Biometrics @ 11am 31/01. How soon will Visitor Marriage Visa arrive w/priority?

I have paid my $112 fee for the UK Visitor Marriage Visa and booked the soonest available Biometrics testing for this coming Monday, January 31st at 11am. I will be expediting this whole process using the $150 express priority service. Given the fact that many of you have done this before, how soon can I expect to have my visa in hand? We are crossing our fingers that I will be able to have the visa by early Wednesday next week (two days after the biometrics testing) and fly out that night to arrive February 3rd in the UK. Is this not possible? Or with priority service will this all be likely to happen?

Many thanks in advance for your help!

- If you send the visa application and documents on Monday after your biometrics (and purchase the priority service just before you send it), then you can probably expect it to get there by Tuesday 1st (if you overnight it using FedEx/UPS/DHL - don't use USPS because they are slow and you can't track the package).

- Then you have to wait for them to open the application which may take a couple of days (so between Tuesday 1st and Thursday 3rd, maybe?)... they usually send an confirmation email when they start processing it.

- After that, as long as your application is straightforward, it should be processed within 48 hours... so maybe by Friday 4th, possibly by Monday 7th if the weekend doesn't count in the processing time.

- Then they have to send it back to you which might take a couple of days, depending on when they send it, so possibly Wednesday 9th?

- Then you need to check the visa for errors and if there are any mistakes on it, you will have to contact the consulate to send it back and get it corrected (usually a short process... just takes a couple of days).

- The key thing is not to book any flights until you have your visa in your hand and have made sure it is correct... you don't want to lose the money for the flight if the application is delayed or it ends up being refused for some reason.

So, my guess is that if you get the visa to the consulate by Tuesday 1st, the earliest you might get it back is Friday 4th or Saturday 5th Feb, but it could be into the next week if they don't start processing it right away... it will probably depend on how many applications are ahead of yours in the line which they'll need to process before they start yours and also how long it takes for the visa to arrive at your house once it has been approved.

However, if you have anything that might make your application non-straightforward, such as any convictions or any previous UK immigration problems (refused visa, refused entry, overstay, illegal work in the UK etc.), that could add 2-3 weeks more onto the processing time, even if you pay for the priority processing.

Hi.  Can anyone advise how long the actual biometrics appointment takes?  I have one this Monday as well and was wondering what sort of time frame to expect where there as I need to book a flight to return home that evening?  Thank you.

It depends on the ASC & how busy they are.

I had mine in Sacramento, CA and showed up 2 hours early (I had to drive 2 hours to get there and always like to be early) and they let me in and I was done & out in 10 minutes.

So early in fact, I was able to drive to the nearest FedEx Office and overnight my stuff 20 minutes after I left the Biometrics office.

I did mine in New York and was in-and-out in less than a half hour, although this was in '08

Thanks to you both.  I was planning on allowing 4 hours so that makes me feel better!  Fingers crossed!

The Worldbridge website has some information about what to expect when you go for your biometrics appointment (in the FAQ section):

What should I expect when I arrive at the Application Support Center (ASC) for my biometric appointment?
   
  On your arrival you can expect:-

    * The security guard will check your printed appointment confirmation and passport or equivalent travel document,
    * The receptionist will check the same documents that the security guard checked and will direct you to the waiting area,
    * A biometric technician will digitally scan all 10 fingers and take your digital photograph.

The actual photo and fingerprint part should only take a few minutes, but you might have to wait a while if there are a lot of people waiting to have them done. In general, though, I've heard that a lot of people here have been in and out in about 10 minutes or so.

Might I ask, has anyone ever shown up a day or two before their Biometrics testing date to see if they could be fit in a couple days early?

Yes...Mine was booked for 10 days out or something, I drove right over to see if they could take me then and they could.
It all depends on how busy they are but it is worth a try ;-)

I am utterly happy to report that they did in fact allow me to come in for my Biometrics test three days early. Not only that, I was in and out in ten minutes. Very friendly people.

Because of this, I was able to get my Visa packet sent out three days earlier as well with $150 Priority Service + Fed Ex overnight delivery. They will receive it before 10am on Monday and hopefully (fingers crossed) have it sorted out and mailed out in the pre-arranged return overnight delivery envelope by day's end Tuesday. Here's to hoping it comes back to me with no issues by next Wednesday at the very latest!

Thanks again to all of you for your help!! There are some amazing self-less people on this board, for which I am very grateful. I will most likely be dropping in again after the wedding to discuss EEA Family Permit procedures followed by EEA2!

Regards,
JP