Limited availability for FLR(M) biometrics

I’ve just submitted my FLR(M) application expecting to be able to walk into the big post office in the city I live in to do my biometrics. I’ve asked them before, and they’ve said it’s a service they provide.

When I submitted my application, I was redirected to a website to make a biometrics appointment, and my local post office was not on the list. The only locations were an hour away, and the first availability was on 25 June! My 28 days will have passed since my husband’s pay went in and things were printed from the bank. It was all done at the end of May.

Is there any way to get in sooner? Is the post office biometrics a completely different service?

The application system has changed in recent months, and I don't believe you can give biometrics at a Post Office anymore.

I'm pretty sure you have to make an appointment for biometrics through the new third party contractor, Sopra Steria.

See here:
https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/help-support/ourinfo/bookAppointment

And the FAQ:
https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/soprasteria-ukvi-prd-ukvcas/FAQ.pdf

I’ve just submitted my FLR(M) application expecting to be able to walk into the big post office in the city I live in to do my biometrics. I’ve asked them before, and they’ve said it’s a service they provide.

When I submitted my application, I was redirected to a website to make a biometrics appointment, and my local post office was not on the list. The only locations were an hour away, and the first availability was on 25 June! My 28 days will have passed since my husband’s pay went in and things were printed from the bank. It was all done at the end of May.

Is there any way to get in sooner? Is the post office biometrics a completely different service?

The 28 days is from the date you submitted the application online.  That clock has stopped, and you're fine in that regard.   

The only locations were an hour away, and the first availability was on 25 June! My 28 days will have passed since my husband’s pay went in and things were printed from the bank. It was all done at the end of May.

That's not a problem - the 28-day count stops on the date you submitted the online application, which is your official application date.

As long as your financial documents are dated no more than 28 days before the end of May, it doesn't matter when your biometrics appointment is.

Thank you. Is there any way to get in sooner through walk-ins or calling, or do you think they are quite strict on appointments?

We were hoping to go on holiday in mid-September, and I’m worried that this will push back the processing time by another few weeks. I’m sorry if it’s already posted somewhere, but what is the average processing time at the moment?

FLR(M) is usually about 8 weeks.

Thank you. Is there any way to get in sooner through walk-ins or calling, or do you think they are quite strict on appointments?

We were hoping to go on holiday in mid-September, and I’m worried that this will push back the processing time by another few weeks. I’m sorry if it’s already posted somewhere, but what is the average processing time at the moment?

You'll be fine - you have plenty of time.

As mentioned, FLR(M) decisions are made within 8 weeks...and 8 weeks from June 25th is only mid-late August.

Also, someone just had their FLR(M) granted only 2 weeks after biometrics (they attended biometrics on May 17th and got their FLR(M) on June 1st)! So you might be lucky and get your visa by mid-July .

Thank you for all your help!

Edited: Sorry! Few more questions. It doesn’t say anything about providing photos as proof of relationship? Do we still need to do this even though we’ve already proven it in the last application? Also, is it easier to have them scan all your documents at the appointment or do it at home? Some of the bank statements etc. are well over 10 pages long, and it would take forever on our home scanner. Is there a cost involved?

Thank you again!

No, photos are not really needed, though we do recommend sending 1 photo of you together, just in case.

Not sure about the scanning at the appointment vs. at home, since the scanning is a very new change, and I don't know much about how the new system works yet. Hopefully someone else can help with info on that.

Don't know about cost, either, I'm afraid. I've heard there are various charges for appointments, from no charge, up to about £800 for a premium appointment (24-hour decision), but  don't know much about what each appointment type offers.

Also, is it easier to have them scan all your documents at the appointment or do it at home? Some of the bank statements etc. are well over 10 pages long, and it would take forever on our home scanner. Is there a cost involved

According to their site the document scanning service is currently free. Only certain sites do it mainly the larger Core centres. We didn’t go for it as it being free, I think is a very recent change.

I checked out the scanning facility during our appointment in Manchester and they just have a double sided desktop scanner with document feeder. So it’s nothing fancy, just a bit more convenient than a flatbed. They have a passport scanner, again it does the job but isn’t anything high tech. The booths are so small in Manchester I’d wouldve really found it impossible to organise my scanning, plus at home you can triple check everything before uploading and save with relevant file names and add proper notes and descriptions.

Somebody else took out scanning and had a great experience so it depends on the place I guess. It probably  would’ve been fine I just really disliked the setup in Manchester.

If you know anybody who can get you to a copier at their work/office that’s best. Big large MFC with double sided scanning, it goes really fast.

The booths are so small in Manchester I’d wouldve really found it impossible to organise my scanning, plus at home you can triple check everything before uploading and save with relevant file names and add proper notes and descriptions.

I feel the same way. If scanning had been a thing when we applied, I'd definitely have taken the extra time to do it at home and make sure it was perfect!