price increase at a time they still hadn't really properly worked out all the kinks from my experience seems a bit crazy...but then it's not a massive surprised because it was the time of year when they increase fees anyways and I guess it could've increased even more if they really wanted to..

No. You scan everything in at home ahead of the appointment (or you pay them to scan it in at the appointment). I think I may have even advised this on one of your previous posts earlier in the threads, but literally you don't send ANYTHING. You scan the documents and upload them to the Sopra Steria website in the designated area and then take them to the appointment in case they need to re-scan or check anything before sending the application off. That is it. Yes, they are satisfied with the scans only (but they have to be scans of the ORIGINAL documents which is why you must take originals with you to the appointment in case they need to see them for whatever reason). Thankfully they realise we live in a digital age now.

All of it. I can't remember if I paid £800 or if the price has gone up AGAIN since they introduced the new process (will be surprised if it has but ILR and Naturalisation applications are bleeding together in my brain just now), but I DEFINITELY got it all back. You should be refunded for the entire amount if they deem that they did not process the application within the paid for period (unless they can provide evidence that it is your fault for some reason - I.E. they required more information).

Okay. Could a tactic be to apply for the £800 24 hour turn around in the hope its a few days late. All my money is refunded and it only takes 3 days to be processed 

Okay. Could a tactic be to apply for the £800 24 hour turn around in the hope its a few days late. All my money is refunded and it only takes 3 days to be processed 

It could definitely be a tactic but I wouldn't bank on them being late :p I would strongly advise if you don't have the savings to be able to afford to be out £800 (I have no idea what your financials are like so I am not trying to say you can or can't afford it, by the way), then I wouldn't do it. Sods law if you plan for them to process it late they will give you a response within a mere few hours and if you are expecting a 24 hour turnaround, it'll be a few weeks. It's a risky tactic to take, but if you like a gamble and can afford to be without the £800, it's an approach you could totally take and hope it pays off lol

It could definitely be a tactic but I wouldn't bank on them being late :p I would strongly advise if you don't have the savings to be able to afford to be out £800 (I have no idea what your financials are like so I am not trying to say you can or can't afford it, by the way), then I wouldn't do it. Sods law if you plan for them to process it late they will give you a response within a mere few hours and if you are expecting a 24 hour turnaround, it'll be a few weeks. It's a risky tactic to take, but if you like a gamble and can afford to be without the £800, it's an approach you could totally take and hope it pays off lol

We might meet in the middle and do the £500 5-day turnaround!

I take it she obviously can't travel out of the country in the application time period?