Any updates from recent applicants?

I just woke up to an email from Sheffield "A decision has been made on your UK Visa application." I can't believe it!!! I wonder if my email yesterday requesting compassionate consideration made a difference? I hope it means that it's approved? I'll post an update again once it arrives.

I just woke up to an email from Sheffield "A decision has been made on your UK Visa application." I can't believe it!!! I wonder if my email yesterday requesting compassionate consideration made a difference? I hope it means that it's approved? I'll post an update again once it arrives.

Yay - glad you got the email . It may be that your email helped, or it could have been next to be decided anyway... I suppose you probably won't know for sure.

There's unfortunately no way to know from the email whether it's been approved or not as they send the same generic email to everyone - you'll just have to wait until you get your passport and documents back .

So happy for you that your wait is nearly over.  Since you applied before May 31st, your visa will be in your passport valid for 6 months.  As long as you move to the UK, marry, and apply for your FLR(M) in those six months, you'll be good to go.

Thank you. That's good to know.  I still haven't received an official email from Sheffield and the package hasn't been shipped yet, but still hopeful.

I'm in a weird situation now because I start teaching on Monday, so I'm trying to figure out the best thing to do if our visa is approved.  Will it look bad on our part if I leave too far into the 6 month time frame? (Like will it hinder anything with our next step of applying for FLR(M) after we get married?)

Thanks for all of your advice!

Yay! Congrats!!  My non-priority app was acknowledged a week after yours, and escalated on 5 Aug, so fingers crossed we'll hear back soon too.

Thank you! It's at least something more than we've gotten in months.  We keep checking our package tracking on UPS, but nothing has been started yet as a delivery.  We are hopeful that all is going to be a positive outcome! Keep me updated if you guys hear back... Hopefully this week for you!!

Marrying in the UK is kind of complicated, which is why many opt to marry in the US and skip the fiancé visa.

I'd recommend calling your designated registry office as soon as you have your visa and find out their requirements for giving notice.   Then book both your appointment for notice and the ceremony.

You may need to get your name on a bill and have that sent to you before you can give notice (after in the UK).  This can take time.  Plus the minimum 28 day wait if notice to marry, plus you need to ensure you'll have your marriage certificate in time to apply for FLR(M).  Six months can go quick!

Marrying in the UK is kind of complicated, which is why many opt to marry in the US and skip the fiancé visa.

I'd recommend calling your designated registry office as soon as you have your visa and find out their requirements for giving notice.   Then book both your appointment for notice and the ceremony.

You may need to get your name on a bill and have that sent to you before you can give notice (after in the UK).  This can take time.  Plus the minimum 28 day wait if notice to marry, plus you need to ensure you'll have your marriage certificate in time to apply for FLR(M).  Six months can go quick!

Eeek! That is quite a lot.  I was hoping I could swing teaching here a couple months longer so I wouldn't leave my students high and dry at the beginning of the school year. (I couldn't resign this summer because I obviously didn't know the outcome of this yet. We didn't think we would be in this situation).

Thanks for the insight. Once we get the results of the visa we will see what the registry says. My fiancé had phoned them before our application and they said I had to be in England at least 7 days to apply and 28 days before getting married. (I think?!)

Thanks again. 

Thanks! Nope... We have been non-priority all along. We had moments where we were going to upgrade, but we just didn't feel comfortable doing it with the uncertainty of it all.

Fingers crossed!!!! I'm glad it's happening. I just know it's going to be approved.


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Come on Monday morning!


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Come on Monday morning!


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Did you end up entering the country on your second passport? :-)

Did you end up entering the country on your second passport? :-)

I know, everyone wants to know if this will work...despite those who seem to think they know it won't....without having attempted it...or knowing of anyone else who has attempted it.

I'll let y'all know on Wednesday afternoon UK time when I'm in either in country or on my way back to the US. (We booked a flexible return flight just in case it all goes pear-shaped)

Still hoping to get news of something...but I've gone through the stages of mental grieving over the weekend and accepted it's just not going to happen any time soon.

Dog is shipping out tomorrow evening.
Daughter and myself will be doing the same on Tuesday night from Atlanta.

Anyone have advice for the new Annex VI form? Worked on it a bunch this evening...taking it to the vet tomorrow...who I am sure has never seen one.

Just want to make sure there aren't any pitfalls I might not be aware of.
Compared to the Annex II it looks like a lot more lining through of items as you're declaring things, etc. I went ahead and circled/lined through things as they instructed per the annotations...however it looks like they want the vets to initial all of the lined through options that do not apply. Seems a bit excessive...but if that's what they want (as clearly stated on top of page one in annotation instructions) we will do it that way.

 I ended up filling out my last one when the dog shipped over 2 years ago. Went ahead and did the bulk of this one too.

Same with the Health Certificate APHIS Form 7001 (Nov. 10') most current per their instructions via email to me.

Appointment with USDA-APHIS tomorrow afternoon at 2...assuming all is well, dog flies at 10:00pm!

Anyone have advice for the new Annex VI form? Worked on it a bunch this evening...taking it to the vet tomorrow...who I am sure has never seen one.

Just want to make sure there aren't any pitfalls I might not be aware of.
Compared to the Annex II it looks like a lot more lining through of items as you're declaring things, etc. I went ahead and circled/lined through things as they instructed per the annotations...however it looks like they want the vets to initial all of the lined through options that do not apply. Seems a bit excessive...but if that's what they want (as clearly stated on top of page one in annotation instructions) we will do it that way.

 I ended up filling out my last one when the dog shipped over 2 years ago. Went ahead and did the bulk of this one too.

Same with the Health Certificate APHIS Form 7001 (Nov. 10') most current per their instructions via email to me.

Appointment with USDA-APHIS tomorrow afternoon at 2...assuming all is well, dog flies at 10:00pm!

If you call the Animal Reception Center at the airport receiving the dog, they'll have you email the form over and tell you if its okay in advance.   

Submitted Application Online - June 12, 2015
Biometrics Taken - June 16, 2015
Sent Documents to Sheffield (NON-PRIORITY) - Around 24th of June
Received Acknowledgment - July 1, 2015
Paid for Retrospective Priority and Emailed Sheffield the Receipt - August 4, 2015
'Case Escalated' - August 14, 2015

-

Working Days Since Application was Submitted: 46 (not including holidays)
Working Days Since Application was Acknowledged: 34 (not including holidays)
Working Days Since Retrospective Priority Upgrade: 10

Anyone have advice for the new Annex VI form? Worked on it a bunch this evening...taking it to the vet tomorrow...who I am sure has never seen one.

Just want to make sure there aren't any pitfalls I might not be aware of.
Compared to the Annex II it looks like a lot more lining through of items as you're declaring things, etc. I went ahead and circled/lined through things as they instructed per the annotations...however it looks like they want the vets to initial all of the lined through options that do not apply. Seems a bit excessive...but if that's what they want (as clearly stated on top of page one in annotation instructions) we will do it that way.

 I ended up filling out my last one when the dog shipped over 2 years ago. Went ahead and did the bulk of this one too.

Same with the Health Certificate APHIS Form 7001 (Nov. 10') most current per their instructions via email to me.

Appointment with USDA-APHIS tomorrow afternoon at 2...assuming all is well, dog flies at 10:00pm!

When we arrived for our appointment for the USDA certified (accredited ?) vet at Angel memorial in Boston they had already completed the Annex IV for us based on information we'd given them.   Are you sure your vet isn't completing the Annex IV ?

Anyone have advice for the new Annex VI form? Worked on it a bunch this evening...taking it to the vet tomorrow...who I am sure has never seen one.

Just want to make sure there aren't any pitfalls I might not be aware of.
Compared to the Annex II it looks like a lot more lining through of items as you're declaring things, etc. I went ahead and circled/lined through things as they instructed per the annotations...however it looks like they want the vets to initial all of the lined through options that do not apply. Seems a bit excessive...but if that's what they want (as clearly stated on top of page one in annotation instructions) we will do it that way.

 I ended up filling out my last one when the dog shipped over 2 years ago. Went ahead and did the bulk of this one too.

Same with the Health Certificate APHIS Form 7001 (Nov. 10') most current per their instructions via email to me.

Appointment with USDA-APHIS tomorrow afternoon at 2...assuming all is well, dog flies at 10:00pm!

I don't believe you need the APHIS Form 7001.