UK Visa Settlement Processing Time

Hi, all: I thought I'd update this thread a bit as I couldn't seem to find any other current timelines.

My first settlement visa application was refused per some bad advice we got via the Home Office, and so after visiting my wife for four and a half months until she had six months of pay stubs, I am back in the States and re-applying.

I sent my second settlement visa application via FedEx on Monday, and have tracked it to where it was delivered in Sheffield this morning. I paid priority this time (we waited to hear something for 2 1/2 months in August and didn't care about the money this time round so much as our sanity) so expect to get the email saying it's being processed by Friday. But we'll see:) If I've learned anything through this process, it's that you can't really expect anything to go as planned.


So my timeline looks like this:


Tuesday, March 4: Arrived back in NYC.

Monday, March 10: Biometrics Appt and entire package (Settlement Priority Service scrawled in large permanent marker letters on outside) FedExed to Sheffield.

Wednesday, March 12: Package tracked as 'Delivered' to UKBA Sheffield.

My timeline looks like this:


Tuesday, March 4: Arrived back in NYC.

Monday, March 10: Biometrics Appt and entire package (Settlement Priority Service scrawled in large permanent marker letters on outside) FedExed to Sheffield.

Wednesday, March 12: Package tracked as 'Delivered' to UKBA Sheffield.

Thursday, March 13: Received email from UKBA confirming processing of application.

Hi,
My Biometrics appt. is next week, and I'm wondering if anyone knows the current processing times for a settlement visa? Don't really want to spend the extra $500 for priority if I don't have to, but would like to be out of here by mid- June. Any updates?

Non-priority applications from mid-February are still waiting.  Priority seems to be taking about two weeks at the moment.  These change constantly though.

Hey guys!

I just scape of the waiting list for my ILR application.
But now I need ti apply for my naturalization. Can I travel outside the U.K. While the application is in process. And also does anyone know how long is the waiting times for NA?

Thank you  !!

Hi all, we sent our priority service fiancé visa application in this week. Package was signed for in Sheffield on  Thursday and yesterday morning we received confirmation that it's being processed.

Does anyone have experience of how long applications are currently being taken to process?

Thanks!

Hi all, we sent our priority service fiancé visa application in this week. Package was signed for in Sheffield on  Thursday and yesterday morning we received confirmation that it's being processed.

Does anyone have experience of how long applications are currently being taken to process?

Thanks!

Priority applications have been taking 2-3 weeks.

Thanks so much! That's not too bad at all

Hello everyone,

 Im new to this and just would like someones experience if its similar to mine. I am a US citizen and yes my hubby is a UK citizen which we married in March of this year. I received an email from the Sheffield office on July 24 2014 saying my application is being organized in preparation for consideration by an entry clearance officer. We didn't pay for the priority service however, we paid a lawyer who made sure we had our documents plus more that I haven't seen as a requirement. I just want to know, after receiving the email that the application is being prep, how long until you receive the decision??

Thanks

We didn't pay for the priority service however, we paid a lawyer who made sure we had our documents plus more that I haven't seen as a requirement. I just want to know, after receiving the email that the application is being prep, how long until you receive the decision??

Currently, it's been taking about 3 months for a decision once the package arrives in Sheffield. It may be starting to get a little faster now, but they are still processing applications made in May and June. We have another thread with peoples' timelines, which is updated more often than this one: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=82258.645

The only way to speed up the process is to purchase priority processing, because it means they put your application to the front of the processing line, so it will be looked at more quickly and processed in more like 3-4 weeks. Hiring a lawyer won't do anything to speed it up because the application will still end up waiting in line for the same amount of time as everyone else's non-priority applications.

Just a note: including more documents than necessary won't help the application at all - in fact, the extra stuff probably won't even be looked at and it may cause more work for the person organising your application because they will have to go through it and take out all the unnecessary stuff before handing it to the Entry Clearance Officer for processing.

On the basis of the email response I received from UKVI on 04 August for an update, I was advised the following:

"Please be aware that we have service standards for processing UK visa applications which state that we will process: 90 per cent of non-settlement applications within 3 weeks, 98 per cent within 6 weeks and 100 per cent within 12 weeks of the biometric taken date; and 95 per cent of settlement applications within 12 weeks of the biometric taken date and
100 per cent within 24 weeks of the biometric taken date. "

Our biometric dates were during the last week of June just days after our applications were filed online.

Country Applying From: USA
Type of Visa Applied For: Fiancée (non-priority)
Online Application Submitted: September 29
Biometrics: October 6
Application Mailed: October 8
Application Arrived on October 13
Documents Received Email October 15
Decision Made Email:
Visa Received: