ILR Super Priority. Is it worth it?

In a few months time (Sept/Oct), my husband will begin the application for his ILR (how quickly five years passed). I've read several posts about the Super Priority option and have a couple of questions:

1. Is it true that this option is only posted at 1am?

2. Are the non super priority applications taking up to six months? I've read a variety of timelines from other posters and we'd obviously like to save the extra dosh if the ILR can be obtained within a few weeks. (We're considering travelling abroad 3 months after applying for the ILR and don't want to get caught out with no passport).

Many thanks for the assistance. It means a lot to have a forum like this for reference.

In a few months time (Sept/Oct), my husband will begin the application for his ILR (how quickly five years passed). I've read several posts about the Super Priority option and have a couple of questions:

1. Is it true that this option is only posted at 1am?

2. Are the non super priority applications taking up to six months? I've read a variety of timelines from other posters and we'd obviously like to save the extra dosh if the ILR can be obtained within a few weeks. (We're considering travelling abroad 3 months after applying for the ILR and don't want to get caught out with no passport).

Many thanks for the assistance. It means a lot to have a forum like this for reference.

1-Yes, during British Summer Time and midnight when the clocks change in the Autumn.

2-There's no way of guaranteeing you'll have your ILR in 3 months except to pay for priority.

Thank you. I was afraid the 1am item might be true -- just one more way for the Home Office to make this an onerous experience.

Do you have any idea of the likelihood of getting a slot if we stay up until that hour to do so?

Thank you. I was afraid the 1am item might be true -- just one more way for the Home Office to make this an onerous experience.

Do you have any idea of the likelihood of getting a slot if we stay up until that hour to do so?

Likelihood is good. Everyone who has tried this has managed.

It was WELL worth it for me, and I just set an alarm to get up and book the priority application. I had my answer in 3 hours.


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It was WELL worth it for me, and I just set an alarm to get up and book the priority application. I had my answer in 3 hours.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It was WELL worth it for me, and I just set an alarm to get up and book the priority application. I had my answer in 3 hours.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you. I was afraid the 1am item might be true -- just one more way for the Home Office to make this an onerous experience.

Do you have any idea of the likelihood of getting a slot if we stay up until that hour to do so?

I had no issues getting a slot, sadly ran into issues with their processing of it and I don't know if they'll return the fee if it's found they made a mistake.


Worth mentioning for anyone who reads in the future it will probably go back to 12 midnight when we return to GMT in autumn. It's 1am BST from spring.

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In a few months time (Sept/Oct), my husband will begin the application for his ILR (how quickly five years passed). I've read several posts about the Super Priority option and have a couple of questions:

1. Is it true that this option is only posted at 1am?

2. Are the non super priority applications taking up to six months? I've read a variety of timelines from other posters and we'd obviously like to save the extra dosh if the ILR can be obtained within a few weeks. (We're considering travelling abroad 3 months after applying for the ILR and don't want to get caught out with no passport).

Many thanks for the assistance. It means a lot to have a forum like this for reference.

It is 100% worth it. We did it, with the Biometrics last Saturday morning at 11am and an approval email on Monday morning. When I think back to previous visa applications where we had to wait months for a response the super priority makes it all worth while.  From another thread I posted:

Use mbmoffat's thread at https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=100139.0 for reference.

1. Collect all your documents as per the thread mentioned. There's a few iterations on what is needed but page 8 has latest view
2. Apply at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-settle-in-the-uk-form-setm/apply-online-form-setm
3. At 2 you can save and carry on to next section until you have all the data ready to go. And go back to start to recheck data
4. Once you're happy with all the data, plus you have all the documentation and scanned into pdf (actually PDFs need uploading 2 days before Biometrics so you have time to prepare after this bit) then there is a choice before you Submit
5. Standard is £2404 and Super priority is £3204 BUT Super Priority option only appears at 1am BST !!
5a. So wait and do not Submit until you get the option of super priority. If it doesn't appear try next day. I saw it first time I tried.
6. Refresh before 1am and you just see standard. At 1am you see Super Priority pop up. Select it and Submit the application.
7. You pay the money and then get a code emailed to applicant to log into UKVCAS website (run by Sopra Steria)
8. Follow the link in email to UKVCAS website to register and then enter your postcode and find where Biometrics are available.
9. I think (experts will confirm) that only so many are release each night. So pick quickly, but dont rush it
10. Be sure to give yourself at least 3-4 days before Biometrics as you will want to upload your pdfs 2 days before Biometrics. And it's nicer to recheck the pdfs.
10a. Only when at UKVCAS after you upload all your PDFs and then Submit are you ready for Biometrics
11. Biometrics. Take your passport/BRP and the big QR print-out that is emailed to you after Biometrics location/date is chosen. I brought along support documentation but it was never asked for.
12. ILR approval the next business day.

Thank you to everyone for good feedback.

I have one more question: We notice that you are unable to leave the UK for more than two years once you get the ILR. If one travels overseas for 18 months (or anything less than 2 years), then returns for a short period of time (one month, for example), is this acceptable or does it start the clock ticking again if you don't remain in the UK?

I have one more question: We notice that you are unable to leave the UK for more than two years once you get the ILR. If one travels overseas for 18 months (or anything less than 2 years), then returns for a short period of time (one month, for example), is this acceptable or does it start the clock ticking again if you don't remain in the UK?

Short/temporary visits will not be enough to keep your ILR status active.

In order to keep ILR by returning within the 2 years, you would need to be able to show you were moving back to the UK for the foreseeable future and intended to make the UK your permanent home again.

The easiest way to prevent this from happening, and to ensure that you can leave the UK for as long as you like and always be able to return to live here in the future, would be to apply for UK citizenship once you have received your ILR.

Once you have UK citizenship, you can come and go from the UK as you please, using your UK passport, for the rest of your life... you could leave for, say, 10 years and still have no problem coming back again.

Absolutely worth it for me. I paid for super priority, had an appointment within a month (holiday time), and had my approval the same day as my appointment. Otherwise, there was no guarantee how long it could take.

It was amazing after the stress when I renewed my visa in 2020.  It costs, but WOW was I thrilled with having my immigration route completed! It also let me apply for citizenship quickly, though I dragged my feet a few months gathering referees.