Any updates from recent applicants?

Got emails saying our (myself and my oldest son) visas are being processed! Fingers, toes, arms, and legs crossed for an approval, I want to go home!!

For those wondering, they received our settlement apps July 14, priority service.

Got emails saying our (myself and my oldest son) visas are being processed! Fingers, toes, arms, and legs crossed for an approval, I want to go home!!

For those wondering, they received our settlement apps July 14, priority service.

That's awesome! I am so nervous over here! Can't wait to receive this e-mail!
When did you take your biometrics? July 14 was the day they sent the e-mail saying they received your documents?Thank you

Hoping someone can share some insights.

Our documents were received in Sheffield on 10 June. We did not receive any email acknowledgement but when we called UKVI on 17 July, they confirmed that our documents had been received and not lost.

What has concerned us however is that on 4 August, we received the email acknowledgement from Sheffield saying that our documents had only just been received - almost 2 months later.  We called UKVI again the same day and they asked us to escalate by email as they had never seen this happen before and thought highly unusual.  Response back from UKVI did not clarify anything.  Same standard response that our application is yet to be assessed and that we would receive another email once a decision had been made.

Could there be a system glitch with the email acknowledgement being sent almost 2 months after the fact?  This has thrown us off a bit as we were going off a processing time from 10 June.  Having to start the waiting time all over again is a bit disheartening since we are already 10 working weeks through and thought our decision would come at the end of the month to first week of September, not November.

Would love to hear from anyone who may have seen/heard of this happening before and what the outcome was.  Thank you.

From other people's non-priority timelines, that seems about normal for receiving the email from them.

Did the email say it was being prepared for consideration by the ECO? If so, you will probably be a fair way through the processing time now and shouldn't have to wait too much longer - the processing time should start from when they receive it in Sheffield so I doubt it will take another 10 weeks. You're at 47 working days right now and 60 working days is probably about average right now.

Looks like they've just updated the visa processing times for July 2016 in the US:

Settlement

Most applications are processed within 60 days.

Number of days           % of applications decided
to process application
2 days                            5%    
3 days                            9%    
5 days                           33%    
10 days                         52%    
15 days                         58%    
30 days                         78%    
60 days                         100%

Note: actual processing times may vary depending on a range of factors.
The above data is for all decisions made in July 2016

Thank you for giving us some level of hope!  Yes, the email said that it was being prepared for consideration by the ECO. 

When I received this, I thought that it had only arrived and still had to go through the whole process from the beginning as everyone else that had posted their timelines seemed to have received that email only a few days to a couple of weeks later after their UPS notice.

I was starting to despair today.  It has been such a horrible experience.  Have been trying to keep busy but the thought of going through another 10 weeks of waiting was really starting to send me insane.

Another question if I may and this may seem really silly but does it matter if I am an Australian, not American, applying for UK settlement from America?  I didn't know if that sometimes causes delays due to extra checks required or anything.  We were starting to think that perhaps I should have gone back to Australia to apply from there instead but the processing times seem to be the same in Sydney as they are for the US - around 60 working days.

Thank you so much.  I live in hope tonight that there may be a light at the end of this very long tunnel!

When I received this, I thought that it had only arrived and still had to go through the whole process from the beginning as everyone else that had posted their timelines seemed to have received that email only a few days to a couple of weeks later after their UPS notice.

Normally that's how it works but the summer months get really busy and the processing times slow right down. A few people haven't received any emails at all, while others have been getting theirs several weeks after their package arrived. I think it could just be that they are a bit swamped and they are missing some of them, but that doesn't mean that your application isn't moving through the queue.

Another question if I may and this may seem really silly but does it matter if I am an Australian, not American, applying for UK settlement from America?  I didn't know if that sometimes causes delays due to extra checks required or anything.  We were starting to think that perhaps I should have gone back to Australia to apply from there instead but the processing times seem to be the same in Sydney as they are for the US - around 60 working days.

It shouldn't make a difference as long as you are legally living in the US and provided proof of your US immigration status. They just need to check that you are legally resident in the country you are applying from.

Thank you Ksand24!  You are a gem and I am so thankful for this forum and for people like you who take the time to give a little sanity and logic to an otherwise strenuous and sometimes ambiguous process.

We provided all our American Visa info so hopefully we are not missing anything else.  The only other thing that I noticed on one of the forums today is that someone mentioned that any copies that we provide in our supporting documentation should be certified copies.  The only thing that we had certified were our bank statements as stipulated in the financial requirements guidelines but I could not recall other documents like copies of marriage certificates or other visas needing to be certified copies mentioned anywhere in their supporting documents guidelines. 

Are these likely to be rejected and our application refused?  Hopefully not.

Hoping someone can share some insights.

Our documents were received in Sheffield on 10 June. We did not receive any email acknowledgement but when we called UKVI on 17 July, they confirmed that our documents had been received and not lost.

Just as an FYI for people who will read this later, you called their call centre, which is notorious for giving people the wrong information and incorrect advice for a lot of money per minute. They don't actually have access to any of the information about your visa application as they aren't even in Sheffield. they only 'confirmed' what you already knew, your application arrived at Sheffield, because it was signed for by one of their employees. Summer is the busiest month, so there is quite a wait between seeing your package arrive at Sheffield through your courier and it actually getting to the head of the queue.

UKVI sends out the 1st email when an ECO (emmigration control officer) has your application and will begin processing it. They should also send you an email to let you know 'a decision has been made.' This email will also have your tracking number in it if you didn't purchase shipping through VFS Global. You will only get an email that isn't generic if they need something from you.

Just an update ...

My documents were received in Sheffield on July 22 and I did priority. I just got the email today saying a descision had been made and my documents are on the way back!!

Fingers are seriously crossed over here.

Just an update ...

My documents were received in Sheffield on July 22 and I did priority. I just got the email today saying a descision had been made and my documents are on the way back!!

Fingers are seriously crossed over here.

Exciting!    I'll keep mine crossed for you too! 

Exciting!    I'll keep mine crossed for you too! 

I appreciate that! You and all the others who have been so kind and helpful have earned a drink from me upon my (hopeful) arrival! ☺️

ECO (emmigration control officer)

Entry Clearance Officer. 

I have the same timeline- paid for priority, UPS said docs signed for on the 21st and the same email on the 26th

Woke up to an email that the decision has been made!

No movement on the package yet, but here's hoping it comes quickly- and that the visa's been approved

My documents are on a truck right now, to be delievred today!! I think I'm gonna go into work late.... I wanna stay here Til I get those papers!!! The suspense is killing me.

My documents are on a truck right now, to be delievred today!! I think I'm gonna go into work late.... I wanna stay here Til I get those papers!!! The suspense is killing me.

Fingers crossed!! Hopefully you will get it! I got my decision made today.

UPDATE
Country applying from: USA
Type of visa applied for: Spouse Visa
Service: Priority
Date application submitted (online): 13 July 2016
Date bio-metrics taken: 18 July 2016
Documents delivered to Sheffield: 20 July 2016
E-mail received from the ECO confirming receipt of documents: 26 July 2016
Office location processing the visa: Sheffield
Projected timeline given: 12 weeks
Decision made e-mail: 19 August 2016

Fingers crossed! Does anyone know if it is normal you don't have any information of delivery available when you track your package? I have paid for courier service, but when I track my package there is no update. I am very worried! It is the same number that UK gov sent to me!