Any updates from recent applicants?

I think We are all going through the same struggle and no the system isn't fair....to be without my passport for so long is just ridiculous! I applied non priority with them receiving all my stuff on July 11th and even though others with a similar time frame have already received acknowledgement emails at least, I still haven't so I understand the feeling of "why just mine" lol.....all we can do is keep going and hope we hear something soon. Praying for everyone to get good news soon.

Yes Mev,  totally unfair and unnecessary.  How simple is it to send emails ro confirm things and keep you updated.  I'd love to see footage of someone undercover working there and seeing what actually goes on.  Unless it's a complicated application, I don't see why they take so long to process.  From what I've learnt reading and completing the documents I'd say 2 hours tops to complete one for an Eco.  Great profit margin for the uk government.

Yes Mev,  totally unfair and unnecessary.  How simple is it to send emails ro confirm things and keep you updated.  I'd love to see footage of someone undercover working there and seeing what actually goes on.  Unless it's a complicated application, I don't see why they take so long to process.  From what I've learnt reading and completing the documents I'd say 2 hours tops to complete one for an Eco.  Great profit margin for the uk government.

The thing is that almost the entire time you are waiting, your application is sitting in line doing nothing.... Just sitting in line until someone to gets to it.

They can't really update you when there's nothing to update, other than "it's still in line" - they don't have time for that. They receive hundreds of applications every day in Sheffield so you just have to wait for them to get through them all. They can't email hundreds of people over and over when there's no new information to give them.

Once the ECO picks up your application, if it's straightforward, it takes just an hour or two to make the decision - after which, you should get the 'decision has been made' email and then it will be mailed back to you.

Once you get to the UK and are applying for your next visas in the future, you're looking at being without your passport for anywhere from 1-6 months while they are being processed (unless you pay several hundred extra for a same-day decision in person). Back in 2012, they had massive backlogs and staff shortages and in-country applications were taking 8-12 months to be processed (luckily that hasn't happened since and they are currently at about 1-2 months).


Sent from my iPod using Tapatalk

Fair point about the amount of applications, however a privately run company would anticipate this and take on extra part time staff.  After all, there are a few million unemployed in the Uk, no shortage of applicants.  2 hours to process a £1200 - £1600 application is pretty good going.

If I'm sitting in line, I dont understand why applications after mine have already been processed.
I'm done with griping now, sorry for the rant.  Just stressed out.

Hopefully myself and others will get a decision next week.

Fair point about the amount of applications, however a privately run company would anticipate this and take on extra part time staff.  After all, there are a few million unemployed in the Uk, no shortage of applicants.  2 hours to process a £1200 - £1600 application is pretty good going.

If I recall, what actually happened was that UKVI got rid of a load of staff right before the settlement visa rules changed (yep, bad planning, I know, but I think it was due to budget cuts) and then there was an influx of applications from people applying before the new rules came into effect - so I think they had a lot more applications compared with what they would normally expect and just didn't have the manpower (or the money for staff) to deal with it. It was just one of those things where everything hit at once and they couldn't cope. US applications were taking 8+ weeks priority and 3-4 months non-priority, and in-country applications were taking about 10 months on average (they had previously been 4 weeks a couple of months earlier).

If I'm sitting in line, I dont understand why applications after mine have already been processed.
I'm done with griping now, sorry for the rant.  Just stressed out.

Yeah, we don't know why either. Off the top of my head I can only think of one person who applied after you but already got the visa (there might be more but I can't check right now) - my only guess is that the person who processed their application was working faster than the person who will be processing yours.

If it's anything like how the US Embassy issues visas, each ECO will be given a pile of applications and will work through them as quickly as they can, but some piles take longer than others.

Hopefully myself and others will get a decision next week.

My fingers are crossed for you .



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi we are just about to apply for my step children. They are in UK on tourist visa and are flying back to states to wait for visas on 29th. Can I send in electronic application form before they fly back to US as long as they are back for Biometrics appointment? I dont want to mess this up. I need my husband back asap because we are in middle of moving. He is going to return to US  to pick the kids up once visa is ready. Please advise me.

Really, they should be in the US on the date the online application is submitted because that is the official application date and they are supposed to be physically present in their home country at that time - it might look odd if they claim they are in the US on that date but then their passports show them arriving back in the US afterwards.

You can usually get biometrics appointments for within a couple of days of submitting the online application (maybe a week at most) so waiting until they are back in the US is unlikely to make any difference to the timeline anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey everyone, got two email this morning, yes Sunday morning stating that my application has been processed and the other one has the shipping details.  I guess they are working overtime to catch up which is good news for everyone.  Now more nail biting time to see if the visa has been granted.


From: <VISAINFO.SHEFO@fco.gov.uk>
Date: August 21, 2016 at 4:41:16 AM CDT
To: <Me@>
Subject: Your Visa Application: VAF 0000000

Dear me

Regarding Visa Application:  GWF0000000       
For: me

A decision has been made on your UK Visa application.  Your application will be dispatched shortly from the Decision Making Centre in Sheffield, UK. 


My timeline.
Spouse visa priority from US to Uk
Online app 10 July
Biometrics 13 July
Recieved at Sheffield 15 July
One email received around 8 August saying my documents received.
No emails saying my app is being processed.
A generic reply email around 5 August saying my app yet to be processed.
Today Sunday 21 August the two emails I've been waiting for.
Total 26 working days from app arriving in Sheffield.

Will let you all know if I get the visa, no health refund as of yet.

A decision has been made on your UK Visa application. 

Fabulous!

Congrats Harris! That's really good news, can't believe you got an email on a Sunday...that's really cool. You'll get the visa, no worries! Keep us posted. Still nothing for me...

Now more nail biting time to see if the visa has been granted.

Hi Harris48-- Congrats on getting the email!  I didn't receive any notifications at all until 25 July for a 1 July priority arrival.  25 July was also the exact date the parcel arrived--go figure.

Your approval letter reminds you which post office location you're going to for picking up your card.  Remember to take the letter with you along with your passport. 

My approval letter said I was to show it to immigration so I did & was asked 2 questions: Was my partner travelling with me & Is my partner a British citizen then quick as blink I was thru.  Some people have said they didn't show their letter & it was fine for them clearing immigration so I suppose it's a personal choice.

x

Thanks Larrabee.

Congrats Harris! That's really good news, can't believe you got an email on a Sunday...that's really cool. You'll get the visa, no worries! Keep us posted. Still nothing for me...

Thanks Mev, yea 2 emails as I woke.

Everything crossed now it's approved.

Hi Harris48-- Congrats on getting the email!  I didn't receive any notifications at all until 25 July for a 1 July priority arrival.  25 July was also the exact date the parcel arrived--go figure.

Your approval letter reminds you which post office location you're going to for picking up your card.  Remember to take the letter with you along with your passport. 

My approval letter said I was to show it to immigration so I did & was asked 2 questions: Was my partner travelling with me & Is my partner a British citizen then quick as blink I was thru.  Some people have said they didn't show their letter & it was fine for them clearing immigration so I suppose it's a personal choice.

x

That's just crazy receiving the email same day as visa arrival.  Yea we will take letter with us, I'll be travelling g with my husband providing it's an approval.

Got my visa today, so happy.  Thank you everyone.  Hope everyone else gets the good news soon.