UK Visa Settlement Processing Time

Sorry to bump but I thought I'd post here as opposed to making a whole new thread ;p

My visa was just approved TODAY, I thought the email was just going to be the one about an ECO was about to look over my case, but NO, it was about my visa being approved. Needless to say I'm like, super thrilled, my typing might go to hell as a result haha. My timeline is as follows :

8/10 Application completed, was technically started a few days earlier, but had to wait on Fiance's documents. Biometrics scheduled for 8/15 at 10am

8/15 Attended biometrics, was LATE thanks to my friends, but they didn't seem to care, the whole thing went rather quickly and the lady doing all that was super friendly. Binder gotten together and overnighted to the NY Consulate

8/19 Got an email stating my package had been opened and supporting documents gotten together for review by ECO

8/24 Received email saying my visa had been issued and all my stuff should arrive back next day

I have to admit I stressed quite a bit since there's the first trip that I had no hotel receipts and then my 2009 trip where I lacked ANY photos. I also had recalled mentioning my savings on the application, but due to my stressing I spaced and forgot to get proof of that. Luckily it seems all of that didn't effect my results, now time to book the flight and look forward to being with the fiance next month :'D

Thanks to everyone who helped me out with all my dumb questions, I feel like if I hadn't had this forum I might not have done so well <3

Congratulations enjoy your life in the UK together.

Love pads x

Hi,

I'm exhausted and have to rush but can tell this much of how things went:

3 August- Got biometrics done. I knew it would be a 70 mile trip for a 15 minute appt. as husband had just been there to do his green card. Staff was very nice and it wasn't crowded or busy.

5 August-posted documents by Express mail even though I knew it wouldn't get there the next day, Saturday.

8 August-tracking confirmed it was received at Consulate.

10 August-email from Consulate telling me my docs had been opened.

24 August-email confirming I got the visa and am suppose to get things back tomorrow. Guess this means visa too? Hopefully the correct visa will arrive.

ONE HUGE HURDLE OVER. I considerate it huge compared to how complex my life is as this is something I had very little control over!

So day 16 almost over and no email, we have no idea what to do.  I know most will say there is nothing that can be done but it just annoys me that they can give you a 15 day timescale and if they don't meet it you can't do anything.

I wouldn't even mind if we got an updated timescale but it's the not knowing it's driving me mad, I don't know how many more days like this I can take.

Big congrats bla bla.

Mdun I think you should email them and ask if they are still processing it or something they won't discuss your case with you I would imagine but they might say that they are waiting for evidence or its still being processed or something like that least you would know they are dealing with it.

Hope you get it soon it must be awful for you.

Love pads x

So, my wife had her biometrics appointment for her UK Settlement visa on August 4th and mailed it that day. We received the first email ("your package containing your UK visa application has been opened and your supporting documents organized in preparation for consideration by an Entry Clearance Officer") on August 11th and there was a link with the processing time of 8 days. That would be great except it isn't here yet.
Does anyone know how accurate this time is?
Also, it's too late now, but I never heard about the Priority Service until after we'd applied. Where do you apply for the priority service and how much extra would it have been?
Waiting for these guys to get their arses in gear and process this is annoying!

So, my wife had her biometrics appointment for her UK Settlement visa on August 4th and mailed it that day. We received the first email ("your package containing your UK visa application has been opened and your supporting documents organized in preparation for consideration by an Entry Clearance Officer") on August 11th and there was a link with the processing time of 8 days. That would be great except it isn't here yet.
Does anyone know how accurate this time is?
Also, it's too late now, but I never heard about the Priority Service until after we'd applied. Where do you apply for the priority service and how much extra would it have been?
Waiting for these guys to get their arses in gear and process this is annoying!

You can buy the Priority service from https://www.visainfoservices.com/Pages/dest_org.aspx
It's $300

My DH sent of our paperwork yesterday, after his biometrics on Friday. Oooooh boy and I freaking out now! It is absolutely out of my control from now on in and I don't like that AT ALL!! Is there an average time until it gets passed to a case officer, does anyone know? We purchased priority, but that seems to be 15 working days from arrival on their desk, not arrival at the consulate?

Well we got a refusal.

I have had to now fly me and my 11th month of son to the US so as my husband who has not saw him in 2 months doesn't miss his first birthday.

I have yet to see the letter as its delivered to his mums and we are staying with his aunt after just arriving, I will post word for word later and hopefully you can all offer me some  advice.

It says basically though they don't think I can support him, they see a regular payment from Barclays (my employer) but not evidence this is a permanent job.  I included my full contract what else could they want?

After expenses there is more than enough to meet the 107 an 57 maintenance so I don't understand.  I owe my own flat we do not live in council housing so I am so confused as to how they don't think I can support my husband when I earn 21K a year plus I am entitled to tax credits in my own right as a UK resident.  I am so confused and annoyed.

Any thought or help would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry to hear mdunn. 

If you feel comfortable, as you said, you could post the letter's wording for advice when you get it.

It may be something very fixable; don't give up hope yet.

So Sorry to here Mdun post your letter when you get it I am sure it will be fixable, I don't know what else they could want if you included your contract, but perhaps once the letter is posted someone will have insight.

I am so sorry and its terrible that they have done this to a couple with children.

Best wishes love pads x

Hi
Does anyone know when it comes to deciding if I can support my husband do they discount any tax credits or child benefit I get, is it purely income based?

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/cross-cut/public-funds/funds.pdf?view=Binary

The page you want is page 45.

They should have counted the tax credits if they haven't that might be your problem but since you have to claim these jointly with your husband and as a british citizen with british children you are perfectly entitled to claim these yes it should be counted.

Love pads (btw) have sent you a pmx

Ok here goes:

Paragraph 281 requires that you and your spouse be able to adequately maintain yourselves with recourse to public funds.  You state that you are unemployed and that your spouse will provide for you and your son.  I note that you have provided a letter from your spouse which states that she will be financially responsible for you in the UK.  You have submitted evidence of your spouses bank account statements as evidence of this financial support.  However, I note that your wife's most recent Halifax account statement, dated 14/06/2011 , demonstrate that her account only held 101.77, I also noted that while this account demonstrates your spouse received a direct deposit from her states employer, Barclays Wealth on 23/05/2011, no evidence has been provided from your spouses employer to confirm that her employment at Barclays Wealth is current and will continue.  Given this lack of evidence regarding your wife's employment and the low funds in her account, I am not satisfied that your wife is able to adequately support you and any financial dependants.

Additionally, you state that you do not earn any income, or have any savings.  You also state on question 150 of your application that you intend to seek employment in the UK.  However, you have provided no evidence that you have any credentials that would make you an attractive candidate in the UK job market upon your tentative arrival in he UK and cast further doubt on whether you would be able to secure employment and earn income to support yourself.  Furthermore, I note you and your spouse have an 11th month old child that you must support.  Consequently, I am not satisfied on the evidence available that you ad your spouse will be able to adequately maintain yourselves and your dependant son with seeking recourse to public funds.  I am therefore not satisfied you meet the requirement of paragraph 281 (v)

Ok so my questions:

Firstly I provided my permanent contract they full origanal one should this not be enough to prove my employment is continuous?

The fact they have picked one date in my 3 months of statement where in other dates my balance has fallen lower!  This doesn't show on the 15/06 my balance went up to 150.77 or that its only 9 days away from payday.

Should it not be on the whole if I can maintain him and not about particular balances throughout the month?

My account is never overdrawn and bills are always paid and my account is never at zero


They have said my husband showed no evidence of being able to work but there is no part of the form for this.  He also states that his main role would be primary caregiver to our son as I work night.

Please any help would be great