Hello
Guest

Sponsored Links


Topic: Any updates from recent applicants?  (Read 207105 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

  • *
  • Posts: 18239

  • Liked: 4993
  • Joined: Jun 2012
  • Location: Wokingham
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2025 on: September 23, 2015, 03:23:41 PM »
Lol!  Approvals are quick and refusals take ages.  You've got a visa.   ;D


  • *
  • Posts: 184

  • Liked: 2
  • Joined: Aug 2015
  • Location: Fareham, Hampshire
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2026 on: September 23, 2015, 03:24:55 PM »
Lol!  Approvals are quick and refusals take ages.  You've got a visa.   ;D

Ahhhh, you're making me feel so much better. I am losing it over here hahahaha.
26.06.15 - Got Married in U.S.
26.08.15 - Submitted Online Application
31.08.15 - Biometrics Appointment
05.09.15 - Mailed Docs to Sheffield (Priority)
22.09.15 - Received Acknowledgment Email
23.09.15 - Received Decision Made Email
25.09.15 - Visa Received! :)


  • *
  • Posts: 132

  • Can we not do a transatlantic move in 12 months?
  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Sep 2013
  • Location: Baldock
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2027 on: September 23, 2015, 03:36:09 PM »
Hi Everyone, thought I would post my completed timeline for my Settlement Visa experience...

Job Change / Back to UK: June 2015
UK Settlement Visa Application Online: June 1, 2015
Biometrics: June 18, 2015
Application Mailed to Sheffield: June 24, 2015
Application Returned because of Name Error...2 weeks later!
Application Re-Mailed to Sheffield: July 6, 2015
Application Arrived at Sheffield: July 9, 2015
Application Acknowledged: July 12, 2015
Priority Upgrade: July 29, 2015
Sheffield ICO Email Requesting More documentation: August 6
August 11th - Currently Processing
August 12th - Went to US Passport Services Local in ATL - Applied for 2nd US Passport ($199 priority)
August 14th - Picked up 2nd US Passport
August 17th - Prepped Dog/APHIS/ USDA/Annex IV Forms - Shipped Dog via BA
August 18th - Flew Out to the UK on 2nd Passport (Successful entry as visitor)
August 27th - Decision Made! Tracking info sent!
August 31st - Package arrives in ATL (had to get it redirected total PIA)
September 3rd - Parents mail Package back to UK address
September 4th - Package arrives - VISA GRANTED!
September 8th - Quick cheap return flight to/from Amsterdam (left on 2nd US Passports, came in on UK Visa) Made sure to get both stamps in the passport with my visa proving  my entry/departure
September 9th - Trip to Bath to pick up my British Residence Permit

I'm here and I managed to shortcut my wait for the decision via my 2nd US passport despite all of the people discouraging it. Another alternative route has been tried and posted here for others in the future.

So glad this is over! Now working on National Insurance Number and the NHS....!
Job Change / Back to UK: June 2015
UK Settlement Visa Application Online: June 1, 2015
Biometrics: June 18, 2015
Application Mailed to Sheffield: June 24, 2015
Application Returned because of Name Error...2 weeks later!
Application Re-Mailed to Sheffield: July 6, 2015
Application Arrived at Sheffield: July 9, 2015
Application Acknowledged: July 12, 2015
Priority Upgrade: July 29, 2015
Sheffield ICO Email Requesting More documentation: August 6
August 11th - Currently Processing
August 27th - Decision Made! Tracking info sent!


  • *
  • Posts: 9

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Sep 2015
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2028 on: September 23, 2015, 04:08:17 PM »
I just received the same email from Sheffield! No clues in the email, just "a decision has been made".

So now we're waiting for UPS...

Good luck to us all!
Married a long time ago!
14.09.15 - Submitted Online Application
14.09.15 - Biometrics Appointment (walk-in)
16.09.15 - Mailed Docs to Sheffield (Priority)
18.09.15 - docs delivered 8:40am GMT
18.09.15 - received confirmation email from Sheffield UKVI 4pm GMT
25.09.15 - received visa via UPS - Yeah!


  • *
  • Posts: 184

  • Liked: 2
  • Joined: Aug 2015
  • Location: Fareham, Hampshire
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2029 on: September 23, 2015, 04:09:32 PM »
I just received the same email from Sheffield! No clues in the email, just "a decision has been made".

So now we're waiting for UPS...

Good luck to us all!

You got yours quick too! Glad I'm not the only one!
26.06.15 - Got Married in U.S.
26.08.15 - Submitted Online Application
31.08.15 - Biometrics Appointment
05.09.15 - Mailed Docs to Sheffield (Priority)
22.09.15 - Received Acknowledgment Email
23.09.15 - Received Decision Made Email
25.09.15 - Visa Received! :)


  • *
  • Posts: 9

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Sep 2015
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2030 on: September 25, 2015, 06:00:38 PM »
Just received the visa via UPS here in California!  Phew!  Thanks for everyone's help and support in this great forum!
Married a long time ago!
14.09.15 - Submitted Online Application
14.09.15 - Biometrics Appointment (walk-in)
16.09.15 - Mailed Docs to Sheffield (Priority)
18.09.15 - docs delivered 8:40am GMT
18.09.15 - received confirmation email from Sheffield UKVI 4pm GMT
25.09.15 - received visa via UPS - Yeah!


  • *
  • Posts: 184

  • Liked: 2
  • Joined: Aug 2015
  • Location: Fareham, Hampshire
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2031 on: September 26, 2015, 04:55:23 PM »
Received my visa yesterday with a stamp of approval! So relieved and excited.

Thank you to all of those who helped me. :)
26.06.15 - Got Married in U.S.
26.08.15 - Submitted Online Application
31.08.15 - Biometrics Appointment
05.09.15 - Mailed Docs to Sheffield (Priority)
22.09.15 - Received Acknowledgment Email
23.09.15 - Received Decision Made Email
25.09.15 - Visa Received! :)


  • *
  • Posts: 32

  • Liked: 1
  • Joined: Mar 2015
  • Location: Hove, The City of Brighton and Hove
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2032 on: September 29, 2015, 03:56:05 PM »
Congrats to all the recent applicants getting through this loooong process! It's been a crazy month getting myself packed and moved here since getting my visa issued - now that I'm pretty much finished with this first round, I wanted to post a quick recap:
  • Arrived on the 17th (after a flight delay) to no lines in customs at Gatwick (it was 4am!) and a very easy entry. I had the 30 day vignette in my passport.
  • Picked up my BRP, no hoopla or problems, on the 19th from Guildford post office where it was waiting for me.
  • Called National Insurance application hotline and was given an appointment for the 26th @ Camden Jobcentre Plus to prove my identity (no appointments available closer to me, and not all Jobcentre's handle NiNo applications) - attended appointment with all identity paperwork and should have resulting National Insurance number in the mail within a few weeks.
All in all, after getting through application and packing/moving stress, the process of being on this side of the equation has been fairly smooth. Now onto a drivers license and a JOB!

Thanks again to everyone for sharing their experiences and their knowledge. I hope I can give some back now...
Married, waiting on the 5 Year Route to Citizenship!
LTR Granted August 2015
Moved to Britain September 2015
FLR Granted May 2018
Applying for ILR January 2020
...citizenship sometime after!


  • *
  • Posts: 73

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Jun 2015
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2033 on: September 30, 2015, 02:33:22 PM »
Our visa application was sent Priority and successfully arrived today at 9am (UK) Sheffield.

The decision email; does it clarify the outcome or is simply a notification that a decision has been made and you then have to wait for the decision final via post?

Nervously excited!!!!
« Last Edit: September 30, 2015, 03:39:10 PM by bedfordshireboy »


  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 26910

  • Liked: 3605
  • Joined: Jan 2007
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2034 on: September 30, 2015, 05:28:45 PM »
Nope, unfortunately the decision email just states 'a decision has been made' and doesn't tell you what that decision is!

Everyone gets the same email, whether the visa has been approved or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


  • *
  • Posts: 12

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Aug 2015
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2035 on: October 01, 2015, 08:04:31 PM »
Me and my fiance are still waiting on our decision e-mail...The wait is terrible. :\

Submitted Application: 6/17/15
Biometrics Taken: 6/26/15
Documents Arrival: 7/11/15 (Not priority)

We know your pain - Our documents were acknowledged by Sheffield on 16 June, and we JUST received a decision email today.  Have you used the enquiry service to check on your application (https://ukvi-international.faq-help.com/)? [nofollow]   They don't have direct contact with the decision centre, but can make some requests. 

I enquired almost every 3 business days.  They escalated the application (for a second time) on Monday, and yesterday we received an email that the decision was "imminent".  With your timeline they should definitely offer to escalate (the first time they did mine it was the beginning of August).

I'll post my full timeline once we receive the passport on Monday and I know if it was approved!


  • *
  • Posts: 30

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Oct 2013
  • Location: Los Angeles
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2036 on: October 04, 2015, 04:24:11 AM »

  • Called National Insurance application hotline and was given an appointment for the 26th

Thanks for the update!
I am feeling a bit out of the loop though. Where can I find info on the National Insurance to make an appointment?
I was of the understanding I got it automatically on my spousal visa and that $500 of my total was going towards it. LOL
Perhaps you could shed some light?
Thanks!

Oh... and Thank You To Everyone for all your help and support during these stressful months!
My plane leaves tomorrow and I'm soooo super excited to be reunited with my husband again... FOR GOOD!!! <3  ;D[/list]




  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 26910

  • Liked: 3605
  • Joined: Jan 2007
Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
« Reply #2037 on: October 04, 2015, 07:46:47 AM »
    Thanks for the update!
    I am feeling a bit out of the loop though. Where can I find info on the National Insurance to make an appointment?

    I was of the understanding I got it automatically on my spousal visa and that $500 of my total was going towards it. LOL
    Perhaps you could shed some light?
    Thanks!

    You're getting things a bit mixed up here.

    The £600 ($900) extra that you paid for the visa was a contribution towards any future NHS healthcare treatment you may have in the UK in the next 2.5 years. When you register with a UK GP at a doctor's surgery, you will be issued with an NHS number, which is simply an identifier of your medical records in their computer system (British citizens born in the UK are issued with one at birth).

    The National Insurance number is something completely different and has nothing to do with then £600 NHS levy you paid.

    Your National Insurance number is what they use to determine your tax code for employment in the UK and to make sure you are taxed the right amount of money from your paycheque when you are working. If you work in the UK, you will pay both income tax and National Insurance contributions - National Insurance contributions go towards certain income-based benefits, such as your government pension, maternity allowance, jobseeker's allowance etc.. If you aren't working, you can also pay voluntary NI contributions towards these things to avoid/fill gaps in it and to top up your pension.

    UK citizens/residents of the UK who have grown up in the UK will automatically receive a National Insurance number when they turn 16 years old (which is when they can start working full-time). However, people who move to the UK later in life have to apply for a National Insurance number when they move here, which may involve an interview, and it can only be done from inside the UK after you have moved.

    While it is technically possible to start working before you have an NI number, you may not be taxed at the correct rate until you have one, and it can be a bit of a hassle to get it sorted out later... also, most companies ask for your NI number when you apply for jobs/are offered a job, so it's best to get it done as soon as you can.

    See here: https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/overview

    and how to apply for an NI number: https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

    Quote
    Oh... and Thank You To Everyone for all your help and support during these stressful months!
    My plane leaves tomorrow and I'm soooo super excited to be reunited with my husband again... FOR GOOD!!! <3  ;D[/list]

    Congrats on getting the visa and good luck with your move to the UK :).
    « Last Edit: October 04, 2015, 07:49:38 AM by ksand24 »


    • *
    • Posts: 30

    • Liked: 0
    • Joined: Oct 2013
    • Location: Los Angeles




    • *
    • Posts: 61

    • Liked: 2
    • Joined: Jul 2015
    • Location: Worcestershire
    Re: Any updates from recent applicants?
    « Reply #2039 on: October 05, 2015, 07:41:02 PM »
    What seems to be the average time from shipping the package to receiving back the stamped passport for a spousal visa? It's looking like some are as quick as 2 weeks or less?

    28.09.15 - Got Married in U.S.
    29.09.15 - Submitted Online Application
    05.10.15 - Biometrics Appointment
    05.10.15 - Mailed Docs to Sheffield (Priority) UPS (little snag with shipping rate, hoping that won't cause delays!)
    xx.xx.15 - Received Acknowledgment Email
    xx.xx.15 - Received Decision Made Email
    xx.xx.15 - Visa Received
    Origin Near Cleveland, Ohio
    Current location Worcestershire
    Married September 28, 2015


    Sponsored Links





     

    coloured_drab