November Timeline

Okay, well I wish you positive results. Thanks for responding.

This past Thursday.  Am still waiting for the package so I don't know the decision, but that's not UKVI's fault, it's UPS's.

Okay, well I wish you positive results. Thanks for responding.

Thanks, and same to you! I bet it is soon. Keep an eye on your tracking number every couple of days because it seems not everyone gets their confirmation email before it gets sent out. I did, but only just.

Okay I will thanks a bunch

Thanks, and same to you! I bet it is soon. Keep an eye on your tracking number every couple of days because it seems not everyone gets their confirmation email before it gets sent out. I did, but only just.

Hi everyone. New to this thread and it is really thrilling reading all your posts. I wish you all luck in getting your visas approved and in hand soon!

I just had a question as I see some of your posts discuss how slow things were in the summertime. My husband (UK citizen) will be starting his job in Scotland in April and I plan to hopefully come on spouse visa during the summer with kids, pets and my mom to help us settle in (she'll leave after a bit). So now I'm really nervous that I'll be waiting a long time for spouse visa even if I do priority, especially with the strange climate here in US -- do we think this will be a hard time to apply? Any tips on when to do it? (Like should I just apply as soon as he starts his job in April and has proof of income?) Sorry if this is really basic question as you all seem to experts after going thru this process! TIA

So now I'm really nervous that I'll be waiting a long time for spouse visa even if I do priority, especially with the strange climate here in US -- do we think this will be a hard time to apply? Any tips on when to do it? (Like should I just apply as soon as he starts his job in April and has proof of income?) Sorry if this is really basic question as you all seem to experts after going thru this process! TIA

Essentially, the processing times usually start slowing down around May. Last year was a bit of an anomaly, I think, because of Brexit, and the processing times were longer than they have ever been for non-priority (3-5 months).

However, if you apply priority in May or June, you should get the visa within 3-5 weeks, possibly less than that.

If you apply in April with priority, you could probably get the visa within maybe 1-3 weeks.

Just be aware though that you will only have 30 days to enter the UK from when the visa starts - you can request an Intended Travel Date up to 3 months ahead of the date you apply online (i.e. if you apply April 15th, you could ask for the visa to start on July 15th (or before)), but they don't always honour this date and sometimes just make it valid for 30 days from the date it is issued.

So, you do need to be a bit careful with the timing. Say you can't move until June and you apply on April 15th but the visa is issued on April 25th, and is only valid to enter the UK between April 25th and May 25th... in that case you will have to enter by May 25th, and you won't be able to move in June (unless you pay £189(?) and send off your passport for a new 30-day visa vignette to be issued).

Sheffield received my package 17 Nov,  got my email this AM,  Sure happy about that, My wife,  dual citizen has already purchased a house and our house hold goods are already there,  I have been camped out in  US with 1 suitcase and a 20 year old Toyota pickup which is sold already,  buyer will be glad to get it. Whoa wait a minute,  what if visa was denied!!!! Tracking number just at label made position.

Sheffield received my package 17 Nov,  got my email this AM,  Sure happy about that, My wife,  dual citizen has already purchased a house and our house hold goods are already there,  I have been camped out in  US with 1 suitcase and a 20 year old Toyota pickup which is sold already,  buyer will be glad to get it. Whoa wait a minute,  what if visa was denied!!!! Tracking number just at label made position.

In the unlikely event it was refused, you'll reapply and address whatever was missing.   

YAY!! Congrats!

Did you receive the followup email with your tracking, or do you have your tracking number from the return label handy?  Mine showed no update until it was picked up, and it was picked up at about 7pm local time on Thursday from Sheffield.  I'm guessing they don't have pickups on Saturdays.  I use FedEx every day at work and even though we process orders then we don't have pickups, so I'm guessing it works the same for UPS.  Hopefully you will not have a mechanical failure on your UPS plane.  Mine is finally in the US but it's currently in Kentucky and scheduled to come to me in NY on Monday.  The waiting is very hard, especially when originally it indicated I would have a Friday delivery!
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I did receive the second email containing my tracking number on Saturday but like you said, I don't think it was picked up. Checked on the status again this morning but still nothing. Hopefully I'll see some movement by the end of the day. Please make sure to give us the good news once the parcel is in your hands 
And I'm sorry for those that are still waiting- even having to continue waiting for it to be returned to me is frustrating.

Non-priority settlement marriage visa
Recieved documents email: Dec 18th
Decision has been made email: Jan 30the

Now just to wait and hope my visa was approved.

Wow, BlueUSA! Great news on the decision being made! I hope it's been approved. Your case seems to show that the non-priority timeline has sped up a bit.
I'm wondering if more straightforward, less complex applications simply get through more quickly. Perhaps those immigration officers have a system for addressing the non-priority applications.
Who knows!

I look forward to hearing how soon your docs are returned to you. I have a few days to decide whether to add priority before shipping, so your case is of great help.

Thank you for your updates. I wish you the best.

I received 2 emails,  one telling me a decision has been made and one with my tracking number.  I have read several reasons why Nov 2016 packages were taking so long,  all very valid,  in addition I would add that my package was kind of thick,  proving you have been together for 42 years is not only difficult but document producing.

When did you apply? I applied nov 17 and still haven't received an form of communication. I noticed a few people that applied after me that got decisions too but I still haven't heard anything. When I try track it o get that General no updates email. Congratulations to you.

Sorry for the late response but they received my documents on 25 November and I received my decision email on 28 January. I expect you'll hear back very, very soon! Good luck

Still haven't received decision made email but I inquired and it says status of application is decision made. So just waiting for some form of information.

I received my visa today!!!!!

So this is my final timeline:
Online application filed middle of October (can't remember the date, but we needed to do it earlier rather than later so we could get our preferred date for biometrics--my local one fills up quickly)
Biometrics November 9
Married November 12
Application package sent November 13
Application Received in Sheffield November 17 (confirmation by FedEx, I never got an email from Sheffield confirming)
Missing appendix asked for and received November 19
Decision made email January 26
Visa received January 30!!

I gave my notice at work and we're thinking I'll try for an overnight flight on February 14.  I was scheduled for a paid vacation day that day anyway so that's technically my last day, even though I'm not working.

Congrats!

I received my visa today!!!!!

So this is my final timeline:
Online application filed middle of October (can't remember the date, but we needed to do it earlier rather than later so we could get our preferred date for biometrics--my local one fills up quickly)
Biometrics November 9
Married November 12
Application package sent November 13
Application Received in Sheffield November 17 (confirmation by FedEx, I never got an email from Sheffield confirming)
Missing appendix asked for and received November 19
Decision made email January 26
Visa received January 30!!

I gave my notice at work and we're thinking I'll try for an overnight flight on February 14.  I was scheduled for a paid vacation day that day anyway so that's technically my last day, even though I'm not working.