UK Visa Settlement Processing Time

How long does it tend to take from receiving approval by email to actually receiving the visa in hand and able to travel to the UK?

How long does it tend to take from receiving approval by email to actually receiving the visa in hand and able to travel to the UK?

The visa is overnighted to you, so once you get the approval email, it's generally a day or so before you get your passport (with affixed visa) and supporting documents back.

You can go to the UK anytime on or after the "valid from" date on your visa.  This date is usually the date you put on your application as your intended date of travel.

Business Day 12 of wait for settlement visa...

Not even close to long enough, I know, but I just wanted to vent! I am obsessively reading everything that I could have done wrong in my application, although it's certainly too late. Every time I read of someone being refused, I think "Oh no, that could be me!" I am really going quite mad. I want nothing but the email from the consulate; but at the same time, I don't want it! Husband thinks I'm nutso. I wish I had his calm demeanor (DEFINITELY the yin to my yang).

Anyone else currently waiting/how long?

Oh and here's hoping that if I do get approved, a volcano doesn't decide to keep me out of the UK!

The visa is overnighted to you, so once you get the approval email, it's generally a day or so before you get your passport (with affixed visa) and supporting documents back.

You can go to the UK anytime on or after the "valid from" date on your visa.  This date is usually the date you put on your application as your intended date of travel.

Awesome, thanks Aquila. Much appreciated!

Oh and here's hoping that if I do get approved, a volcano doesn't decide to keep me out of the UK!

My Fiance has been stuck in Newark airport thanks to the stupid ash cloud >.< He was supposed to be here 10am Tuesday, now we're hoping he'll be able to fly for the same time on Wednesday. If it's not one thing it's another, ever feel the cards are stacked against you? 

Got an email on Monday that they've received the application and supporting documents.  Will I actually receive an email once they start looking at it?  Current processing for non-priority is showing 27 days, I sure hope that's just an average and that someone that sent a well organized binder with all information will get processed quicker.

My Fiance has been stuck in Newark airport thanks to the stupid ash cloud >.< He was supposed to be here 10am Tuesday, now we're hoping he'll be able to fly for the same time on Wednesday. If it's not one thing it's another, ever feel the cards are stacked against you? 

Guh that's miserable. Let us know if he arrives safely!

Here is my timeline:
Online app : 5/13
Biometrics : 5/17
Docs sent to consulate w/priority processing : 5/23
Received : 5/24
Visa issued : 5/25
300 is absolutly worth it! can't wait to tell the wife!

Congrats! Every time I hear about a visa issued in like 4 days I get that pang of regret that I didn't get priority!

The British Consulate in NY received my package on Monday 5/23 and today 5/27 are assessing it and requesting additional information.

Signed letter from the sponsor confirming support of the application and explaining the grounds of the relationship

&

Evidence of subsisting relationship (photos)

This may be the initial stage of the review process, and this person is just making sure all required documentation is included.

However, if it's the person deciding my visa I'm quite happy with the quick turnaround in looking at it (considering I didn't pay priority).  I sent a well organized binder with originals and copies, so I hope that has helped them in reviewing my application.  I'll get the paperwork over-nighted on Tuesday and hope to hear by the end of the week!

That is good news if they are already looking at it...did they email this to you or phone? I haven't had an email since they confirmed receipt of my app on 5/9. I hope this means that they haven't looked at it yet, rather than I am a tough application to process. Though I am guessing it takes them about no time at all to make a decision.

Good luck Donjamin!

Yeah Nicole the notification was by email.  I thought to throw some pictures in the binder as well, but my wife figured it wasn't important considering we've been married for nearly 5 years.  I also didn't know we needed a letter from my wife (sponsor).  Perhaps I looked at it a bit differently since she was the one that prepared most of my application.  Ha, oh well hopefully they process it as soon as they get it.  It should also be a lot cheaper to overnight this to them as it'll be a letter as opposed to the box I had to send for my binder.

Also,  they didn't specify anything about requiring her American green card.  Should we assume they've thoroughly gone through our documents and what they've requested is what they need?  Or should we include that as well.

Yeah, I threw in photos at the last minute...glad I did now! I knew from day 1 that they would require a letter from the sponsor...I guess they don't want it to be a surprise when an American shows up on a spouse's doorstep, haha.

As for the green card, I think that technically you're only required to prove your sponsor's British citizenship...but isn't there a section on the app that asks what other nationalities she holds? I probably would have thrown it in there just in case, but I'm sure it will be fine, or they would have asked for it. I myself am dual nationality (US and Canada), and I included my Canadian citizenship certificate as well as my passport.

Here's another weekend coming, and then the holiday, and then the waiting starts again!

Yeah Nicole the notification was by email.  I thought to throw some pictures in the binder as well, but my wife figured it wasn't important considering we've been married for nearly 5 years.  I also didn't know we needed a letter from my wife (sponsor). 

You're pretty lucky that they contacted you about it, since they could have just refused the application immediately because of lack of evidence - the sponsor letter is one of the most important documents for the visa and I think some people may have had their visas refused before for not including one and evidence of relationship. If you need it, there is an example of a sponsor letter on Transpondia's website that you can use as a guide (just don't copy it word-for-word): http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia/usuk/spousal.pdf

Just a thought, did you include any evidence of living together for the last 5 years? If you include your last 4-5 years of tax returns and marriage certificate showing you have been married and living together for at least 4 years, you can request a spousal visa with KOL Req'd, meaning that you can apply for permanent residence in the UK (ILR) as soon as you have taken the Life in the UK (KOL) test once you have moved - instead of having to live in the UK for 2 years first. If you haven't asked for KOL Req'd or included the tax returns, it might be worth doing it now when you send the requested information.