Any updates from recent applicants?

What a small world! I'm actually from Virginia and I also lived in Marlinton, WV for 4 years before moving to Long Island!

What a small world! I'm actually from Virginia and I also lived in Marlinton, WV for 4 years before moving to Long Island!

Wow, small world indeed!! Not sure if you're familiar or not, but I used to work up at Snowshoe Mountain for years and my sister-in-law was actually raised in Pocahontas County! It is a beautiful state I will be a little sad to leave it but I have plenty of family here down in Randolph County (Elkins, WV) that I will be coming back to visit twice a year.

Wow! I definitely know Snowshoe and I've been to that area many times. I used to work for Seneca Mental Health in Marlinton and I traveled all over Pocahontas county to make home visits I haven't met too many people in NY/NJ who know anything about WV!

Wow! I definitely know Snowshoe and I've been to that area many times. I used to work for Seneca Mental Health in Marlinton and I traveled all over Pocahontas county to make home visits I haven't met too many people in NY/NJ who know anything about WV!

Yeah it seems we are rare around this area haha Morgantown is a little more diverse because of the University. It is definitely a beautiful state!

We're checked in at the airport! Let y'all know how it goes tomorrow! Time to survive the flight with the baby!


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Thank you for your kind words. I've been in a panic that I'd be stuck in limbo and unable to travel if my mother-in-law in England takes a turn for the worse. She's receiving hospice care now and I'll be so relieved when I can visit her again. For now, we talk on Skype every day.

I received notice on Saturday that it would be dispatched shortly but there was no movement until Monday evening. It now shows that it left Sheffield late Monday, traveled to Castle Donnington, UK and then Koeln, Germany (isn't that the wrong direction? ) and is scheduled to be delivered by the end of the day Tuesday. I'll post again as soon as I receive it. Any update on yours?

Unfortunately, no update on mine. I've been checking my return shipping number and nothing yet. I do know that the email I got last Thursday evening (UK time on 13 Aug) was sent from the UK Visas & Immigration Service Center, not from Sheffield.

My fiance and I had emailed the service center asking for an update as it had been about 52 working days for our non-priority application. So technically the email was saying that after "escalating" our application and trying to find out the progress, apparently Sheffield told them that a decision had been made.

I assume it may just be taking longer, though I am not really sure why. Of course many things go through your head and you start second guessing everything, so I am just trying to stay busy and not be so anxious and worried.

Congratulations on your visa!!!

Hello All...

Congrats on recent visa deliveries, good luck to those still hanging on, and those traveling soon (especially with babies and dogs?!)

I thought I'd post an update: after submitting my application online on the 4th, I had my biometrics appointment this past Friday, the 14th. I went straight to UPS and sent my parcel off, and it was delivered to Sheffield on Monday, the 17th. I received the "acknowledgment" email this morning, the 18th. I hope this time next week I have my passport back and can confidently book the plane ticket I want!

I paid for priority processing and round trip courier service through VFS. Everything is so damn expensive but it's quite worth it, for us, in the long run. My love and I have been on such a long "journey" to FINALLY be together - and the second we said "I do" a few months ago it's been twice as difficult to be apart. I can't wait for this to be over.

That said, we specifically planned and plotted over the last two years so every little thing would be exactly in line and by the book - we've had challenges and knew we wouldn't stand a chance financially until right about now, so everything has been timed and coordinated appropriately. I say this because I've read some posts recently about sending payslips and applying while in the UK etc. and I just want to echo the wise words I've read in response: follow the guidelines and don't bother applying unless you are ready to do so. Make sure you read everything you can about what is required. If you don't meet the financial requirement, and send them ALL the evidence, you won't get the visa. It's a complicated process that will only be made more complicated if you don't follow the procedure correctly. If you're engaged/married and trying to emigrate, your new hobby should be becoming an expert at all this. If you can afford it, maybe consult a UK-based immigration attorney (they aren't perfect but can help), and by all means participate in the FREE resources that are available through this forum and others. Do not cross your fingers and assume it'll be okay unless you've actually dotted the "i"s and crossed the "t"s...I'm still nervous and KNOW I've exhausted all efforts needed to get it right.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, just helping.

Good luck, everyone!!   

I do know that the email I got last Thursday evening (UK time on 13 Aug) was sent from the UK Visas & Immigration Service Center, not from Sheffield.

In regards to that, they have actually told someone before that their visa had been decided and was ready to be shipped and it actually turned out Sheffield hadn't even started processing it yet!

So, I would be wary about any information you get from anywhere other than Sheffield directly.

My fiance and I had emailed the service center asking for an update as it had been about 52 working days for our non-priority application. So technically the email was saying that after "escalating" our application and trying to find out the progress, apparently Sheffield told them that a decision had been made.

Personally, I would email Sheffield's direct email address, not the service center, because the service center are known for giving incorrect information and not knowing what they are talking about.

Happy dance tonight in NY! I received my visa today

Congratulations !

Another question: Throughout the process I kept reading about a biometric permit that needs to be picked up from the post office upon arrival in the UK. It also said that there would be a letter with instructions/an invitation to pick it up. I didn't receive anything like that. My visa says it is valid from 14/9/2015 through 14/05/2018 (i.e. 33 months). Do I need a biometric residence card? Can someone please explain?

As others have said, if you have been given the 33-month visa, then you don't need a biometric permit.

If you did need a biometric permit you would have received only a 30-day visa and a letter explaining how and where to pick up the permit when you arrived in the UK.

It's interesting that you have been given the 33-month visa though - they are supposed to be issuing the 30-day vignette and biometric permit to everyone who applied online after May 31st, but it seems to be very hit and miss at the moment... you aren't the only one to apply online after May 31st and still get the 33-month visa, while others are getting the 30-day vignette and the biometric permit.

Sorry-I typed the wrong date. It's valid from 14/8/2015 (not 14/9/2015) - 14/5/2018. The start date appears to be the date they made the decision. I had requested 9/9/2015 which has been our tentative move date.

Just to note that they are more lax with adhering to the intended travel date when issuing the 33-month visas because you have a lot of time to enter the UK and still be fine for applying for future visas - you have 3 months and 28 days to enter with no issues from the 'valid from' date.

However, it seems that when they are issuing the 30-day vignette, they have been honouring the travel date because of that small, 30-day window to enter the UK... it's more important for them to make sure you get the right date.

Do they ever put a valid date after the current or planned date of departure?

For example, if someone receives a visa 1/9/15, is the valid date ever 15/9/15?  If so, can that person not enter the UK before 15/9/15 or just not begin working before 15/9/15?

Not that I can recall - usually they either use your travel date or the date they issue it... Which may be before or after the travel date depending on how long it takes to process.

You can't enter the UK until that date though because it doesn't become valid for travel until then.

Then assuming you have a visa that allows work, you can start working as soon as you have entered the UK on the visa.


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Not that I can recall - usually they either use your travel date or the date they issue it... Which may be before or after the travel date depending on how long it takes to process.

You can't enter the UK until that date though because it doesn't become valid for travel until then.

Then assuming you have a visa that allows work, you can start working as soon as you have entered the UK on the visa.


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Ok, so unlikely then.  Thanks.

In regards to that, they have actually told someone before that their visa had been decided and was ready to be shipped and it actually turned out Sheffield hadn't even started processing it yet!

So, I would be wary about any information you get from anywhere other than Sheffield directly.

Personally, I would email Sheffield's direct email address, not the service center, because the service center are known for giving incorrect information and not knowing what they are talking about.

Ugh... That is SO frustrating. Thank you for letting me know that. 

So should we email directly to: VISAINFO.SHEFO@fco.gov.uk ?? (This is the email sender from the "your visa has been received email back in early June)

The email address is:

VisaSheffield@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

That is the actual email address for Sheffield and the only place you will get accurate information about your visa application (though you aren't really supposed to know about or use it unless they contact you first).

I would explain that you were told by the service centre that your visa has been processed but you've heard nothing more and would like to enquire about the status of your application.


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Alright, all you curious people...this message is coming to you from baggage reclaim in Heathrow! We've arrived and had no problem coming in on second passport. They only asked how long we were staying and the date. In and through border control no problem. Not even the slightest question about a visa application.


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