UK Visa Settlement Processing Time

Please please please for all of you applying for your settlement visas use the priority because as those of us who have gone through non- priority know the wait us unbearable. Good luck to you all.

As for my story, after 38 business days through Chicago, my fiancé is flying to the sunny ( ) UK tomorrow for us to start our lives together after receiving his passport and visa ( carefully checked) back this afternoon.

Thanks again to all of you who have kept me sane with your kind words and information.

Rachel xxx

As for my story, after 38 business days through Chicago, my fiancé is flying to the sunny ( ) UK tomorrow for us to start our lives together after receiving his passport and visa ( carefully checked) back this afternoon.

Thanks again to all of you who have kept me sane with your kind words and information.

Rachel xxx

Congratulations!

lucky im jealous,congrats

we would have used priority if it had been offered - as it we are still waiting...I hope it;s not the 38 days you waited - we used LA...hoping the visas apps will have settled down now for the student visas...we had a wedding party booked for the last weekend in sept...is it really worth emailing the complaints dept if we don;t have a 'complaint' as defined by their service standards??? what do people think?

I didn't complain just asked for some guidance, tell them about your wedding party.  I've learnt that if you treat people with sugar it gets you a very long way. It won't hurt u any. 

If you arent already married the you will have to be in the uk for 7 full days before you can give notice to marry, which is then a further 16 days.  Thats why we had to move our wedding date.

Good luck.

This was up on the Worldbridge site today. WebyJ can you tell me how this pertains to those of us who applied in August? And is this a standard for priority? Thanks! What I really need is a crystal ball!

Latest news

10 September 2010: Current visa processing times in the USA. The UK Border Agency in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York are currently experiencing a peak in the demand for UK visas. You are advised to submit your visa application in good time. You can apply for a UK visa up to 3 months in advance of your intended date of travel to the UK. The estimated end-to-end processing time* for visa applications during the month of September is 15 working days this is within our customer service standards. You should not confirm any travel plans until you are informed that your visa has been processed and issued.

*End-to-end processing time: the duration between the date you sent us your documents (see step 6 on the How to apply page on this website) to the date you receive them back.

From reading over this & the customer service standards I believe it applies to all visa applications EXCEPT settlement visas. As the Customer Service standard for all visa's (except Settlement) is 3 weeks. Settlement visas remain at 12 weeks.

Visa application processing times
Non-Settlement applications

To complete 90 per cent of visa applications (except settlement categories), in not more than three weeks, 98 per cent in six weeks and 100 per cent in 12 weeks.


Settlement applications

To complete 95 per cent of applications for settlement visas in not more than 12 weeks and 100 per cent in not more 24 weeks.

If you have a look over those who have applied in other visa categories non-priority/non-premium are running about 15-20 business days. Settlement non-priority are running about 35-45 business days.

I think the point they're trying to make is that you can apply up to 3 months in advance so take advantage of it and apply as early as possible.

Ok, so i am hesitant to post because sometimes hearing when someone gets a final approval after a long time its rather depressing,  (meaning people dont want to have to wait 3 more weeks, etc.) but this was my scenario, and after many days i was really starting to get nervous on the status..
Application/book received via email to Chicago consulate July 8, non-priority not by choice..
Email stating still processing as I am going to Channel Islands, Uk visa required but more red tape involved, Sept 7
Final approval email, Sept 10..all in all 47 days total. It was really tough.  I agree with another post stating reading too much can make you crazy..so thats me. I truly wish everyone the best, and honestly this blog helps soo much! the only thing that kept me sane..dont think everyones scenario is yours as well and just realize they are very overloaded. i know easier said than done but the peaceful mentality worked for me this week after many wasted upset nights worrying...take care!

Final approval email, Sept 10..all in all 47 days total.

Congratulations!!!!

Congrats Julia! And thanks WebyJ for your insight...your head must be wrecked sometimes by all of us settlement visa hopefuls!

Congrats Julia! And thanks WebyJ for your insight...your head must be wrecked sometimes by all of us settlement visa hopefuls!

It's alright...it is frustrating some times to get people to believe that it really will be OK and that it takes a MAJOR screw up to get a refusal and those don't happen all that often.

I enjoy helping, and I'm glad that there is so much good news lately...hopefully it's a trend!

Good Luck to all those still waiting...it really is just a matter of WHEN not IF. 

I just got my visa, about 2 weeks ago.  It took 1 week for it to be reviewed & issued.
I did the priority service & used an expeditor as well.   I, like all others was nervous and worried I did something wrong, but the expeditor reviewed and said it looked fine.

I was also told that with the priority service the processing time is 5 to 15 days.  (thats the consulate/worldbridge priority service).  The expeditor simply reviewed to make sure all was there and accurate and then delivered it by hand to the consulate. 

Hello. I have been lurking around this forum for awhile now. It was a major help when getting prepared to send all the documents in. I applied for a settlement visa and I applied through the NY consulate on August 4th. Biometrics done August 5th and I sent it out on August 6th. We did not use the priority service. Today will be 22 working days, and counting. 

Welcome to the wait, sarahmarie1cc. I'm maybe a week or so behind you in the wait, hope this is your lucky week!

hi, my wife and I are on the 14th day of waiting today. We paid prioirty sevice on the 24th August. We got our conformation email to say they had recieved our app. in NY. I have to fly back to the UK tomorrow, but fingers crossed she wont be too far behind me...

I am on day 31 of processing. Hoping the UK consulate in New York will not take any longer than 40 days.  Good luck to all of you who are waiting!!!