Questions - Fiance visa to NY Consulate, experiencing longer waiting time

Hello!  I had only a couple quick questions regarding the waiting time on a submitted fiancé visa to the NY Consulate.  I submitted it using a well-known visa expediter.

My fiancé visa application arrived at the NY Consulate on June 26, and on June 29 I received this email:

Dear Applicant

Please be advised that we are making further enquiries on your application and will make a decision on your case at the earliest opportunity. Due to the additional work that must be completed the estimated processing time for your application has been revised and may now be up to 10 working days from today's date. For this reason we strongly recommend that you do not purchase flight tickets at this stage.

You will receive further notification by e-mail once we have made a decision on your application.



Regards

New York Visa Team.

It has since been nearly a month, and 20 working days from when the email was received.  I have not received any other contact in the meantime.  I know and understand the Consulate has to be very busy, especially this time of the year  - but because I received the 10 working day estimation, should I be worried?  Is there anyone to contact to see if there is another estimated deadline on my application, since the original one has doubled?

The ukvisas.gov.uk "Guide to visa application centre processing times" does say this for settlement visas to the NY consulate, during June 2009: 92% in 15 days, 99% in 30 days, 100% in 60 days.  Do these days start once the visa has been received, or once it has been opened by them? 

Call your expeditor, since that is what you pay them for...I'd call them everyday until you get your visa or the refusal. Applications submitted by expediter are normally processed in 24-48 hours...UNLESS you have previous issues (refusals or bounces) with UK immigration, then the hard copy of the documentation needs to be sent from the UK to the US Consulate processing your application.

But really it's the responsibility of your expeditor to keep you informed. I'd call them right now.

Thanks for the response, WebyJ.  I have been calling my expediter almost as a daily ritual now.  Each time I get the response, "Sorry, unfortunately there have been no updates.  We will contact you as soon as we hear anything." 

I had previously been denied entry the last time I visited the UK in 2008, and realized my application would take longer to process than a straight-forward situation.

Is there something else I should be asking my expediter?  Should they be able to tell me more detailed information from the Consulate, rater than just "no updates"?

You can ask them: "Why?" and if they do not give you an acceptable answer ask to speak to a supervisor and complain and request refund of your fee that you paid them since they are not performing the duties you hired them for. Because at this point, it seems that your application has actually taken longer than normal submissions that were received at about the same time.

You can also send an email to the complaints department at the NY Consulate (Visa_ComplaintsNY@fco.gov.uk) requesting an update and I would tag that onto a forward of the email you received on June 29. Since they have passed the 10 business day quote that they gave you.

This advice is my own personal opinion and your results may vary, but it couldn't hurt.

Thanks very much, WebyJ.  I had no idea where to even start.

I have emailed the complaints department at the NY Consulate (thanks for the address).
Will be sure to post here if anything comes out of that.

And when I call for my daily update on Monday, I will certainly give talking to the supervisor a try.  Sadly didn't think of that before.

Best of luck to you...it would be nice to hear if you get an update and of course when you get the visa results as well.

After sending an email to the complaints department at the NY Consulate last Friday, as WebyJ suggested - I have now received this email earlier today:

Dear xxxx

I apologise for the delay in processing your application.  However, after making further enquires, I have reviewed your application and have now issued your visa, which will be ready for your courier to pick up later today.

For you information I attach UKBAIG customer service targets, which may be useful should you wish or need to make another application with us in the near future.

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/aboutus/customerservicestandards/ [nofollow]

Many thanks

It's been approved!!  From the wording, it seems like sending that email actually hurried the process along, oddly.  So thanks an absolute million for your suggestion and help, WebyJ!  Could not thank you and this forum enough.     

Good for you!!  What great news.  Weby Rules!

Thanks, Mirrajay.  I've seen so many people on this forum with the happy news - I never thought I would be able to be one of them!

Also, my fiance had posted about our situation when I was denied entry previously:  http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=49769.0 [nofollow] (The one who got in trouble for babysitting...)

After going through that sticky situation at the airport, and reading some of the posts on there.. I was honestly quite doubtful (but hoping!) the fiance visa would go through.  So, so thrilled I was wrong.

And to Garry - I didn't read those posts at the time, and didn't realize you would have liked a detention narrative.  If you are still interested, please let me know and I would be more than happy to write one for you.  My mother and I did lodge a complaint with two of my state's senators and one congressman.  Both senator offices contacted UK Immigration on my behalf.

Congrats...I am glad it has all worked out in the end!

It's been approved!!  From the wording, it seems like sending that email actually hurried the process along, oddly.  So thanks an absolute million for your suggestion and help, WebyJ!  Could not thank you and this forum enough.     

Good for you!!  What great news.  Weby Rules!

Aww thanks you guys! You've made my day! 

academiesk - Congratulations! I'm glad I could help and that it worked out for you...now, go on and enjoy your life!

Adding my 'huzzah' to the general congratulations!