UK Visa Settlement Processing Time

Welp, business day is over and no confirmation email from the consulate. What does this mean?! I know they received the documents because they signed for them, but still no official confirmation of receiving the docs from the consulate itself.

#Worried! haha

So my situation is not exactly applicable to you, but it might help. We're applying for Tier 2, not settlement, but I have totally been lurking all over this thread since it is the best for date checking and agonizing.  

My package was delivered to the mailroom on 6/17 at 10 am and signed by Blyth as well, the same as PaulnTammyJones. However, I didn't get my processing confirmation email until 6/22, so hang in there - yours might come today or on Monday!

Husband had a phonecall after 3 days to say it had been granted had documents back 2 days later, with priority service 

i'm on business day 12 and counting  day fifteen will be next wednesday and on reading the email they sent me, it seems to assure that it will be processed within 15 days (because of priority) but we're still bumming.  Today is 2 years that we've been together and we had been so sure we have this all sorted by now...congrats to those who have received theirs so fast, fingers crossed we hear soon.

WE WERE APPROVED!!!!!!

 Omg.... I can't tell you how much I was stressing and thinking we weren't going to get it.    We got our approval email today!!!  Here is our time line:


      Completed online application for both me and son: June 5th 2011
     Biometrics: June 7th 2011
     Purchased Priority Settlement processing and shipped off package: June 14th 2011
      Package received: June 17th 2011
      More info requested: June 20th 2011
      Info faxed: June 21st 2011
      Visa Approved: June 24th 2011

  Our family gets to be together!! Thank you everyone for your support and handholding.  Hope all of you get the same happy ending!!

Congrats smashley and to everyone else who got approved hope you all enjoy your lifes together in the Uk x

kATY .. OK REMEMBER  MINE SAID WITHIN 15 WORKING DAYS AND I WAS SOOO WORRIED  IT TOOK 16 WORKING DAYS  DON'T WORRY U WILL GET IT  !! I WAS ALSO AFRAID  AND MY FIANCE WAS AFRAID (DON'T KNOW WHY )  BUT I WAS POSSITIVE  .. AND i GOT IT  STAY FOCUSED  IT WILL COME 

thanks scotland, your case sort of gives me hope that it works out soon...nothing i can do but relax at the weekend and then back to obsessively checking email on Monday!

Hello,
I am awaiting approval for our settlement visa application for me to join my husband in the UK.  We shipped off our package on 06/20 and they received it on 06/22.  I haven't heard anything yet, other than the confirmation email that the packet had been received.  I am worrying about everything!  Wondering if I did everything right.  I have a sinking feeling today that I forgot to sign my printed online application.  If this is the case, do you think they would request the signature from me, or would they just reject it.  I cannot believe after all the planning and gathering of information, I would do something so careless. 

Hi there! Im waiting for my settlement visa too
My biometric info was done June 24th. so i guess they must be recieving the papers today or tomorrow...

i am a bit worried because we sent EVERYTHING except his bank statements because it was a recently opened account and it was worthless. we sent though copies of my bank account for the last three months, his work contract (he has a permanent job, that started last month), it took him forever to find a job. so we sent his first payslip. he earns 1050 pounds a month after tax. we also sent accomodation details, permission from his parents to stay in the house and the house documents. also a p60 from his father and a letter that confirms he is giving us accomodation and giving me all support. I have been to the UK two times and other places around europe (ive been in this relationship for a year and two months). showed pictures e mails cards...I also showed my uni degree and my masters. Also sent a reference from a UK institution for kids with special needs which i worked as a volunteer for a month while i was visiting the UK last time. Never exeeded visit times or denied anything.

Do you think the lack of his bank statements and just the work contract and his first payslip plus the letter from his parents supporting me and his dads p60 showing his annual income (which is very good) would be reason to deny mi visa?
I am very nervous, and stressed, i have not see him for two months now, and if i dont get this will be months and months while we appeal, cause he just started his job and wont get holidays until september Please any comments on my application? I would appreciate them
Good luck to all that are in the waiting boat with me.

Not to scare you, but I believe that it's illegal to volunteer and that could count against you. 

Not to scare you, but I believe that it's illegal to volunteer and that could count against you. 

well i got permission for this well known institution and a security check, so i don't think is illegal, and i got absolute no pay at all. if you say is illegal where is the law that says it? so i can be aware.
Thanks

well i got permission for this well known institution and a security check, so i don't think is illegal, and i got absolute no pay at all. if you say is illegal where is the law that says it? so i can be aware.
Thanks

I am pretty certain that you cannot volunteer on a visitor's visa. In fact there is a special tier 5 charity worker visa:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/charityworkers/

I don't think you can do any work, paid OR unpaid, as a visitor. In fact I remember wanting to volunteer when I visited last, and being unable to do so because I did not have the correct visa.

Just as is it with the NHS allowing visitors to use their services, you cannot expect even a well-known charity to know all visa rules. So even though they allowed you, it may not have been kosher.

But saying that, perhaps it won't be bad enough for the border agent to care too much about it.

I am pretty certain that you cannot volunteer on a visitor's visa. In fact there is a special tier 5 charity worker visa:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/charityworkers/

I don't think you can do any work, paid OR unpaid, as a visitor. In fact I remember wanting to volunteer when I visited last, and being unable to do so because I did not have the correct visa.

Just as is it with the NHS allowing visitors to use their services, you cannot expect even a well-known charity to know all visa rules. So even though they allowed you, it may not have been kosher.

But saying that, perhaps it won't be bad enough for the border agent to care too much about it.

Thats an specific visa to go volunteer, is a different thing...im not on TIER 5 ..im just applied for a fiancee visa, and so far i read overseas people is allowed to do volunteering work as long as they have a visa. and i was on my tourist visa (not visitor).
Anyway...whats done is done, and im more worried about the bank statements

Thats an specific visa to go volunteer, is a different thing...im not on TIER 5 ..im just applied for a fiancee visa, and so far i read overseas people is allowed to do volunteering work as long as they have a visa. and i was on my tourist visa (not visitor).
Anyway...whats done is done, and im more worried about the bank statements

That's the point - a person needs a visa to volunteer because he/she is not allowed to do it on a tourist visa. 

Thats an specific visa to go volunteer, is a different thing...im not on TIER 5 ..im just applied for a fiancee visa, and so far i read overseas people is allowed to do volunteering work as long as they have a visa. and i was on my tourist visa (not visitor).

What Nicole was pointing out is that there is a specific visa for those who want to come and do charity work, and since you did not have one of those, you were not allowed to do any kind of volunteering (even if it was unpaid) on your visitors visa (which is what a "tourist visa" is actually called).  

A visitor is supposed to be just that - VISITING. Not setting up house, not working, not opening bank accounts and not volunteering.   In the eyes of the UKBA voluteering is simply working without pay and is highly frowned upon.