on line application

has anyone filled in an on-line fiancée visa application,I have filled in the application up to the make payment page,when can you print this off ?,also do you still have to fill in the Vaf4a and the appendix 2 Vaf42  and put this with your application when sending them off,thanks tezza

Just filled it out 2 weeks ago. You print it out after you pay for it. Also, print out appendix 2, fill it out and attach it to the rest of the application.

has anyone filled in an on-line fiancée visa application,I have filled in the application up to the make payment page,when can you print this off ?

You will not be able to print it off until you have submitted the application online, paid for it and booked your biometrics appointment.

Do you have all of your supporting documents ready and everything else for the application organised?

I wouldn't submit the visa application form online until you have all the supporting documents you need for the application - because as soon as you press 'submit', you will have officially applied and this will be your official application date.

You will only have 30 days from then to attend your biometrics and submit all your documents to the NYC consulate (and only 14 days from the biometrics appointment, whichever date is sooner).

also do you still have to fill in the Vaf4a and the appendix 2 Vaf42  and put this with your application when sending them off,thanks tezza

The online application is the same thing as the VAF4a - the paper version of the application is called VAF4a (used by people who cannot apply online), but if you live in the US, you must apply online instead- the NYC consulate will not accept printed VAF4a forms.

So, the order you want to do things in is:

- Gather up all your supporting documents (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/out-of-country/sup-docs-settlement.pdf), including any that you need from your fiance in the UK (his bank statements, payslips, accommodation evidence, letter of support etc.)

- Fill out the online form

- When ready, submit the online form. You will be prompted to pay for the visa and to book your biometrics appointment (at any one of the 129 USCIS application support centers across the US)

- Print off your completed application form and biometrics confirmation sheet

- Print off and fill out Appendix 2

- Attend your biometrics appointment. They will stamp your biometrics confirmation sheet and give it back to you

- Put your printed application, stamped biometrics sheet and printed Appendix 2 with your supporting documents

- Within 14 days of the biometrics appointment, mail your documents to the NYC consulate... they must arrive within the 14 days (and no more than 30 days from the date you applied online)

If you wish to have your visa processed within 15 working days, you can purchase the settlement priority processing service for $300. To do this, go to the Worldbridge website on the day you will be mailing the documents (before you mail them) and purchase the service (Additional Service section). You will need to print off the receipt and include it with your documents and write 'Settlement Priority Service' on the outside of your package.

I am applying for Fiance visa right now to go to UK to be with my partner. Glad to finally see somewhere that the timing of events is posted.  I have a couple of questions I can't seem to find answers to:

1) How should paperwork be organized for submission, i.e. financials, accommodation, passports, relationship evidence, etc?

2) How should the paperwork be "put together" for submission to the UKBA?  Paperclips then put in folder or what? 

3) Should you list on the online form (VAF4A) in the 'additional information you'd like to include' box, a list of all the supporting documents you're including?  Or should you just create a paper list and put it on top of the documents?

Sorry for all the questions but I've been digging everywhere for answers and coming up empty-handed.

 

1) How should paperwork be organized for submission, i.e. financials, accommodation, passports, relationship evidence, etc?

Doesn't really matter - however you feel is best and what seems most organised. They will probably reorganise the application when it is assigned to an officer at the consulate anyway, so it just needs to be in a sensible order so they can find things easily.

2) How should the paperwork be "put together" for submission to the UKBA?  Paperclips then put in folder or what? 

Each section of documents in a clip/paperclip, then you can use a bigger bulldog-type clip to put them all together. Don't use folders or dockets as it just creates more work for the consulate, who will have to take everything out of the folders/dockets for rearranging.

3) Should you list on the online form (VAF4A) in the 'additional information you'd like to include' box, a list of all the supporting documents you're including?  Or should you just create a paper list and put it on top of the documents?

No - you only need to use the Additional Information section for more details about your application that you feel they need to know or you have run out of space for in the other sections (i.e. explaining criminal convictions, listing previous travel history etc.).

You don't really need to create a 'list' of documents at all. The sponsor's letter of confirmation would normally say what documents the sponsor is including, and then if you want to you can write a cover letter stating what visa you're applying for, maybe what documents you are including, and to explain anything extra or unusual about your case (i.e. large transactions on your bank statements, or to mention a criminal conviction).

After seeing a case officer going through our application at a priority appointment in the UK, I'd suggest paperclips.  We had papers stapled together to keep each month's bank statements together and stuff, but the poor guy had to take them all out to photocopy each page. 

Paperclips are the way to go. 

We sent copies of everything we submitted.  I think you should at least send copies of documents you MUST get back.  The more, the better as they seem to keep them for their records. 

As Ksand said, be absolutely sure you have all the docs you'll need when you submit the application online.  We've seen people loose their application fee because documents were stuck in the mail or customs and the 14 days after biometrics/30 days after application came and went. 

Good luck!

I didn't know there was an option on the World Bridge website to prioritize my application. I've already sent it off and FedEx confirmed it was delivered. I haven't received any confirmation from NY that it was received. When I enquired as to whether it was received because I was worried about the sensitivity of the information sent I was given a scripted answer of we don't give out information on your applications processing. They wouldn't even confirm they had it.
Do I still have the option of prioritizing my application? Is it even worth it?

Thank you all for the help! This has to be the most nerve-racking experience I've ever had. 

The only thing I have left to do is get the financial documents in place. We're making sure that we have a cover letter from each bank stating that the documents are genuine and at least 6 months worth of everything account that issues statements.

I'm just trying to figure out the timing of my statements. It says you need to put down the amounts in the accounts "on the date of the application."  Since mine change daily with interest, it's a bit tricky.

Anyone have thoughts on this?  What did you do?

HopeCoffin: There's really no point in prioritizing your application now. Applying priority no longer guarantees an answer within 15 days. They put your application to the front of the line, and it cuts some time off. They also recommend not getting priority once you've already sent it in. You should get an email stating that they have your application. I sent my priority application in on December 20th, USPS told me UKBA received it on December 28th, and I didn't receive an email from the UKBA until January 4th. It can take some time.

LeonardB: Do you have online access to your bank account? You could check it the morning you send in your application and write down that amount. Even though it changes everyday, the day you send in your online application is your official application date so any amounts before or after that won't matter.

princessmeg1328:  Yes, I have online access. All of my statements are electronic not paper thus I need bank to certify. Fortunately, I work in the same building as my bank and the bank officer is aware of my needs and she is willing to help in anyway possible.    Thank you for the quick response and valuable info!

Hi everyone,

Some further questions. Any help greatly appreciated!

Just now submitted my online visa.

Says I need to print off Appendix 2 but there was no links or further references to Appendix 2.  Did I miss something?  Or should I pull down the PDF from their forms of Appendix 2 and use?

It also said that my biometrics center does not accept payment at the center and I need to pay online. But nothing came up requesting payment. Was it included in the cost of the visa?  I received my email for my appointment and printed the appointment confirmation from the link below my visa printing link but there's nothing anywhere saying I paid for the actual biometrics.

Thanks!! 

Says I need to print off Appendix 2 but there was no links or further references to Appendix 2.  Did I miss something?  Or should I pull down the PDF from their forms of Appendix 2 and use?

You need to download the PDF from this page, print it off and fill it out in pen - this what it meant when it said to print off Appendix 2 (the PDF is the only version):
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/partners-families/citizens-settled/spouse-cp/apply-outside-uk/

It also said that my biometrics center does not accept payment at the center and I need to pay online. But nothing came up requesting payment. Was it included in the cost of the visa?  I received my email for my appointment and printed the appointment confirmation from the link below my visa printing link but there's nothing anywhere saying I paid for the actual biometrics.

There is no charge for biometrics - it is part of the £826 application fee.

 In some countries, you pay the entire fee at the biometrics appointment, but in the US the entire payment is taken when you submit your online application. Your official application date is the date you pay for the visa, so in your case, it will be the online submission date.

The fee you paid online covers: the application, the biometrics, and the return of your documents and visa by courier after processing.

Thank you ksand24!

I actually found something about biometric fee being included but good to have it confirmed.  And thanks for confirming the Appendix 2 info. That's what I thought but wasn't sure.  I'm going to need a long holiday after this visa before starting the next one!

Couple more questions if I may...

The printed, online application has a place for the visa photo.  Should I attach one of the ones I had taken or just include the two photos as part of the submission without attaching to printed online application?

Someone mentioned including a copy of the applications and the supporting documents for the UKBA so they wouldn't need to copy. I don't see that it's required but what do you think?

Again...thanks!

The printed, online application has a place for the visa photo.  Should I attach one of the ones I had taken or just include the two photos as part of the submission without attaching to printed online application?

I don't think it matters, really. I have a feeling that most people just include their photos separately without attaching them to the printed application (they will have to detach it later anyway). You have to include both photos so it's probably easiest not to attach them.

Someone mentioned including a copy of the applications and the supporting documents for the UKBA so they wouldn't need to copy. I don't see that it's required but what do you think?

It is required and you must send copies of every single document you send.

If you do not send copies they may not return your original documents.

From the 'Applying in the USA' pages (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/usa/applying/?langname=null):

For every document that you provide, you must include the original document and a photocopy. This includes a copy of your passport bio-data page (the page containing your photograph). Please ensure that the photocopies are of good quality and can be read easily. If you do not provide a photocopy of each document, we might not return your original documents to you.

Great!  Thank you!