UK Visa Settlement Processing Time

Please document your waiting (processing) time for the UK visa settlement.  Please note which consulate you applied to.

NY Consulate.  Settlement Visa for UK.

I sent priority mail through the post office and sent out on June June 8th and confirmed through post office NY Consulate rec'd June 11th.  Then I got an email from NY Consulate on June 16th that they were processing. On July 9th I got my email stating they had approved it!

All and all 18 days from the day they sent the email stating processing and that wasn't too shabby considering July 4th had happened and I am sure they were clsoed on the 5th and perhaps vacations as well.

Good luck!

Chicago consulate, 10 business days from them receiving the documents until the approval email. Priority processing paid for

Thanks for the replies. I will be sending out the application and supporting documents to the NYC consulate on Monday. I have already completed biometrics.  I have used an immigration lawyer in the UK and this has been such a lengthy and expensive process (she has taken over a month to compile my documents and cover letter). Im ready to get back to the UK and join my unmarried partner.  I have been in the Uk for the last 5 years with my partner on various visas (work and study).

I will not be using the priority service, unfortunely so I hope the decision time is swift. I had an application to the home office redused over a very minor reason last month so I could not use the priority service.  This is a bummer 

Have you paid for the priority service or regular?

I will not be using the priority service, unfortunely so I hope the decision time is swift. I had an application to the home office redused over a very minor reason last month so I could not use the priority service.  This is a bummer 

They have changed the rules for the priority service very slightly recently - before, you couldn't use the service if you had been refused a visa in the past, but now you can use the service if you want to, but they can't guarantee that it will be processed within the 15 working days timeframe.

From Worldbridge:

You may experience extended processing times if any of the following applies to you:

   1. You have previously been refused a visa for the UK, and/or;
   2. You have previously been refused leave to enter the UK, and/or
   3. You have previously been deported, removed, or otherwise required to leave the UK, and/or;
   4. You have overstayed a period of leave in the UK, and/or;
   5. You have been refused leave to remain in the UK by the UK Border Agency, and/or;
   6. You have any unspent criminal convictions in the UK or the USA

If any of the above applies to you, your visa application will continue to be treated as priority and processed ahead of other settlement visa applications, although your application may be identified as an exceptional case and processing may take longer than 15 working days.

So, you can still use the priority service, but it might take a little longer to get your visa (however, possibly not as long as it would take if you didn't use the service).

Thank you for the advice. Unfortunately I just sent my application today, after I read that worldbridge had changed their rules.  I wish I could have used the priority service. I even paid $10 to Worldbridge last month to make sure I wasnt eligible to use the service.

Is there anyway I can use the priority service even though I sent my application to the UK consulate?

I dont want to waste even more money by calling worldbridge. This whole process has already cost over $6000.00 and is causing way too much stress.

MY VISA HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!!

10 business day. Priority Service. Drop Box Chicago!!!!

wahoooo

MY VISA HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!!

10 business day. Priority Service. Drop Box Chicago!!!!

wahoooo

Congratz 

Has anyone else had a short processing time for a settlement visa?

Thank you for the advice. Unfortunately I just sent my application today, after I read that worldbridge had changed their rules.  I wish I could have used the priority service. I even paid $10 to Worldbridge last month to make sure I wasnt eligible to use the service.

Is there anyway I can use the priority service even though I sent my application to the UK consulate?

I dont want to waste even more money by calling worldbridge. This whole process has already cost over $6000.00 and is causing way too much stress.

No, once the Consulate has received your application you cannot add the Settlement Priority Service. You can cancel your application, lose your fee and reapply, do your bio's over & then resubmit using the service...but then you're looking at spending another $1000ish which is probably not something you want to do.

LA Application Center 
Arrived and Began Processing on June 29th
Non-priority
25 days and counting

hello everyone! i'm new around here though i've been lurking for a few days

i sent in my application on the 13th of July to Chicago, non priority. (i didn't know priority existed!)

on the 14th of July i received my email that they'd received the application.

yesterday, the 2nd of August, my fiance received a phone call asking if he supports my Visa application and wanted to confirm his job. (eeeek, this got me very excited and tense)

now, the 3rd of August is day 15 for us...

i'm crossing my fingers and toes and eyes that we get our confirmation soon!!!

Application Completed on-line: Tuesday July 13th
My processing time so far:

Biometrics Appointment: Monday July 19th (booked the first available appointment)

Application Sent by Express Delivery: Monday July 26th

Application has reached NY Consulate (UPS tracking): Tuesday July 27th

Email Received: Application was received by the NY UK Consulate:  Thursday July 29th

Now just waiting for an email stating when my passport will be sent back!

So far I have waited 5 business days since I have received an email from the NY consulate.  I have used the non-priority service.

FEEL FREE TO DOCUMENT YOUR SETTLEMENT VISA PROCESSING TIME

JUST got my confirmation email!!!!!!!!!!!  

ok so my times are as follows!!

application sent to Chicago (non priority): 13th of July

email from Chicago stating that they got everything: 14th of July

confirmation emaaaaail: 4th of August

total time: 16 days!!!!!!!!!

YAY!

That's awesome, congrats! Im hoping for the same processing time as you!