Spousal Visa with Priority Service - How long is too long?

Hey all.
We submitted our packet and received the confirmation email on the 5th of November. We paid for the priority service up-front, the day we sent the packet, and clearly marked it on the outside (lots). That was the last we heard from anyone. Now, this was just after Sandy blew through New York, but how behind could they have possibly gotten in two days of storm?
Is there any recourse we have to find out whether the intern accidentally round-filed it, or to obtain any sort of information regarding the processing status of our packet? Everything i've heard from friends who'd done this says that we should have heard by now. Worldbridge wants 3 bux a minute (are you /serious/), and everything i'm reading from there tells me that they aren't in the business of giving information on applications in process, only in sorting out issues after a visa has been issued.

What do we do now?

Thanks.

Depending on your application, and how well you have, or haven't prepared it completely depends on how long it will take. I've seen spouse visa's go through within a day, two days, a week, maybe two, all the way up to 6 months. If you put everything together that was needed for the application, then it should be speedy.

Remember, you're anxious and want a response ASAP, which is completely reasonable, who wouldn't want to know whether or not they've been accepted for a spouse visa? But also, they have to process it, review it, process it some more, review a bit more, and so on and so forth. I would sit back and be patient until you hear something. The storm may have set them back a bit depending on them, you should have been given a tracking label when you sent your mail in, you can use that tracking number at this link :

https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input

Just googled another site, if you have a number you could use it.

https://www.visainfoservices.com/pages/TrackYourApplication.aspx?

Just check around, it's available online for sure, otherwise just sit tight and hope for the best.

Good luck!

Usually applicants are sent an email when their application is received (different than what the delivery tracking number says.... FedEx said they got my app 28 June but the embassy didn't send me an email confirming that until 3 July), when their application is being prepared for the case worker and when their case is decided.

BUT.... not all emails make it through.  I got the 'application received' email and the next one I got was the 'visa approved' email.  I never got one saying my application was being prepared for a caseworker.....

I would assume paying for priority you would have at least received one of those emails, but it doesn't mean it's not being processed. 

Here is a link to the processing times for visas made in the US:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/usa/processing-times/?langname=UK%20English#resultTableAnchor

Assuming it's a settlement visa you're applying for, it looks like in October 46% (of priority and non-priority) were done by the 40 day mark and 92% processed in 60 days.

So, it's a little unusual that you haven't heard anything, but it could still be processed.

I'm not sure WorldBridge could help you much.... they seem less than useless and have been known to give out wrong information. 

Yeah that sounds a bit more true, I'm learning most of this stuff myself on here too, as we are about to apply for spouse visa, having more information is better! Learning something every day nearly. Good luck on the visa OP, hope it all works out for you!

Have you looked at the current processing times from the New York Consulate?  There's a page here that provides current information: http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/other-locations/ny/news/ukba-news/.  As of this moment, it lists processing times as of December 6, and it says that settlement visas are being processed in an average of 38 days.  Your priority application will be put in front of non-priority ones, of course.  Given that there have been a few holidays since you put in your application, I think you're at about 26 business days.

You mentioned that you have friends who have gone through the process.  My general understanding is that the process slowed down a fair bit this year.  Comparing yourself to people who went through at another time might be unwise, but I understand the temptation.

I know from experience that the waiting is stressful -- hang in there! 

It took 39 business days for my priority fiance visa to go through.

Hey all.
We submitted our packet and received the confirmation email on the 5th of November. We paid for the priority service up-front, the day we sent the packet, and clearly marked it on the outside (lots). That was the last we heard from anyone. Now, this was just after Sandy blew through New York, but how behind could they have possibly gotten in two days of storm?
Is there any recourse we have to find out whether the intern accidentally round-filed it, or to obtain any sort of information regarding the processing status of our packet? Everything i've heard from friends who'd done this says that we should have heard by now. Worldbridge wants 3 bux a minute (are you /serious/), and everything i'm reading from there tells me that they aren't in the business of giving information on applications in process, only in sorting out issues after a visa has been issued.

What do we do now?

Thanks.

I ordered something for my sister from the West Coast just after Sandy and it took a week to get to New Jersey and then and it sat in a USPS distribution center in Kearney for over 2 weeks before it was delivered.

To clarify:

1. My packet has already gotten there, since they sent me the "we got your packet" email on the 5th of November.
2. We paid the 150 dollars to expedite the process, the day of sending, with the receipt on top of all the packet contents.
3. This is a spousal visa to join my husband for the first time; i'm not yet eligible for ILR or settlement.
4. My packet arrived at the offices after Sandy had done her damage.
5. As of today, they have had it for 26 working days (Accounting for thanksgiving days off)
6. The packet receipt confirmation email is the only contact UKBA has made with us; we have heard nothing since.


My question was mostly regarding /who/ can we talk to to find out what's going on, or even if that was possible.

There is no way to get an update.

I thought expediting was £300.  Are you sure you paid the right fee?  Isn't there an expediting for a different visa that costs less?  Somebody else that's more recent than me say so, because I came from a different era.

To clarify:
2. We paid the 150 dollars to expedite the process, the day of sending, with the receipt on top of all the packet contents.

Unfortunately you paid for the wrong priority service, which means your application will probably not be processed as priority at all.

The priority service for a settlement visa (fiance, spousal, civil partner, dependent child visa etc.) costs $300 for 15-working-day processing (but it is currently taking more like 30 working days), not $150 for 48-hour processing.

The $150 service is for all other types of application except a spousal visa or other settlement visa (in this case, 'settlement visa' means a family visa that leads to settlement, not settlement itself (as you cannot apply for settlement outside the UK anyway).

*Scream*

Thank you, we'll be looking into this.