Query re: SET (M) and priority services

Hi guys,

We are now at the time where we are in the window to apply for our SET (M) visa for ILR.  We have kept all the paperwork and thanks to everyones amazing advise on this forum found out about the necessity of the Life in the UK test, which has now been completed.  I do have a couple of questions just to focus on how we approach this application...

We were intending to not get a priority service and wait out the six months, however given the COVID-19 outbreak meaning that it may be pretty essential to get back to the USA at some point over the next six months (once travel bans are lifted etc.) then we have decided the extra cost for getting priority service is now a necessity, we are struggling to find a great deal of information about this route other than the cost and that they are available, therefore...

1) I have seen priority (500 quid) and super priority (800 quid) mentioned, would both be available for a SET (M) application or just the super priority?

2) How do I book this, do I start the online form and go from there or is the process different?

3) Do I need to have all my documents saved (as PDF or whatever) or printed and take them along? Or do I submit online? No idea how much of the process we complete ourselves pre-appointment.

4) Does anyone have any idea how long wait times are to make a booking for priority? We would be booking at Cardiff ideally.

5) How do the biometrics work? Are they taken at the priority/super priority appt?

6) Is there anything else I need to be aware of regarding the priority services? We have no idea about this process of what to expect.

Thank you so much for all the help all the contributors give on this forum, it is incredible what you all do as a community! Stay safe everyone!

Is anyone able to give us any indication with regards to the above? We are hoping to book things this week as hubby is really panicking with all the lockdown talk and what not, with the visa expiring in May.

Sorry if the questions are basic, I did try looking round.  We are just really not good with this stuff

I believe super priority is the only option.  Not aware of a £500 option.

You will be prompted to book an appointment after you submit the application.

Whether you upload yourself or take to the appointment for upload is dependent on the type of appointment you book.

Wait times are anyones guess.  The higher the price for the appointment, the quicker you will be seen.  "Free" appointments tend to be 6-8 weeks out.  I think super priority is usually a week or so out.

Just get it in quick.  They may close offices before long.  My work has gone from "wow this sucks" on Friday to "holy f***  no one can pay any bills, company or personal" in the space of 10 business hours. 

I believe super priority is the only option.  Not aware of a £500 option.

You will be prompted to book an appointment after you submit the application.

Whether you upload yourself or take to the appointment for upload is dependent on the type of appointment you book.

Wait times are anyones guess.  The higher the price for the appointment, the quicker you will be seen.  "Free" appointments tend to be 6-8 weeks out.  I think super priority is usually a week or so out.

Just get it in quick.  They may close offices before long.  My work has gone from "wow this sucks" on Friday to "holy f***  no one can pay any bills, company or personal" in the space of 10 business hours. 

Thank you so much for your reply.  And I can totally relate regarding the tone changing rapidly with your work. As can hubby, who is a health care worker with the NHS.

When you say whether we upload is dependent on the type of application I book, what exactly do you mean? I thought from what you said that super priority is the only option?

Also, is there anywhere that there is a check list for documents to include for the SET (M) to your knowledge? I've been working off the guidance doc for it but when I printed it, it came out as 26 pages and I'm nervous im going to miss something.

Thank you once again KFDancer

When you say whether we upload is dependent on the type of application I book, what exactly do you mean? I thought from what you said that super priority is the only option?

Uploading yourself at home is free. If you want them to scan and upload your documents for you at the appointment, you have to pay extra. It's about £50 extra for document scanning, or you can book an Enhanced appointment for £70 which includes document checking and scanning.

If you want to use Super Priority, you pay for it (£800) when you apply online, then you go to the UKVCAS website to book your biometrics appointment.

The biometrics appointment options are:
- Biometrics only appointment (upload at home) = £0 (possible wait of 6-8 weeks for an available appointment)
- Out of hours/same day/next day biometrics only appointment (upload at home) = £110 (short wait for appointment)
- Document scanning = £49.99, can be added to above appointments
- Document checking = £44.99,  can be added to above appointments
- Enhanced appointment (biometrics plus document checking and scanning) = £69.99
- Premium appointment (you get tea, coffee, snacks, newspapers) = I think £210-270

See here for more information about the appointment options, but be aware that certain appointment types are only available at certain centres:
https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services

Also, is there anywhere that there is a check list for documents to include for the SET (M) to your knowledge? I've been working off the guidance doc for it but when I printed it, it came out as 26 pages and I'm nervous im going to miss something.

The online application should tell you what documents to include, but it isn't very good at listing everything you need. So, if you post a list here of everything you are sending, we can check if you have it all.

Uploading yourself at home is free. If you want them to scan and upload your documents for you at the appointment, you have to pay extra. It's about £50 extra for document scanning, or you can book an Enhanced appointment for £70 which includes document checking and scanning.

If you want to use Super Priority, you pay for it (£800) when you apply online, then you go to the UKVCAS website to book your biometrics appointment.

The biometrics appointment options are:
- Biometrics only appointment (upload at home) = £0 (possible wait of 6-8 weeks for an available appointment)
- Out of hours/same day/next day biometrics only appointment (upload at home) = £110 (short wait for appointment)
- Document scanning = £49.99, can be added to above appointments
- Document checking = £44.99,  can be added to above appointments
- Enhanced appointment (biometrics plus document checking and scanning) = £69.99
- Premium appointment (you get tea, coffee, snacks, newspapers) = I think £210-270

See here for more information about the appointment options, but be aware that certain appointment types are only available at certain centres:
https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services

The online application should tell you what documents to include, but it isn't very good at listing everything you need. So, if you post a list here of everything you are sending, we can check if you have it all.

Thank you so much, last question for now I promise... when you say checking and scanning, I assume that means they check over all of the documents you have to ensure you have provided everything? Do they give an opportunity for you to add something if you dont have everything? And with the Enhanced Appt do you get the next day biometrics too or is that the 110 quid extra again?

I will get through everything on the weekend and will post as suggested, thank you so much once again!

Let us know if you get a confirmation code after submitting the application. They seemed to have missed sending me one. I may just have to bite the bullet tomorrow and borrow my wife's home phone and pay the huge fee to call them to find out what is going on. I was going for the priority route.

Thank you so much, last question for now I promise... when you say checking and scanning, I assume that means they check over all of the documents you have to ensure you have provided everything?

Well, technically, yes, though I'm not sure how thorough they are or if they even know what you should have with you! Personally, I wouldn't trust them to know what they're doing and would make sure I knew that I had everything with me.

Do they give an opportunity for you to add something if you dont have everything?

Well, you would have to have it all with you at the appointment, so you could hand it to them if they needed it. I don't think there would be an opportunity to add anything later as it all must be submitted at the appointment.

Hence the reason we suggest you post your document list here, so we can make sure you DO have everything before you get to the appointment.

To note though, that the documents you need for ILR are almost exactly the same as for FLR(M), so you should already have experience with what you need to submit, from your last visa application .

And with the Enhanced Appt do you get the next day biometrics too or is that the 110 quid extra again?

No, a next-day appointment is £110 for biometrics only and no other services... so if you wanted the extra scanning/checking services, you would have to add them on top of the £110.

Same goes for Super Priority - you're paying the £800 to UKVI for a fast decision, not to UKVCAS/Sopra Steria for extra services... so I believe you have to pay the extra if you want a next-day appointment or scanning services etc., even if you've also paid the £800.