VFS Global Priority Service Advice please!

I didn't pay for the crazy fee but I am going to get my biometrics taken at the VFS office.

You are not allowed to attend biometrics at a VFS office unless you have paid for the really expensive Premium Service.

If you try to go without a premium appointment you will be turned away and will not be able to give biometrics.

If you can, you’ll need to go back into the online application, cancel the VFS appointment and make the correct appointment at a USCIS Center.

If it won’t let you do that, you may have to cancel the application, apply for a refund and then start over again.


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It let me choose where I wanted it to happen so I chose this location.

According to another website you can't use the VFS location if you've already had your biometrics taken at another location. Also found this article:

The services on offer at the Premium Application Centres are:

Super Priority Visa Service: Next day processing and return of your visa
Priority Visa Service: Quicker processing of your visa application within 3 to 5 days
Flexible appointment choices during regular or prime time appointment slots
Walk-in Without an Appointment: Walk in without a prior appointment
Passport and Document Pickup during flexible hours
Biometric enrolment: Fingerprint, signature, photo and biographic data capture
Digital Assist: Personalised form-filling services at the centre
Get it Right Service: Personalised document checking by the centre staff and the opportunity to submit missing documents to the UK Decision Making Centre within prescribed time-frame
Certification Service: Copies of your original documents are certified by the centre staff, allowing you to submit certified copies instead of your originals
Courier Service: Express delivery to the UK Decision Making Centre and return courier mail service of your passport and documents to the address of your choice
SMS Service: Automated real-time messages on the status of your passport and documents at each stage of your application

It let me choose where I wanted it to happen so I chose this location.

Other people have also been caught out by this and have been turned away by VFS Global.

Unless you have purchased a premium service, you cannot give biometrics at a VFS centre.

You must go to an ASC (Application Support Center) which is run by US immigration.

From the UKVI website regarding applying in the USA:

2. Go to your appointment
You must book your biometric appointment at a US Department of Homeland Security application support centre (ASC) when you apply online. This is to have your photo and fingerprints taken (known as ‘biometric information’).

When you visit the ASC for your biometrics appointment, please take your current passport, a print out of your application form and a copy of your biometric confirmation receipt. You can print your receipt when you apply online.

Cell phones, cameras and other recording devices are not permitted inside the ASC.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visa-in-the-usa

You can find the location of your nearest USCIS ASC here:
https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=ASC

According to another website you can't use the VFS location if you've already had your biometrics taken at another location.

Yes, that’s correct. That means you can’t get biometrics taken at an ASC and then try to submit your documents at the VFS centre.

The majority of people can’t give their biometrics at the VFS location... because they have to attend the USCIS ASC to give biometrics. You need to purchase one of the special premium services in order to be able to give biometrics at VFS locations.


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Some examples of people incorrectly booking an appointment at a VFS centre instead of a USCIS ASC and how they sorted it out:

From March 2018:
https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=93181.msg1222807#msg1222807

From Feb 2018 (they purchased the wrong service and were turned away from VFS and had to rebook biometrics at a USCIS ASC:
 https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=92926.msg1218615#msg1218615

From Dec. 2017:
https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=92042.msg1211290#msg1211290

From Oct 2017:
https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=92017.msg1203958#msg1203958



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Sorry, sorry, sorry I see what you're saying. Yes, I will be going to a USCIS office tomorrow. I was told they will honor the appointment even though I made it through VFS. Anywho, I'll let you know if that ends up being incorrect.

Sorry guys, you were totally right and I thank you as always!

Sorry, sorry, sorry I see what you're saying. Yes, I will be going to a USCIS office tomorrow. I was told they will honor the appointment even though I made it through VFS. Anywho, I'll let you know if that ends up being incorrect.

Sorry guys, you were totally right and I thank you as always!

No problem . It’s really an error of the online booking system which seems to allow you to choose a Premium Centre for biometrics even if you’re not purchasing a Premium Service.... when it should only show you to see appointments at a USCIS ASC.

It looks like the person in the first link I posted above was able to use their VFS appointment sheet to get biometrics done at an ASC, so hopefully you’ll be fine at the ASC tomorrow .


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Just an update for anybody who may read this in the future - although I booked my biometrics appointment at the Premium Centre, the USCIS honored it. For anybody in Los Angeles - the office on La Brea was fantastic. There were only two people working there (both were friendly and efficient) but I only waited about 15 minutes (two people were in front of me) and the appointment itself took about 5 minutes. Plus, there was a ton of parking which is far too rare in this town.

I took all my documents to the UPS Store that was only about 6 minutes from the office and sent it off!

Regardless of what happens, I just want to thank everybody for all your help. Those visa websites are horribly confusing and I could not have done it without you!

Just an update for anybody who may read this in the future - although I booked my biometrics appointment at the Premium Centre, the USCIS honored it. For anybody in Los Angeles - the office on La Brea was fantastic. There were only two people working there (both were friendly and efficient) but I only waited about 15 minutes (two people were in front of me) and the appointment itself took about 5 minutes. Plus, there was a ton of parking which is far too rare in this town.

I took all my documents to the UPS Store that was only about 6 minutes from the office and sent it off!

Regardless of what happens, I just want to thank everybody for all your help. Those visa websites are horribly confusing and I could not have done it without you!

Good luck! 

Regardless of what happens, I just want to thank everybody for all your help. Those visa websites are horribly confusing and I could not have done it without you!

Best of luck to you!

Should I be concerned that I never received an email stating they received my information? I checked my UPS status and it said it was delivered but it seems most people get an email confirmation from Sheffield.

Should I be concerned that I never received an email stating they received my information? I checked my UPS status and it said it was delivered but it seems most people get an email confirmation from Sheffield.

When was your package delivered? Sometimes it takes a few days before you get the email that says "Your application is currently being prepared for consideration by an Entry Clearance Officer." In some cases people don't receive the email at all but still have no problem with getting their visa approved. So try not to stress... as long as you can see it was delivered then you should be in good shape. 

It was delivered Thursday, September 27th.

Okay, that makes me feel better. Thank you so much as always!

It was delivered Thursday, September 27th.

Okay, that makes me feel better. Thank you so much as always!

Yeah, I think it happens frequently that people don't receive that email. I have even seen some cases where people receive it quite a while later also. Either way, no need to worry.

You're welcome! 

Well I'm beyond nervous now. Quick recap - I had never gotten anything from them saying they received my materials (although of course I did check the UPS tracking number and it was signed for at reception). My husband enlisted the help of his local Parliamentary official who was told on the phone that they had all my documents and were doing a second check. Then, on the 28th of November, he received an email that said "as soon as we have received her documents we will progress her application to the next process." They sent the same email to me. Am I crazy or did they just contradict themselves?

Regardless, it's not looking too good for this lady.

On the bright side, that Parliamentary guy got that answer in less than a day so that's a politician actually doing his job which is nice to see!

Visa Type: Spouse Visa
Priority Service: Yes (not through VFS)
Online app submitted: 9/25/18
Biometrics & docs sent: 9/26/18
Application delivered in NY: 9/27/18
Application received email: Never received email. Wrote to them 11/7/18 and they wrote me back 11/8/18 with the standard "I can confirm that your application is being considered and is currently awaiting a decision." Cost me $7 for that email but gave me a tiny, tiny, tiny peace of mind for a day.
Decision made email: TBA
Passport received: TBA