Any updates from recent applicants?

I love seeing these recent timelines!!

The thing is, you have to look at when the documents were received in Sheffield. And most of these that I have seen recently have been super quick (on priority at least). I mean 10-14 days in my eyes is fantastic!

Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays this quick for straight forward cases. Online application will be completed by Friday for us! Then the document madness begins!

Congrats to all the visa recipients!! 

Woke up to "a decision has been made" email on my fiance visa. That was a 5 business day turnaround between emailing the priority upgrade and getting a decision email, and that included a missing document that had to be submitted.

I sent a pre-paid UPS label with my application for return postage, since there were only a couple of docs I wanted sent back it was about $50 cheaper than getting the VFS one. Sheffield emailed me confirming the tracking number that was on the label, so it seems that's an acceptable way to do it.

Nice! I sent a pre-paid DHL label and envelope with my application. I made sure that the weight it could carry was at least as heavy as the package I sent in with the application. I also sent a list of documents that I needed returned. I got an email back saying that they couldn't use the label so I had to either give them my account number for DHL / UPS or pay for a VFS return. I chose to go with VFS as I wanted to make sure there were no more mishaps.

I emailed my return VFS label and receipt twice and sent another email asking if they got my first two emails but no response. Does anyone ever get a response to these emails? The automated response says they'll get back to me within 20 days...

UK job offer: 27/07/15
Applied online: 28/07/15
Biometrics: 03/08/15
Sending application (PRIORITY): 04/08/15
App received in Sheffield: 07/08/15
Acknowledgement email: 12/08/15
Email asking for different return mail method: 17/08/15
Puchased VFS return mail and emailed AWB: 18/08/15
Emailed AWB again (still no reply): 20/08/15
Emailed AWB again (still no reply): 24/08/15
UK citizen flying out 01/09/15...

Business days since applying online - 23
Business days since app arrived in Sheffield - 15
Business days since app was acknowledged - 12

Nice! I sent a pre-paid DHL label and envelope with my application. I made sure that the weight it could carry was at least as heavy as the package I sent in with the application. I also sent a list of documents that I needed returned. I got an email back saying that they couldn't use the label so I had to either give them my account number for DHL / UPS or pay for a VFS return. I chose to go with VFS as I wanted to make sure there were no more mishaps.

I emailed my return VFS label and receipt twice and sent another email asking if they got my first two emails but no response. Does anyone ever get a response to these emails? The automated response says they'll get back to me within 20 days...

UK job offer: 27/07/15
Applied online: 28/07/15
Biometrics: 03/08/15
Sending application (PRIORITY): 04/08/15
App received in Sheffield: 07/08/15
Acknowledgement email: 12/08/15
Email asking for different return mail method: 17/08/15
Puchased VFS return mail and emailed AWB: 18/08/15
Emailed AWB again (still no reply): 20/08/15
Emailed AWB again (still no reply): 24/08/15
UK citizen flying out 01/09/15...

Business days since applying online - 23
Business days since app arrived in Sheffield - 15
Business days since app was acknowledged - 12

I don't think you can rely on a response at all.  Sometimes you get one but most like you won't and if you do, it'll contain information not helpful to you!

The good news is you've done priority.  You'll get something within a week I'd be confident in saying!

Woke up to "a decision has been made" email on my fiance visa. That was a 5 business day turnaround between emailing the priority upgrade and getting a decision email, and that included a missing document that had to be submitted.

I sent a pre-paid UPS label with my application for return postage, since there were only a couple of docs I wanted sent back it was about $50 cheaper than getting the VFS one. Sheffield emailed me confirming the tracking number that was on the label, so it seems that's an acceptable way to do it.

Great news!

Nice! I sent a pre-paid DHL label and envelope with my application. I made sure that the weight it could carry was at least as heavy as the package I sent in with the application. I also sent a list of documents that I needed returned. I got an email back saying that they couldn't use the label so I had to either give them my account number for DHL / UPS or pay for a VFS return. I chose to go with VFS as I wanted to make sure there were no more mishaps.

That's so frustrating for you. Wonder why it works for some and not for others? Guess it depends who's looking at your application. Do you think you and I have the same ECO?!

We just got the "a decision has been made" email!

Now we just have to hope the visa gets to us before Tuesday which is when I'm due to fly out!

Business days from acknowledgement - 13

We just got the "a decision has been made" email!

Now we just have to hope the visa gets to us before Tuesday which is when I'm due to fly out!

Business days from acknowledgement - 13

Wahey! Should take two days? Maybe three for Hawaii?

I bet you'll have it on Saturday.

We just got the "a decision has been made" email!

Now we just have to hope the visa gets to us before Tuesday which is when I'm due to fly out!

Business days from acknowledgement - 13

Yay - glad you got the email and fingers crossed it arrives by Tuesday... I should think it would, since Tuesday is almost a week away .

Still nothing!


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Congrats AussieBlue and QuantumG!

(I'm waiting on a UPS truck. "Out for Delivery"...

)

Congrats AussieBlue and QuantumG!

(I'm waiting on a UPS truck. "Out for Delivery"...

)

How long did it take from getting the email and for the package to start travelling to the US?

Edit: It has been picked up by UPS already

Still nothing!

Us either!  I feel your pain.

Congrats AussieBlue and QuantumG!

(I'm waiting on a UPS truck. "Out for Delivery"...

)

Haha, yep, I have been watching mine crawl its way across the globe.... in KY right now. I'm having it held at the UPS store for collection, really hoping it makes it today, but if not, then tomorrow for sure.  At least this is one part of the process we can actually get updates on.

Hi! Just thought I'd pass along this info from a UKVI inquiry response since someone was asking what date the stats are calculated from:

"We have service level standards for processing UK visa applications. We will process 90% of non-settlement applications within 3 weeks, 98% within 6 weeks and 100% within 12 weeks of the application (biometric taken) date; and 95% of settlement applications within 12 weeks of the biometric taken date and 100% within 24 weeks of the application (biometric taken) date. Please note that we define 1 week as 5 working days."

So, apparently it's from biometric date, not acknowledgement at Sheffield.  Which puts me at 56 days!! ugh! 

  GOT THE VISA

Just for the sake of sharing etc: Since I applied after May, I got the vignette visa for 30 days, with instruction to collect the BRP upon arrival. They "activated" the visa for 28th August (which was the original intended travel date I asked for, even though I did change it to September 1st) and since I'm flying out on the September 15th, all is well. I am set to arrive for good the morning of September 16th via Gatwick!

Interesting note: While they definitely looked through the passbook for the savings account we used for our financial requirement, I have half a mind to think they actually didn't bother to read more than one letter of support about our relationship being "genuine and subsisting" (and they didn't look at any letters/cards - we included about a half a dozen, stapled into a sheet protector, which wasn't disturbed)...AND it seems they didn't even look at our marriage certificate, as it also wasn't removed from the sheet protector that was stapled on top to keep it in place. It's possible they just looked at the photocopies we submitted and were satisfied, but I thought it was interesting that they may not have paid all that much attention to the relationship evidence. We provided adequate proof we're real, but nothing excessive. It's all about the money.

They kept the originals of my printed application, biometric appointment letter, IHS surcharge receipt, financial appendix, covering letter and instructions/additional information written by my attorney, and photocopies of my wife's passport. They sent back everything else, as well as the bundle of photocopies of everything we provided for them to keep. When we followed that protocol for my marriage visit visa, the NYC consulate kept the photocopies. Each ECO is different. I would provide all the same material again since it seems to be what's prudent, but they are most definitely wise enough to know when they are dealing with real relationships, and to just focus on the financial requirement. 

Sorry so long-winded! I just always appreciate people's experiences and wanted to share the things that I wonder about when I read them in case people are curious (nosy? anxious?) like me!

Quantum - they sent the UPS package out the same day as my 'decision made" email.
AussieBlue - hope that UPS tracker has "refreshed enough" so it's happily waiting for your pickup tomorrow!
erichichi, ilyse22tech - hang in there, sending good vibes for speediness.

Congrats on getting the visa .

No, they won't have read any letters of support from anyone else because they aren't allowed to consider them (and none should have been sent). The only letter they will read is the one from the UK sponsor.


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