November Timeline

The visas used to be processed in NYC.  They had the decision then (and still do for the visas processed there).  When they moved the processing to Sheffield, the generic emails started.  Guess it's just the British way!

There was an outcry when this decision making for the UK was given to NYC a few years ago and that's why it was taken back as soon as that government got voted out of power.

Generic letters are a pain, but lets not forget that spouse visas to the UK are very quick compared to the nearly a year of waiting for some other countries.

There was an outcry when this decision making for the UK was given to NYC a few years ago and that's why it was taken back as soon as that government got voted out of power.

Generic letters are a pain, but lets not forget that spouse visas to the UK are very quick compared to the nearly a year of waiting for some other countries.

They are quick, but Lord knows we are paying a heck of a lot more money for the visas than other countries.   

There was an outcry when this decision making for the UK was given to NYC a few years ago and that's why it was taken back as soon as that government got voted out of power.

I've never heard about an outcry before, or of visa processing being moved from the UK to New York, at least not in the last 15 years... how many years ago are we talking?

I joined the forum 10 years ago (early 2007) and back then, all visas were processed in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York (the consulate you mailed the application to depended on the state you lived in). Even back in 2002, UK visas were processed in New York/LA/Chicago (that's from the earliest visas post I can find in this section of the forum).

Then around 2010 (I think?), they stopped processing them in LA and Chicago and moved them all to New York.

In about 2012/13, they decided to streamline the settlement visas and started processing them all in Sheffield, UK, with all other visa types still processed in NYC.

Update.

I sent a mail to the UK Visa office yesterday via their website asking for a progress report and we have received this reply.  Although we have not received the actual "a decision has been made" mail but this seems positive, not sure if it gives us time to get him back for Christmas but getting him back to Ireland soon is the most important thing!  Gosh I am praying and hoping this is accurate but afraid to get my hopes up!

"We understand that you would like to know about the current status of your visa application. I have tracked the status of (REF***** and date of birth *****) and found that the application has been processed and a decision has been made and it should be with you in the next few days. We do not have the visibility to the actual decision made and the location of your documents due to confidential reasons."

Fingers crossed for you polly! 

Fingers crossed for you polly! 

Thank you so much!!  Getting a decision would be the best Christmas present!!

Update.

I sent a mail to the UK Visa office yesterday via their website asking for a progress report and we have received this reply.  Although we have not received the actual "a decision has been made" mail but this seems positive, not sure if it gives us time to get him back for Christmas but getting him back to Ireland soon is the most important thing!  Gosh I am praying and hoping this is accurate but afraid to get my hopes up!

"We understand that you would like to know about the current status of your visa application. I have tracked the status of (REF***** and date of birth *****) and found that the application has been processed and a decision has been made and it should be with you in the next few days. We do not have the visibility to the actual decision made and the location of your documents due to confidential reasons."

That's great news polly! Also a miracle they responded to your email

That's great news polly! Also a miracle they responded to your email

I am just hoping the information given to us by the visa support team is accurate.  We are still waiting on the official mail from Sheffield advising a decision has been made.  Oh the waiting is horrendous !!!

Please God you get your passport and visa in the post today and are able to make it to the UK for Christmas :-)

Update.

I sent a mail to the UK Visa office yesterday via their website asking for a progress report and we have received this reply.  Although we have not received the actual "a decision has been made" mail but this seems positive, not sure if it gives us time to get him back for Christmas but getting him back to Ireland soon is the most important thing!  Gosh I am praying and hoping this is accurate but afraid to get my hopes up!

"We understand that you would like to know about the current status of your visa application. I have tracked the status of (REF***** and date of birth *****) and found that the application has been processed and a decision has been made and it should be with you in the next few days. We do not have the visibility to the actual decision made and the location of your documents due to confidential reasons."

We got a communication mail from the Sheffield office.  So frustrating!!  They have stated they have not been able to locate an international courier account number on documents submitted.  Very frustrating as this was most definitely included in the document pile, in fact at the very front of the file along with our Priory confirmation.

We have emailed them a copy of the Waiver bill which was procured via the VFS system and hopefully this wont delay the process in getting our documents back and the "we have made a decision mail"  Just my luck!!!

The waiting continues, feeling a bit sick with worry.

Don't worry, polly, this is a common occurrence. Not sure why it happens, but several people recently have been contacted asking for courier information when it was already included in the document package .

The fact that they have asked for the courier information is likely a good thing, because it implies that your visa has been processed and is ready to be mailed back to you . (it also means that email from the inquiry service saying a decision has been made is probably correct ).

Fingers crossed you get your decision made email very soon .

My visa was approved! I am heading to the UK tomorrow! Thank you everyone for your support and help

My visa was approved! I am heading to the UK tomorrow! Thank you everyone for your support and help

Awesome news! Congratulations!!!

Safe journey. 

My visa was approved! I am heading to the UK tomorrow! Thank you everyone for your support and help

Woo hoo!!

My visa was approved! I am heading to the UK tomorrow! Thank you everyone for your support and help

Absolutely Amazing!!  Congratulations totally delighted for you.

Hope you have a very safe flight and a wonderful Christmas with your husband.

My husband is packed and ready to go.  Still waiting on our decision mail.

Don't worry, polly, this is a common occurrence. Not sure why it happens, but several people recently have been contacted asking for courier information when it was already included in the document package .

The fact that they have asked for the courier information is likely a good thing, because it implies that your visa has been processed and is ready to be mailed back to you . (it also means that email from the inquiry service saying a decision has been made is probably correct ).

Fingers crossed you get your decision made email very soon .

Update - we got our decision mail :-)

Submitted online visa application - Monday 28th November 2016
Completed bio-metrics                  - Tuesday 29th November 2016
Folder of Evidence                        - Received by Home office on Thursday 8th Dec
Email receipt confirmation             -  Received 13 December 2016
Mail asking for Waiver bill              _ Received 21 December 2016
Decision made mail                       - Received 22 December 2016

Hope its good news and it arrives soon :-)