Anyone upgraded to priority processing for tier 2 after submitting application?

My husband got the CoS # from his new employer back on June 12.  It took us a bit to get our things (him, myself and our 3 children) in order.  We did our online apps, paid the fees, did the biometrics and sent everything off to UK Consulate in NYC on June 23rd. 

We got the confirmation email that they had opened our packages (vfs global wouldn't let us put them all in the same envelope so we ended up doing ours in one and the kids in another) on June 25.  We've heard nothing since then.  Emailed the information desk and heard back that no one has looked at our applications yet.

We don't have airline tickets yet and his new job is pretty flexible on when he can start.  Our main problem is that we need to be out of our house here in the US (we're renting it out) and pretty soon won't have anyplace to live.  We actually managed to rent a place in Leamington Spa so have a place to live in the UK... but are about to be homeless here.

We trusted in the information on the consulate website that said 97% of tier 2 are processed in 10 business days.  Now that I've been reading the reviews on Yelp (why didn't I do that before!?!) we're worried that it could be weeks before we hear anything.  We are also anxious to get over there and get our kids enrolled in school and for them to have time to learn their way around before the school year starts.

We are thinking about upgrading to priority processing (at this point, what's another $1000  we had absolutely no idea the costs would be this high!!)  But were wondering if anyone has had success in upgrading to priority with a tier 2 visa after the fact.  The extra cost while high will be worth it if we don't have to stay in a hotel and spend the day sitting in a car outside our house waiting for the ups truck.

It's hard to decide because it's been 11 business days and we could be at the top of the pile.... but at this point the longer we wait to do a priority upgrade (if it's even possible) the more pointless it seems.

Thanks for any advice!
Holly

The posted processing times are for May and will include both priority and non-priority applications lumped together.

The NY office gets slow this time of year as all the student visas start flooding in which reduces processing times.  That being said, the NY office is typically a lot faster than the Sheffield office.  I would think you would have an answer before long, but no one will really be able to tell you.

What is the date you move from your current home?

We need to be out in a week.  July 20.  We are having the floors refinished and interior painted in prep to rent so the house needs to be empty.

We went ahead and did the 'retrospective priority upgrade' last night.  We're basically living out of boxes and can be ready to go almost immediately.  I'm hoping the upgrade will work and we can get the visas by the end of this week.  Otherwise we'll have to find a hotel 

My husband got the CoS # from his new employer back on June 12.  It took us a bit to get our things (him, myself and our 3 children) in order.  We did our online apps, paid the fees, did the biometrics and sent everything off to UK Consulate in NYC on June 23rd. 

Is this for a restricted CoS on a Tier 2 General visa as he is applying from outside the UK? If it is, the Tier 2 General Restricted CoS applications are only looked at once a month because there is a cap on numbers. About the end of last week is the time they will decide for July. If it isnt with a Restricted CoS as he has just been a student in the UK/already had a Tier 2 General visa, then ignore the rest of this post as those visa numbers aren't capped.

Not everyone applying with a Restricted CoS got a visa in June as the cap was reached and that might delay the UKVI response for July as application numbers will be higher as those that didn't get a visa reapply. Although they are reporting on this thread that the cut off for a visa for July is 45 points (not confirmed). You will be able to see when people are getting visas on this thread. Those that didn't get a visa this month will put the points they applied with as a guide to others still waiting for a response.
http://www.immigrationboards.com/uk-tier-2-employer-sponsored-visas/restricted-cos-decisions-for-july-2015-t189440.html

We are apply for a tier 2 general visa.  It says "TIER 2 (GENERAL) VISA" and then it says "GENERAL MIGRANT, UP TO 5 YEARS" It was points based and we have 70 points.  But now we're unsure if that is "restricted" or not.

He's never been a student there, we are just coming for work and have a COS that his new employer gave us on June 11th.

Thanks

We are apply for a tier 2 general visa.  It says "TIER 2 (GENERAL) VISA" and then it says "GENERAL MIGRANT, UP TO 5 YEARS" It was points based and we have 70 points.  But now we're unsure if that is "restricted" or not.

He's never been a student there, we are just coming for work and have a COS that his new employer gave us on June 11th.

Thanks

That's sounds like he needed a Restricted CoS (capped visa numbers) and they only meet once a month to decide who can have a visa, something like the 5th of each month. They have only just met for the July visas.

On 70 points there should not be a refusal as long as every other requirement was met.  As you can see on that linked thread, applicants are expecting visas soon.

Looking at that forum it seems like people are finding out today.  Does that mean that they won't meet again to process tier 2 until August?  Will I receive an email that says "Sorry you'll need to wait a month" or will they just continue radio silence?  The email I received from the consulate on June 25th said:

Average processing times for visa applications received this week are:
Standard processing -  Non-Settlement Applications:  14 working days.
Priority processing - Non-Settlement Applications:  9 working days.

Which I assumed meant that visas were given out on a rolling basis, not a once a month basis, but I could be totally wrong about this.

From just having a quick look on the June thread on that same site, still on the first page of that Tier 2 board, they either got a visa or were told they were refused. Those on the shortages list all got their visas and then it went on descending order for points (visas going to the higher educated, higher earners).

The sponsor should have told you about the restricted CoS only being decided once a month when the board met. They should know how UK visas work as they have a sponsorship licence.

We knew about Cos only being given out once a month as his employer tried to get one in May but couldn't.  So, we ended up with a CoS issued in June. 

No one had ever mentioned that the visas for tier 2 are also only given out once a month... and we've been in regular contact with the new employer and their lawyer.

The thread on immigrationboard.com seems to be people who are still waiting for the CoS so that they can apply for a visa.  Maybe I'm not understanding the terminology correctly?

Yeah, I thought it was the CoS that was issued once a month and then the applications were decided as they were received.  Otherwise, why would there even be an option for priority if it's only once a month?

OK, I inquired over on the immigrationboard.com and confirmed that they are waiting on the CoS from their new employers.

We are past that point and are waiting on a decision on visas from the UK consulate in NYC.  Whew!  The thought that we would have to wait another month gave me a heart attack!! 

OK, I inquired over on the immigrationboard.com and confirmed that they are waiting on the CoS from their new employers.

We are past that point and are waiting on a decision on visas from the UK consulate in NYC.  Whew!  The thought that we would have to wait another month gave me a heart attack!! 

oops, sorry for the nearly heart attack. If you have joined immigrationboards then they are the best ones to tell you how quickly a restricted CoS visa is issued.

Just to be sure that I am understanding the Tier 2 situation correctly.

Your employer must apply for a Restricted Certificate of Sponsorship, these were decided today based on points and are capped at a certain number per month?

You must take this COS number and apply for your visa, and this too has a cap on it based on some points criteria?

No, only the number of COS are capped at a monthly limit - that's nothing to do with you, it's up to your employer to make sure you can get a COS within the cap. The COS only counts towards part of the points requirement.

Once you have the COS, you apply for the visa. It should just be processed and issued when they receive the application. They should check the COS, make sure you meet the points required and issue the visa. I believe the COS gives you 50 points then you need 10 for English language and 10 for  maintenance funds... The English language and maintenance points are added to the COS points when they process your application.

This is the first I've ever heard of the applications only being processed once a month. And as far as I am aware, this is not the case and never has been.


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You must take this COS number and apply for your visa, and this too has a cap on it based on some points criteria?

Basically, it's:

step 1: get a job
step 2: employer applies for a restricted CoS from the home office
step 3: if the CoS is granted then a CoS # is generated by the employer and given to the applicant
step 4: applicant applies for visa

The CoS are given out once a month on a limited basis.  Once you have the CoS you use it to apply for the visa.  I don't think there is a cap on the number of visas given per month (??).  It's just a waiting game to see when they can get to your application.  And, then of course, if they will approve it.

They've had our applications now for 12 business days.  When we got the initial confirmation that they had received them it said that 97% were processed within 10 business days.  We inquired as to the status a couple days ago and found out that they have not even been looked at yet.  We didn't initially pay for the priority processing because there are 5 of us and at almost $200 each it seemed like a lot of money when we had a 97% chance of getting them back in time.

We need to be out of our house here in the US next week.  We did go ahead and do the 'retrospective priority upgrade' last night.  I don't know if it will speed things up at all but at this point we're getting pretty desperate!