Any updates from recent applicants?

Compare the $3000 price with how much it would cost to use the Surinder Singh route (I believe that visa is free). A lot of extra work would be needed to find a job in Europe for 3 months but it might be fun :-)

Surinder Singh is not quite that easy any more - you can't just go to another EEA country and work for 3 months and then move back, you must show you have moved your whole life to that country and it is now your primary residence.

You would need to show:

- you have moved the centre of your life to that country, for example, you no longer maintain a home in the UK, but your main home is in that country.
- you and your spouse live together in the EEA country
- you have been exercising your treaty rights by working in that country for a reasonable length of time (minimum acceptable length of time would probably be 6 months, but 1-2 years would be much better)
- you have integrated yourself into life in the EEA country, for example, your children were born there, you have bought property there, or you speak the language fluently

From the official guidance on how to meet these criteria:

Period of residence in another EEA member state

8. In general, the longer the British citizen has resided in another EEA member state as a worker or self-employed person, the more likely it is that they have transferred the centre of their life to that member state.

9. For example, a British citizen who has lived and worked in another member state for a period of two years is more likely meet the requirement of regulation 9(2)(c) than a British citizen who was employed in another Member state for a period of four months.

Principal residence

10. The principal residence is the place and country where the British citizen’s life is primarily based.
11. For example, a British citizen worked in France for three months, staying in a hotel during the week and returning to their main home in the UK at the weekends. In this case they are unlikely to meet the requirements of regulation 9(2)(c) as their principal residence would be considered to be the UK.

Degree of integration

12. When considering the degree of integration in another EEA member state, relevant factors may include:

a. Does the British citizen have any children born in the host member state? If so, are the children attending schools in the host member state?
b. Does the British citizen have any other family members resident in the host member state?
c. Has the British citizen immersed themselves into the life and culture of the host member state? For example, have they bought property there? Do they speak the language? Are they involved with the local community?

The more of these factors that are present on a case, the more likely the British citizen is to be considered as having transferred the centre of their life

My Wife just got the 'Decision Has Been Made' email for our Spouse visa and we are FREAKING OUT! Personally I'm so glad that we will soon have an answer - I can't bear all this waiting around doing nothing.

Our timeline is below. I'm now trying to predict how likely it is that our visa has been granted. My Wife is ill and as you all know being apart is so hard at the best of times. A refusal would be a huge blow for us.

Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated, although I realise that really we just need to wait to receive our return package - I'm just seeking reassurance I suppose!

Relationship Aug 2014
Met in US Nov 2014
General Visitor Visa refusal 2nd Feb 2015
Met again in US March 2015 and got engaged
Married in US May 2015
Online application 14th July 2015
Sent priority 27th July
Sheffield acknowledgement email 28th July
Decision made email 4th August

So the decision was made within 5 business days of the acknowledgement email from Sheffield. A good sign?

Congrats!!! You've lit up my morning! I upgraded a day after you did and still haven't heard a word..no acknowledgement...nothing! So I'm sure it can only be good news for you all!


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My wife had her biometrics today so we are going to mail the packet out tomorrow. Still undecided on the priority service. I've booked my flight for Sept 1 but my wife is obviously waiting to get the visa before booking her flight.

I sent my priority Tier 2 application on Wednesday the 29th of July. The e-mail confirmation from the center that arrived on Friday the 31st stated that the current projected processing time for my visa was 7 days if that information helps you

Question:

When we submitted my application to Sheffield, we included my husbands formal offer letter, however he told me the letter did not specify a specific start date.

Do you guys think this could have a bearing on the decision being delayed? We're at business day 6 following the retroactive upgrade with no news at all, no news confirming the upgrade had been paired with the application itself.

Should I send in the new document confirming his start date (it happened yesterday)?

Thanks!

Surinder Singh is not quite that easy any more - you can't just go to another EEA country and work for 3 months and then move back, you must show you have moved your whole life to that country and it is now your primary residence.

You would need to show:

- you have moved the centre of your life to that country, for example, you no longer maintain a home in the UK, but your main home is in that country.
- you and your spouse live together in the EEA country
- you have been exercising your treaty rights by working in that country for a reasonable length of time (minimum acceptable length of time would probably be 6 months, but 1-2 years would be much better)
- you have integrated yourself into life in the EEA country, for example, your children were born there, you have bought property there, or you speak the language fluently

From the official guidance on how to meet these criteria:

Wow! It'll soon be impossible to go that route if the Government keeps tightening up. If I hadn't gotten a job offer in the UK, my next plan was to teach English for a year in Poland and then move back. We actually had a job offer for both of us in one school in Poland!

Just mailed the visa application to Sheffield ($110 each way) from Honolulu...ouch! :-(

Are there any end of May settlement (non-priority) visa submissions from the U.S. that have heard back yet??
 
I'm at 42 days since I got the "received your application" email and still nothing.  I've tried to hold off doing priority, but it seems that everyone has upgraded.  I put August 2nd as my intended date to travel to the U.K. to be with my fiancé, so obviously that's not happening.

I know it can take however long they need, but it seems a lot longer than I ever anticipated.

Any advice?!

Bummer! Sadly it looks like things are just taking a while...still nothing but I applied in early July and paid for the upgrade...no acknowledgement email though


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UPDATE!

Hi everyone, I do have an update...I looked into getting a second US passport or a "duplicate" passport and that's exactly what I've done.

Note: I had to make an appointment for an in-person appointment at the Atlanta Passport Agency center in downtown. I was able to make an appointment via their phone system for 2 days after I called. Not bad

Monday, August 3, 2015 : Made Appointment at ATL Passport Agency via their automated system. It gave me the appointment day/time and confirmation number to bring
Wednesday, August 5, 2015: Showed up for appointment with all of my documents:
- Two Passport Photos
- Appointment Confirmation Number
- Form DS-11 (as I don't have my physical passport with me as it's with the UK Authorities) (http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/212239.pdf)
- Birth Certificate
- Current Driver's License
(I recommend bringing a couple forms of ID...he also got upset with me because I had a VA DL and I'm staying with my parents in GA. I brought the Change of Address paperwork from USPS too)
- Checkbook/Visa Cards
- My visa acknowledgment email printed out from Sheffield
- Letter stating the reason for the need of a second passport
(Used this template: http://www.itseasy.com/PDF/passport-applications/7_FAM_1300_Appendix_R.pdf)
Copied and pasted the body of this example to a word document, printed it out, filled in and signed/dated
- Proof of international travel booked to depart within 2 week period (I'm booked to leave next Wednesday, August 12th)
- Copy of current passport the UK Authorities have in Sheffield
(I ended up not needing it, but having it available was good for the ease of the number)
Friday, August 7, 2015: PICK UP SECONDARY PASSPORT AT 2PM!!

I had to check-in and explain my reason for being there, the lady I spoke with had clearly only encounted my request a few times and had a manager come over to check. The manager verified I had the right application and forms, etc and waived it through. They made some copies and organized everything so it was ready for the next person. Gave me my number and I sat down for 30 minutes until being called.

After being called I did have to state my case and convince the oh-so-cheerful (not) passport clerk as to why I needed the passport, I explained the delay in processing times for the UK due to the current migrant crisis going on coupled with higher than usual number of applications and that my travel had been booked for months and was leaving within the next week.

Additionally I explained we had begun the process at the beginning of June and still heard nothing other than an acknowledgment of the application being received for processing. I also pointed out I would have started it sooner, however we needed to verify my husband's employment offer in the UK before we could do so, hence the further delay.

I could tell the guy I had was not used to receiving this kind of request and tried to put me off. They do know about it though, so if you get push-back, politely insist. I politely pressed him and he spoke with a manager who told him to do it. But I did get the impression he wasn't thrilled...but that's government employees for you...

The cost was $195 and that include 24-48 hour expedited fee.

I'm reserving my full-on excitement until I have it in my hands Friday afternoon.

Additional Note: My husband spoke to an English immigration Lawyer who confirmed that while the visa was currently processing there is nothing in the fine print that does not allow the applicant to enter the UK on a visitor's visa (aka secondary passport).
I will have to return back to the US and then fly back into the UK using my UK Settlement visa when it does finally arrive. I know these options require throwing more money at the issue, but thankfully we're able to do so and it will reunite our family in the interim which is worth it to us.

I will let y'all know how it works out! We're ready to fly on Wednesday assuming everything is a go! Prepping the German Shepherd and his paperwork now!

UPDATE!

Hi everyone, I do have an update...I looked into getting a second US passport or a "duplicate" passport and that's exactly what I've done.

Note: I had to make an appointment for an in-person appointment at the Atlanta Passport Agency center in downtown. I was able to make an appointment via their phone system for 2 days after I called. Not bad

Monday, August 3, 2015 : Made Appointment at ATL Passport Agency via their automated system. It gave me the appointment day/time and confirmation number to bring
Wednesday, August 5, 2015: Showed up for appointment with all of my documents:
- Two Passport Photos
- Appointment Confirmation Number
- Form DS-11 (as I don't have my physical passport with me as it's with the UK Authorities) (http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/212239.pdf)
- Birth Certificate
- Current Driver's License
(I recommend bringing a couple forms of ID...he also got upset with me because I had a VA DL and I'm staying with my parents in GA. I brought the Change of Address paperwork from USPS too)
- Checkbook/Visa Cards
- My visa acknowledgment email printed out from Sheffield
- Letter stating the reason for the need of a second passport
(Used this template: http://www.itseasy.com/PDF/passport-applications/7_FAM_1300_Appendix_R.pdf)
Copied and pasted the body of this example to a word document, printed it out, filled in and signed/dated
- Proof of international travel booked to depart within 2 week period (I'm booked to leave next Wednesday, August 12th)
- Copy of current passport the UK Authorities have in Sheffield
(I ended up not needing it, but having it available was good for the ease of the number)
Friday, August 7, 2015: PICK UP SECONDARY PASSPORT AT 2PM!!

I had to check-in and explain my reason for being there, the lady I spoke with had clearly only encounted my request a few times and had a manager come over to check. The manager verified I had the right application and forms, etc and waived it through. They made some copies and organized everything so it was ready for the next person. Gave me my number and I sat down for 30 minutes until being called.

After being called I did have to state my case and convince the oh-so-cheerful (not) passport clerk as to why I needed the passport, I explained the delay in processing times for the UK due to the current migrant crisis going on coupled with higher than usual number of applications and that my travel had been booked for months and was leaving within the next week.

Additionally I explained we had begun the process at the beginning of June and still heard nothing other than an acknowledgment of the application being received for processing. I also pointed out I would have started it sooner, however we needed to verify my husband's employment offer in the UK before we could do so, hence the further delay.

I could tell the guy I had was not used to receiving this kind of request and tried to put me off. They do know about it though, so if you get push-back, politely insist. I politely pressed him and he spoke with a manager who told him to do it. But I did get the impression he wasn't thrilled...but that's government employees for you...

The cost was $195 and that include 24-48 hour expedited fee.

I'm reserving my full-on excitement until I have it in my hands Friday afternoon.

Additional Note: My husband spoke to an English immigration Lawyer who confirmed that while the visa was currently processing there is nothing in the fine print that does not allow the applicant to enter the UK on a visitor's visa (aka secondary passport).
I will have to return back to the US and then fly back into the UK using my UK Settlement visa when it does finally arrive. I know these options require throwing more money at the issue, but thankfully we're able to do so and it will reunite our family in the interim which is worth it to us.

I will let y'all know how it works out! We're ready to fly on Wednesday assuming everything is a go! Prepping the German Shepherd and his paperwork now!

Ummm...  I didn't think this was an option.  How are you going to prove to the IO that you are a visitor while you have an outstanding settlement application processing?

Good luck, I'll be curious to hear the result.

Ummm...  I didn't think this was an option.  How are you going to prove to the IO that you are a visitor while you have an outstanding settlement application processing?

Good luck, I'll be curious to hear the result.

Per the discussion with the Immigration lawyer you are still able to come in to the country on a visitor visa as long as you leave and come back on the settlement visa. Nothing specifically states you can't and that will have an adverse impact on the current  visa being processed.

He is double-verifying this is indeed the case to be prudent. Guess we will find out on Wednesday! Let y'all know how it turns out.

I will have to return back to the US and then fly back into the UK using my UK Settlement visa when it does finally arrive. I know these options require throwing more money at the issue, but thankfully we're able to do so and it will reunite our family in the interim which is worth it to us.[/i]

I will let y'all know how it works out! We're ready to fly on Wednesday assuming everything is a go! Prepping the German Shepherd and his paperwork now!

If this works, can you have someone mail you the 1st passport and then just fly to France (or somewhere else close and cheap) and use the 1st passport with the visa to re-enter the UK? This might save you some money.

Not sure if this would work, any comments?

If this works, can you have someone mail you the 1st passport and then just fly to France (or somewhere else close and cheap) and use the 1st passport with the visa to re-enter the UK? This might save you some money.

Not sure if this would work, any comments?

You read my mind, I'm not sure...probably do the US just to be sale. We've checked around and haven't found any pitfalls.

I'm also not convinced the systems will be in-tune with each other enough to know what's going on if a second passport does come into play. Again, guess we will find out on Wednesday!

Just curious...but I've noticed a lot of people advising against this route...but of those, how many have actually attempted it?


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Been on the board a few years now and you're my first!

I guess I just don't understand the risk...  Why?  You are probably going to have your visa before next Wednesday anyway, so why go through all this?  Why spend all that money on a flight?  Why risk it being matched up by an IO and flagging your app (if it's not processed)?  Why try to look like you are circumventing the system?  What is so urgent that you can't wait another week or two?

This explains why the UK voids apps made in country if the applicant travels on a second passport.  I would think the same rationale would apply.  How can they give you entry when you've already entered?

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/travelling_on_2nd_passport_while