Any updates from recent applicants?

Right, but you don't just get a number given to you when you enter the UK, you have to choose a GP office and register with them. So definitely something to do in your early days, especially if you have any medications you take on a daily basis.

EDIT: You might want to wait to register with a GP when you have your BRP card, they need a copy of it since it's your settlement visa and proof you have access to NHS services.

True Im not to worried other then register to be in the system. never been really sick acutally had this in different post about documents to bring cause i cant even who has my medical documents last time ive been to a doctor was over 5years ago. and my PC been switched so many times in the past 10years who knows what they have ext. 
As for the 30 days do they give us 30 business days like they pull on us or do they do full 30days including weekends for us to get the card?

True Im not to worried other then register to be in the system. never been really sick acutally had this in different post about documents to bring cause i cant even who has my medical documents last time ive been to a doctor was over 5years ago. and my PC been switched so many times in the past 10years who knows what they have ext. 
As for the 30 days do they give us 30 business days like they pull on us or do they do full 30days including weekends for us to get the card?

Yeah, you want to be in the system in case you have an accident or some sort of emergency. I got myself set up because I have migraines and wanted to make sure I didn't run out of my meds and for in case of emergency stuff. Nothings happened in the last 20 months, but it's always good to be prepared.

And my GP office never asked to see the records I brought with me and I don't really have anything that's terribly important. But I brought them, just in case.

And sorry, I don't know the answer to the 30 days. I can tell you the Post Offices here are also open on Saturdays, so take that how you will. I'm sure it will tell you in your letter. 

Yeah, you want to be in the system in case you have an accident or some sort of emergency. I got myself set up because I have migraines and wanted to make sure I didn't run out of my meds and for in case of emergency stuff. Nothings happened in the last 20 months, but it's always good to be prepared.

And my GP office never asked to see the records I brought with me and I don't really have anything that's terribly important. But I brought them, just in case.

And sorry, I don't know the answer to the 30 days. I can tell you the Post Offices here are also open on Saturdays, so take that how you will. I'm sure it will tell you in your letter.

My passport shows 30 days including weekends.


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True Im not to worried other then register to be in the system. never been really sick acutally had this in different post about documents to bring cause i cant even who has my medical documents last time ive been to a doctor was over 5years ago. and my PC been switched so many times in the past 10years who knows what they have ext. 
As for the 30 days do they give us 30 business days like they pull on us or do they do full 30days including weekends for us to get the card?

30 calendar days, not business days.

Also, be warned you may get sick a lot here.  Your body will be used to US bugs and viruses and will have to re-establish immunities.  You may not notice and not get ill at all after you move, but many expats do experience a period of back to back illnesses after arriving in the UK.   

30 calendar days, not business days.

Also, be warned you may get sick a lot here.  Your body will be used to US bugs and viruses and will have to rest abolish immunities.  You may not notice and not get ill at all after you move, but many expats do experience a period of back to back illnesses after arriving in the UK.   

Thank you for the advice. Actually I have been in England more than the USA in the past 3 years but I totally agree with you.  There is always an adjustment.


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So with respect to the travel date in the application, would there be an issue if I put something 2-3 weeks from the date of the application? Ideally, if the visa does get processed in 2-3 weeks, then I would like to obviously fly into the UK as soon as the visa is approved. Or does the government expect that we put our tentative travel date to be 12 weeks out from the time of the application to allow for the max processing time?...What if the visa gets approved earlier than the travel date in the application - can one then travel or would one have to wait until the travel date noted in the application/visa?....

Thanks!

So with respect to the travel date in the application, would there be an issue if I put something 2-3 weeks from the date of the application? Ideally, if the visa does get processed in 2-3 weeks, then I would like to obviously fly into the UK as soon as the visa is approved.

Yes, that's fine - if the visa isn't issued in time for that date, it will just be made valid from the date they do issue it.

Or does the government expect that we put our tentative travel date to be 12 weeks out from the time of the application to allow for the max processing time?...What if the visa gets approved earlier than the travel date in the application - can one then travel or would one have to wait until the travel date noted in the application/visa?....

No, you wouldn't be able to travel until the start date on the visa, which will be the travel date you put on the application... because it won't be valid for travel until that date.

Which is exactly why you should not put a date 12 weeks out if you aren't willing to wait that long!

It used to be that Sheffield were a bit lax with making the visa valid from your travel date and would sometimes make it valid from the date of issue, regardless of the date you put... but that was when the visa sticker was valid for 33 months and you had 3 months and 28 days from the valid date to enter the UK and still qualify for future visas in time.

However, now that the visa sticker is only valid for 30 days, they have been sticking to the travel date you put because there is less leeway to enter the UK - so if you put a date 12 weeks ahead and then the visa is issued in 3 days, you'll still have to wait another 11.5 weeks before you can travel!

And we're off! OMG I'm so nervous I feel sick

27/11/15 Online application completed
2/12/15 Biometric appointment

Are you sending priority?

Yep, we'll be posting priority with the round trip courier service on Thursday.

It has been just over 9 weeks (46 business days) since my Biometrics date. All of the automated responses we receive state that it can take up to 12 weeks (from the biometrics date) for a settlement visa. Has anyone recently applied and received their visa back? We didn't think it would take this long. Especially as we paid for priority.

Country applying from: USA
Type of visa applied for: Spouse/Settlement Priority
Married: September 11, 2015
Online Application Submitted: September 22, 2015
Biometrics Taken: September 28, 2015
Application Mailed: September 28, 2015
Package Received in Sheffield: October 1, 2015
Email confirming receipt of documents: October 1, 2015
Date Sheffield emailed to confirm decision has been made:

Yesterday I received an email saying they could not find anywhere in our application that we had paid priority. I quickly emailed over a copy of our receipt and shortly after (about 30 minutes) I received the “A decision has been made” email. Fingers crossed for the visa tomorrow!

Country applying from: USA
Type of visa applied for: Spouse/Settlement Priority
Married: September 11, 2015
Online Application Submitted: September 22, 2015
Biometrics Taken: September 28, 2015
Application Mailed: September 28, 2015
Package Received in Sheffield: October 1, 2015
Email confirming receipt of documents: October 1, 2015
Date Sheffield emailed to confirm decision has been made: December 2, 2015

Yesterday I received an email saying they could not find anywhere in our application that we had paid priority. I quickly emailed over a copy of our receipt and shortly after (about 30 minutes) I received the “A decision has been made” email. Fingers crossed for the visa tomorrow!

Country applying from: USA
Type of visa applied for: Spouse/Settlement Priority
Married: September 11, 2015
Online Application Submitted: September 22, 2015
Biometrics Taken: September 28, 2015
Application Mailed: September 28, 2015
Package Received in Sheffield: October 1, 2015
Email confirming receipt of documents: October 1, 2015
Date Sheffield emailed to confirm decision has been made: December 2, 2015

You may be successful in requesting a refund for priority.  This happened to a past member and they were successful.

Glad you got your response BlueEyesKate, hope you can get a refund on the priority service fee & join your husband for Christmas

We've sent ours by UPS 2 day courier so should be there Monday latest. I'm less nervous than I was, not quite relaxed but not climbing the walls either

27/11/15 - Online application completed
2/12/15 - Biometric appointment
3/12/15 - Package sent to Sheffield

Glad you got your response BlueEyesKate, hope you can get a refund on the priority service fee & join your husband for Christmas

We've sent ours by UPS 2 day courier so should be there Monday latest. I'm less nervous than I was, not quite relaxed but not climbing the walls either

27/11/15 - Online application completed
2/12/15 - Biometric appointment
3/12/15 - Package sent to Sheffield

Good luck, the waiting is the worst ever!