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Topic: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time  (Read 308971 times)

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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #840 on: October 07, 2010, 05:57:53 AM »
Wall o' text:

Does anyone know if I will be able to make it for that soon after I fill out my application?

Aquila is right, that will depend on the center(s), but unfortunately you can't find that out until your application is finished.

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Another thing I came across that I am worried about is that I need to provide "Evidence of how your trip is to be funded", I take it they mean my plane ticket back to the UK. How would I show this as I can't purchase the ticket until I know when I can leave? Also I have no credit card, or bank account, the reason my husband had to send me the money through my friends Paypal. If I don't include this information is my Visa going to be denied?
That's actually not your plane ticket, that would be your and your husband's three most recent bank statements/payslips. Which I know doesn't apply to you as the applicant, so your husband will need to show that he has income enough for £103 (sorry, I rounded up, it's £102 and some amount of change but can't remember exactly) per week for the two of you after housing payment and council tax. If one has dependents then the requirement is an additional... rounded £53? £58? £59? (sorry, that's another one I'm fuzzy on, but it's definitely in the £50s) per week for each of them. fwiw I have scant savings and no job, my fiance was completely unemployed but £25k savings so we just submitted both of ours and we were fine. I'm not sure if you would need to disclose why you aren't submitting any financial information for yourself, simply stating somewhere in a letter that you do not have a bank account. Maybe someone can clarify this.

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I just want to triple check that I have everything as I don't have the money to do this all over again! Here is the list from what I got from the UK Border Agency Settlement Form (VAF4A Dec 2008) Please let me know if I'm missing anything!!

All Applicants;
Previous Passports (I can't submit my previous because I had it shredded as soon as I got my new one  :-[ ) In the application there is a paragraph section where you list any previous passports and where they are located. I did not include my previous passport and said that it is at my parents house.

Settlement;
Evidence of the accommodation that you intend to occupy (rental agreement)For someone who is going to be living with someone at their house, or if your sponsor rents, you will need to include a statement from the homeowner or landlord that you have their permission to stay there. We used a letter from his parents, their register of title, and as their mortgage happens to have been paid off, mortgage payoff letter.

Evidence between you and your sponsor (I'm only including screen shots of all the messages sent between me and my husband from when I left the UK in May till now since we're already married and that is pretty much the only way we've been contacting each other except facebook chat and me calling through phone cards, which will not show his number) If you'd feel better to include information about your phone time, I would make a page in the evidence of contact section that you only used phone cards, so this does not allow for evidence of phone contact. As I started gathering my information in March, I was only able to get my phone records until March of 2009, so I explained that records are only available on a rolling 12-month basis, however we'd had regular phone contact since October of the previous year. Again, I tried not to include lots of extra information, but I didn't feel that this added to the workload of the ECO to include. I do wish I'd thought to just use screenshots of my inbox though, I printed out loooads of emails from between December 2008 and September 2009 before I moved to Dubai to be with him.... and even then I included emails after that date, just fewer. I wish I'd known better! I also sent 20 photos, yeesh that was silly of me :P  

Good luck!!

ETA: Bring a book to the biometrics center, just in case.
ETA2: Pitufina, I wonder if some of my responses to iheartlondonuk might apply to you, at least as a starting point. You will need to get clarification on those numbers - it's somewhere in this thread - but it's definitely £102 and change for you and your sponsor after housing payment and council tax, and (fuzzier) £50-some and change per dependent. Unemployment does not necessarily equal refusal. I don't know about who signs your son's application though, you'll definitely need someone's better advice on that ;) Good luck to you!
« Last Edit: October 07, 2010, 06:06:23 AM by kathrynhabibti »


Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #841 on: October 07, 2010, 07:29:34 AM »
Ok, just to answer a few questions that have come up.

For Biometrics: you need your passport and your biometrics appointment sheet -- that's it. You don't need the application & documents.

As for applicants who are unemployed: it doesn't matter since your job wouldn't continue in the UK anyway. It's more of the matter of the sponsors employment & finances. The only thing that can help from the applicants end is if you have savings.

For Maintenance: for a couple you're looking at £102.75/wk left over after housing (rent or mortgage) and council tax, for each child in the family add £57.57/wk. So for a couple & 1 child you're looking at £160.32/wk or aprox £700/mo plus housing costs & council tax which would equal the minimum income needed. If the income isn't up to that level then savings can be used to bring it up to the minimum needed to meet the maintenance requirement.


DO NOT PURCHASE TRAVEL UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VISA AND CAN CHECK IT FOR ERRORS! Don't worry about 'how to fund the trip' as it's not really applicable to a settlement visa. Remember that the basic application guidance is very general because that form is used for ALL TYPES of applications, not just the settlement application.

As for one way vs round trip, CUSTOM's wont care becuase they only care what you're brining in with you (like prohibited items), you mean Immigration not Customs. They don't give a rats...you know what. But round trip tickes are often much cheaper than one ways, unless you're under 26 and can get a student rate.

As for contact only cover the period from the time you last saw eachother (if more than 3 months between that time and the time you're submitting your application). Screenshots of email in boxes (or FB inboxes) will work since they're dated and it lists the name of the person. Don't send hundreds of photos or acutal message print outs, they're not necessary. Your marriage certificate, proof of contact during the time apart from the last visit and a photo together is enough to meet this requirement.


As for signing, if a child age 14 understands what he is signing then he can sign, if not then as the parent you need to sign because it is a legal document and needs to be treated as such.


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #842 on: October 07, 2010, 07:54:18 AM »
Just be honest and say you got a great deal as opposed to a one-way ticket. IF they ask. Even when I was first in the UK they didn't ask for my return ticket papers, so it will probably not be brought up at all. You don't need to leave, and even if you leave you are allowed to do so.

I want to know why every flight I see is either to Dublin or a lay-over. I hated spending a whole night in an airport being half-drowsy and half-paranoid. There were a lot of weird looking people in the airport. I miss direct flights from the Dallas Airport to Heathrow. :(

British Airways still does a direct flight from DFW to Heathrow...I've flown it before and just checked their website....




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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #843 on: October 07, 2010, 09:06:51 AM »
American Airlines also does! DFW- LHR


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #844 on: October 07, 2010, 10:50:37 AM »
Air New Zealand one way from LA to Heathrow is usually cheaper than a round ticket....

Btw, does your advice not to landing in Dublin also extend to not landing in Schipol(Amsterdam) or Paris ??? we were thinking how much easier it is easier to pop down he road to cardiff airport (20 mins) as opposed to Heathrow - 2 1/2 hours, petrol, plus the bridge toll but to do that you have to go via paris on air france or Schipol on KLM.... anyway as still no visa it;s all academic...

Congrats to those who have them tho and there appears to some movement in LA....


Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #845 on: October 07, 2010, 12:18:33 PM »
Air NewZealand definitely the cheapest, also look at both £ and $ prices for all carriers, you would be surprised at the possible savings.

Zigs


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #846 on: October 07, 2010, 12:21:18 PM »
Just be honest and say you got a great deal as opposed to a one-way ticket. IF they ask. Even when I was first in the UK they didn't ask for my return ticket papers, so it will probably not be brought up at all. You don't need to leave, and even if you leave you are allowed to do so.

I want to know why every flight I see is either to Dublin or a lay-over. I hated spending a whole night in an airport being half-drowsy and half-paranoid. There were a lot of weird looking people in the airport. I miss direct flights from the Dallas Airport to Heathrow. :(

I was looking through Virgin Air (sp) and there seemed to be some direct flights from Dallas to Heathrow Airports...there are select dates available but maybe that will help you.


Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #847 on: October 07, 2010, 12:30:34 PM »
Okay Here Goes

LA Consulate - Not Expedited

Spouse Visa for my US Husband to live in UK
On-line application - Wed 22nd September
Biometrics – Mon 27th September
Application received at LA Consulate – Thurs 30th September

Currently on Day 6  :(

Zigs


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #848 on: October 07, 2010, 12:50:23 PM »
Good luck Zigs! Hope the wait flies by!

MY APPLICATION TIMELINE

Type of Visa: Settlement/Unmarried Partner

Application Completed On-line: Tuesday July 13th
Biometrics Appointment: Monday July 19th (booked the first available appointment)
Application Sent by Express Delivery: Monday July 26th
Application has reached NY Consulate (UPS tracking): Tuesday July 27th
Email Received: Application was received by the NY UK Consulate:  Thursday July 29th
Email Received: Visa has been issued: Tuesday October 5th
Passport Received (UPS): Wednesday October 6th

TOTAL PROCESSING DAYS: 47

Notes: Bear in mind that I applied in peak season with a previous refusal. The NY Consulate did not contact me at all throughout the process.

It took 47 days for my settlement visa to be processed


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #849 on: October 07, 2010, 01:52:13 PM »
Just saying good morning in my favorite waiting room.
Day 3 begins... or is it day 4?  they got it on monday.


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #850 on: October 07, 2010, 02:40:23 PM »
Good luck Zigs! Hope the wait flies by!

MY APPLICATION TIMELINE

Type of Visa: Settlement/Unmarried Partner

Application Completed On-line: Tuesday July 13th
Biometrics Appointment: Monday July 19th (booked the first available appointment)
Application Sent by Express Delivery: Monday July 26th
Application has reached NY Consulate (UPS tracking): Tuesday July 27th
Email Received: Application was received by the NY UK Consulate:  Thursday July 29th
Email Received: Visa has been issued: Tuesday October 5th
Passport Received (UPS): Wednesday October 6th

TOTAL PROCESSING DAYS: 47

Notes: Bear in mind that I applied in peak season with a previous refusal. The NY Consulate did not contact me at all throughout the process.

It took 47 days for my settlement visa to be processed


THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for posting your timeline.  Smiles for you :D and best wishes for everyone else.
First visit to US (2 weeks)- October 2009
Second visit to US (3 months)- December 2009
First visit to UK - August 2010
Second visit to UK - October 2010
Third visit to UK - December 2010 (Engaged!)
His visit to US-April 2011
Married-May 2011!!!!


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #851 on: October 07, 2010, 03:36:38 PM »
Just got my passport back with visa. Checked it for errors, and it looks good. Like everyone else who got theirs this week, the alignment of mine is also off, but the info is correct so I really don't see it as being a big deal.

And out of everything I sent them, the only things they sent me back were our pay stubs and pictures, and my old passport (along with my current one, obviously).

Time to book me flight!

So relieved it only took 12 working days with New York, especially after how long some others had been waiting!


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #852 on: October 07, 2010, 03:51:54 PM »
Just saying good morning in my favorite waiting room.
Day 3 begins... or is it day 4?  they got it on monday.
You are on day 4. Here's hoping it goes through for you quickly!

Okay Here Goes

LA Consulate - Not Expedited

Spouse Visa for my US Husband to live in UK
On-line application - Wed 22nd September
Biometrics – Mon 27th September
Application received at LA Consulate – Thurs 30th September

Currently on Day 6  :(

Zigs
Good luck Zigs!


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Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #853 on: October 07, 2010, 04:02:05 PM »
Rock on bookworm; am praying I am lucky enough to have the same Boston/new York luck you have had; 12 days would be PERFECT!

Just got my passport back with visa. Checked it for errors, and it looks good. Like everyone else who got theirs this week, the alignment of mine is also off, but the info is correct so I really don't see it as being a big deal.

And out of everything I sent them, the only things they sent me back were our pay stubs and pictures, and my old passport (along with my current one, obviously).

Time to book me flight!

So relieved it only took 12 working days with New York, especially after how long some others had been waiting!


Re: UK Visa Settlement Processing Time
« Reply #854 on: October 07, 2010, 04:07:43 PM »

Btw, does your advice not to landing in Dublin also extend to not landing in Schipol(Amsterdam) or Paris ??? we were thinking how much easier it is easier to pop down he road to cardiff airport (20 mins) as opposed to Heathrow - 2 1/2 hours, petrol, plus the bridge toll but to do that you have to go via paris on air france or Schipol on KLM.... anyway as still no visa it;s all academic...


Last time I checked the Netherlands & France weren't part of the Common Travel Area (which is why this problem arises in the first place)  ;) so you should be OK with a stop over anywhere besides the Republic of Ireland.


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