return envelope?

I intend to be submitting my application for my spouse visa within the next few weeks.  I understand that I must mail it to the Sheffield center rather than New York now, and that I also must include a pre-paid return envelope to get my documents sent back to me.  However, I don't know how or where to go about getting one.  If I just go to the post office in the USA and buy an international flat rate envelope can that be mailed back here from the U.K.? Or do those have to be mailed from the U.S.?  If that's not possible can anyone give me some recommendations on where to get them and an idea of how much they will cost?  Thanks!

Matt

As far as I know, Royal Mail won't accept pre-paid USPS-labeled envelopes. However, you can ship from the US to the UK using the USPS flat-rate international express envelope for $45 if you buy the label online (you'll still need to get the flat-rate envelope from a post office).

For the return shipping, these would be the steps:

1. Weigh your complete application packet. UKBA will send back most of your documents and won't add anything extra, so you can figure out the weight in advance without worries.

2. Buy a pre-paid label from UPS or FedEx. MyUPS on the UPS website tells me that Express Saver shipping from the UK to the US would be $41 for a 1.5 kg package (just using that figure as a random estimate). I don't have an account with FedEx, but I'd guess it'd be similar. You can do it all online with UPS (and, I assume, with FedEx) but, if you go that route, you'd still have to pick up the appropriate UPS or FedEx envelope from a physical location.

3. Attach the pre-paid UK-to-US label to the appropriate empty envelope, add it to the pile, then chuck it all in the envelope you'll be using to send US to UK. Send the lot using the service of your choice.

Not sure what the difference is between online and in-store prices for UPS and FedEx, but I do know that the USPS offers a discount for online label purchases. It might be more convenient to do it all in one fell swoop at a UPS or FedEx location.

I sent mine via UPS. I went to FedEx first and the people there insisted that I set it all up myself on the computer. It wasn't working and none of them knew how to fix it. I got so frustrated that I left and went to UPS.

UPS set it all up for me but it costed about $320 all in. My package was about 4 lbs because I had to send a lot of extra papers (a whole year's worth of bank statements & payslips + translations + photocopies), and I also didn't choose the cheapest option, so it might be less for you depending on your circumstances.

You can send the package out via USPS but they no longer offer international reply coupons, so you can't include a return envelope that way. It seemed like more complications than it was really worth, especially considering that the people at UPS and Fedex were both thrown for a loop by my request, but you might also save some money that way.

I sent mine last week.  I went to FedEx and they suggested that I open an account.  That way, the return cost is charged to my account.  I tried to open the account online, but had trouble, so I ended up doing it by phone.  

Once I had an account number, I filled out the paperwork for both the application and the return package.  The form for the return was attached to the envelope before I put it in the box.  Since it had my account number, the shipping will be billed to me.

On a side note, I found the instructions about where to ship the application confusing and contradictory.  In several places on the web site, it said all settlement applications go to Sheffield.  But when I printed my application, it said it should be sent to New York.  I sent it Sheffield anyway, but I hope that was correct.

Thanks for the suggestions.  I have a family member whose workplace has a FedEx account that I can charge it to and pay them back.  So I suspect I will do that as it seems easiest. 

The only thing that has me worried is the weight limit on the FedEx standard envelope of 1 pound. I've not got everything together to weigh it yet, but even if it is over that weight going outwards, I suppose they wouldn't send everything back that gets sent to them, i.e. skype logs, pictures, cards etc., especially if I do not make copies of stuff I don't want/need back.  Do I have that accurate, or will they just send everything? 

Although, even if it does go over the weight limit I hope FedEx would just deliver it anyway at a higher rate rather than not send it completely and force me to mail another return package to Sheffield.  That would be awful.

They sent my Skype logs and the like back -- they don't really want that stuff, either. Just pick up two larger-capacity mailers from a FedEx location.

Hi All,

I went with the email they sent me and sent my docs to NY. It was signed for on the 30th of May and up till now I am yet to hear anything. I have contacted Worldbridge and even Sheffield and all they gave me were general responses. No one has been able to acknowledge receipt of my documents at Sheffield even though it was signed for in NY.

Did anyone get their visa without receiving any acknowledgement? The application is actually for my kids who are both under 5 hence I expect it to be quite straightforward. I need to leave the US ASAP and return home to the UK but I obviously can't travel without their passports.