Best/least expensive way to post settlement visa docs from US to UK?

Hi Everyone,

Just wondering about the best options for mailing the settlement visa documents from the US to the UK (and back).

The VFS global charge for return shipping, at just over $200 seemed a little pricey, but I'm not sure about the other options. I know to steer clear of FedEx as UKVI can't use them.

Does anyone have any pointers please?

Thanks

You should send the documents by UPS or DHL overnight - which is likely to cost between $100 and $150 each way.

Sheffield can't return documents by FedEx so don't use them.

The VFS Global shipping option is just pre-paid, fixed price UPS shipping so you can see whether it's cheaper to do it yourself or if VFS is better value.


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We paid $85 to send via UPS.   We used VFS for the return.

I think the VFS shipping is "padded" by maybe $30-50, which is annoying, but really small change compared with the whole visa process.

Hi,

Thank you both for the replies.

I've been looking on the UPS website and there's an option under UPS Worldwide Saver or Worldwide Express to 'include return' and I can pick 'printed return label' from a drop-down list, which is included on the quotation as 'UPS returns - print return label' with a $1 charge.

I'm not sure if this means that the overall cost is for our visa paperwork to be delivered to Sheffield, and also returned back to my wife in the US. I presume that a return label will be provided once I pay for shipping that I need to print and include so UKVI can return the papers?

Has anyone had experience of using this UPS postage option? I'm confused. Only used to using Royal Mail in the UK, and for sending stuff to the US!

Actually don't worry about my above post. My wife has just informed me that she doesn't have a UPS facility that ships internationally where she lives. So I guess that option is out of the window.

Looks like I'll be paying VFS shipping for both ways instead. Is their price for overnight shipping to Sheffield? Does anyone know how long the return shipping to the US would take?

Also, sorry for the stupid questions but I'm stressed and feel like I need to know what to expect, particularly as my wife is quite unwell at the moment and I need to make things as easy as possible for her. So...

If I pay for VFS shipping, I presume I will get two labels which need printing, one for each way. The outward to be affixed to the packaging of the documents, and the return to be included with the documents?

Where would my wife need to take the package of documents to mail it? Can she just go to her local post office or leave it in her mailbox, or does she have to take it to a UPS facility? Not sure where, if she says the ones nearby won't ship internationally 

I wish I could just send it all myself!

We just used the VFS return label and the package took 2-3 days to arrive.

You can find UPS drop off locations here:

https://www.ups.com/dropoff

Note that the return has to be signed for so pick an address where someone will be in to sign for it

Looks like I'll be paying VFS shipping for both ways instead. Is their price for overnight shipping to Sheffield? Does anyone know how long the return shipping to the US would take?

Yes, I believe it's overnight shipping. It should be overnight back to the US as well (since presumably that's what you're paying for) - I think most people have received their visas within 2-3 days of getting the 'decision made' email from Sheffield.

If I pay for VFS shipping, I presume I will get two labels which need printing, one for each way. The outward to be affixed to the packaging of the documents, and the return to be included with the documents?

The instructions are on the VFS website:

How to apply for this service?

Following completion of your online visa application you can visit our website to purchase the Courier service.

You should follow the steps set our below:

-    Select type of courier service

-    Complete all required fields including your preferred return courier address.

-    Print out your return courier airway bill and including it with your application supporting documents. Please note that failure to follow this direction may result in delay in the UKVI DMC sending your documents back to you

-    Print out the service confirmation receipt and include it with your application supporting documents.

-    If you purchase the Round Trip Courier Service you will be required to print out your airway bill and visit your closest UPS store to acquire a UPS envelope for your documents to be mailed in. Please visit the UPS site here to find your closest UPS store.

http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/usa/user_pay_services.html

Where would my wife need to take the package of documents to mail it? Can she just go to her local post office or leave it in her mailbox, or does she have to take it to a UPS facility? Not sure where, if she says the ones nearby won't ship internationally 

She has to take it to a UPS faciility, since VFS Global Shipping is just pre-paid UPS shipping... so she may find that she has the same problem with her local UPS store.

What about using DHL instead? Would that be easier in terms of finding a location to ship it from?