UK Visa Settlement Processing Time

Hi all,

I've been lurking for a few days and just decided to join in the discussion.

I'm LA, non-priority settlement visa, today is my 40th day (10 more!).  I am really hoping that I haven't gotten a ulcer or something after all this waiting.  I didn't realize that the priority would make such a huge difference!  And there doesn't seem to be much mention of it on the Border Agency's own website.

Snowlass, I'm also in ID, up North.  Congratulations!

GCJ, I'm really sorry to hear about the response you've received.  Waiting that long on top of it all would be incredibly terrible!  I hope things turn around quickly for you!

Peggles, hey hey LA!  I think I remember reading on one of the 'official' websites that they follow local holidays.  I'm sorry I can't quite find it right now, but the Consulate would then be taking just Labor Day off.  Maybe this is just me hoping!

I'm a little concerned about my visa with regards to the sponsor's employment part.  My fiance has just gotten a new job (his current job was primarily to allow us to submit our applications) which is more in line with his career plans, a big flashy finance job.  He ends his current job on Friday and has two weeks before he starts the next one.  We didn't realize that the visa application would go on this long, and this job was such a good one for him, I didn't want him to pass it up.  But, now our details as far as his employment will be out-of-date as of Friday.  We both have tried emailing WorldBridge and the LA Consulate, to find out if we need to send in new paperwork, or just even to let them know, but we received one email saying that their target is 50 days and that we need to prove that he can support me, through pay slips, etc.  This is all information we already knew, so I called WorldBridge just to make sure we weren't going to get in trouble or penalized for our information being out-of-date.  They said the exact same thing, so I'm just going to try to not worry about it, but is there something we should do to update them?  Does it matter as long as he is employed and can support me?

Welcome to our lovely state of purgatory, Slowloris. A place where misery finds company

I don't know too much about this process, but I get the sense WorldBridge is just a company the UK has outsourced some of the steps to. Taking the information online, directing applications to appropriate consulates, biometrics appts, payment, etc. If you were to google the LA Consulate, you'd find different contact information. And, of course, more information confirming they cannot give you status on your visa application. Maybe your circumstances warrant a phone call to them? At least someone there might be able to be more clear in their response. Or maybe someone here can offer more insight?

My husband and I have a similar change during the pending time frames. He moved from one apartment to the other. I wrote a letter explaining the change and provided both the old lease and new lease along with the moving date.

I think our issue is that the longer we wait, the more we go over our applications in our heads and start doubting every little detail... At least that's what I'm doing!

Best of luck! 40 days of waiting.. that's tough on the mind!

I was wondering if there is any difference in the speed of processing on the type of settlement visa. For example, as spouse and unmarried partner effectively give work clearance on entry would these take longer than the fiance visa?

Congrats Snowlass! Good to know that there is life in the LA consulate.

EmmJayye, sorry about your mother-in-law. And you're absolutely right, their response is completely muddled. Who writes this stuff?

I think it's saying that you can expedite after it's been sent off only in medical emergencies and death in the immediate family. I have no idea if this applies to you. Is leukemia a medical emergency? Is your mother-in-law immediate family? You'd think this would be reason enough to speed up the process.

I can only hope that when they look at your application they will make the effort to process it quickly because you did include that information.

Slowloris, I'm so happy there's another LA non-priority here! And we're on a similar timeline. Day 37 for me. Please let me know when you hear about the visa. It'll be like a light at the end of the tunnel for me, assuming mine is closely behind yours.

About the job change, I don't have a clue. If he's on the same salary or higher, (or even lower, as long as he can support you) I don't see how it could be a problem, but that's just logical simple ol' me!

I love that they require all the info to be recent and then take their sweet ass time before they even look at it.

I was wondering if there is any difference in the speed of processing on the type of settlement visa. For example, as spouse and unmarried partner effectively give work clearance on entry would these take longer than the fiance visa?

When all the information is present, both types take an absolute maximum of 45 minutes of an ECO's time.  So there is no appreciable difference.

It's the long-running practice on the American desk to prioritize the economic side over the family side (and we *like* it that way) and that can account for variances in processing times.  I pointed out earlier this month that having apostrophies, quote marks, and what-not in the application can cause delays. 

Other delays can be caused by risk assessments, referrals, seasonal factors and so on...

Generally, the American consulates are outperforming the standards and only a few people have genuine cause for complaints.

Thank you for that reply Transpondia. I had just noticed huge differences in the processing times so was trying to weight up if ours would be quicker now being 10 working days in with NY non-priority (fiance).

I did not realise the actual processing time was so short if everything was present. Here is now to hoping we filled everything in as neatly and accurately as possible.

It was more the frightening times some people are experiencing, and I thought this would be due to the visa type. Makes me feel slightly better about things knowing that information. So in that case it can be a matter of how simple your claim is not when the case is initially viewed and sorted from that point.

Remember that family is not *always* the junior priority, just most of the time.  And consulates don't get to chose either; Marsham Street sets priorities for each desk according to whatever particular statistic needs to look better...

Well got the refusal letter...proof of finances the main sticking point and we now realise we didn't give enough info.

On advice we are putting in a new application rather than appeal (to do this once is bad enough but twice oh my goodness!  ) we just have to get it right this time I hope with the help of an expert!

Will let you know how it goes.  Good luck to all still waiting 

Hi all,

 Is there a number or email you can call to speak with anyone? My sons' school just called and because the GSCE's came out they are oversubscribed and are threatening our placement. They are going to hold the spots for another week but can't guarantee after that as there are kids who are there that need it. Just when I thought my stress level was at it's highest! The thought of  13 and 14 year old boys home schooled is going to do me in!

Aug 16: A.Briggs Chicago (expediter/visa handlers) received my priority settlement (spouse) visa app. They called immediately telling me I needed different passport photos and my British husband needed better bank statements with his name on it (the ones he was given did not! Make sure your bank gives you the most official thing possible!).

Aug 17: Over-nighted all extra stuff to them.

Aug 19: Dropped off at the Chicago Consulate.

Aug 24: Informed of FedEx visa shipment via A.Briggs.

Aug 25: Visa in my hand!

So 2-3 total business days for actually processing!? A.Briggs kept in constant contact, I never heard a peep from the actual Consulate. I am so happy I paid the extra money for them to look over the application documents, otherwise I'd have a big fat NO and out a grand!

Congratulations Jhenn!!!

Is there a number or email you can call to speak with anyone?

The question arises a lot that people want to speak to the ECO. 

Background.  Prior to 2005 you could just ring up the consulate and speak to the ECO about your case and ask them to hurry up or whatever.  Then they turned that channel off and it was *we* who were pushing it; it was actually we on the advocacy side who drove that process.    

In this era, there's Worldbridge.  They are the people you can ring up and discuss whatever.   Now for sure everybody knows Worldbridge is crap, but it's a million times improved over the way things used to be.

And for sure, there's a contact list that gets distributed to Parliament aides and ILPA members and other people who need to speak to someone at a visa section; but access to the list is massively restricted and only gets used once in a blue moon anyway. 

For ordinary end-users, there's some email addresses on the UKBA site that you can use.  Post also works.  I know it's frustrating sometimes, but at the end of the day, it's a better system.

Thanks. I will try the email route. It's funny because in everyday life I am always complimented on how patient I am! LOL. This situation definitely brings out the worst!

Thanks. I will try the email route. It's funny because in everyday life I am always complimented on how patient I am! LOL. This situation definitely brings out the worst!

You can always send an email to the Entry Clearance Manager at the consulate you applied through best email to use is the complaints email. You can find a listing of them in this thread: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=57518.0.

But be prepared that they may not do anything.

Good Luck

Thanks. I sent an email off to the NY complaints dept. Here's hoping they get back with some good news!