April Timeline

Woohoo! Mine was picked up at 5:19 local time.

No, you only get a refund for an unsuccessful application, and that is the full refund.

They charge the IHS in half-years only, and the spousal visa is valid for 2 years and 9 months, therefore it's rounded up and you have to pay a full 3 years of IHS fees, which comes to £600.

When it comes to applying for FLR(M), the visa is valid for 2 years and 6 months exactly, so you are charged for 2.5 years of IHS fees, which comes to £500.

There are no part refunds, unless you are switching from a different visa and have already paid for the rest of the time on the visa and have therefore actually paid the IHS twice (I.e. If you pay £150 per year of a 3-year Tier 4 visa, so £450, and then after 2 years you switch to FLR(M) and pay £500... you've actually paid £350 for the overlapping year (£150 for the last year on Tier 4 and £200 for the first year on FLR(M)). In that instance, I believe you get a partial refund


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Where are people finding their options for a refund for IHS? I don't have that option on my visa4uk portal??

Mine was JUST picked up!

So happy for you 

Unfortunately I think your theory also might hold some water -- especially since people in my week have called the enquiry service and 3 of them who have yet to receive official e-mails were told a decision had been reached. It does seem like April 10 - 13 is being skipped for bureaucratic "efficiency" purposes...

And anxiousandwaiting (how appropriate someone with that username also heard today -- that has been my life for weeks, haha!), I hope we get our packages by Friday! There is still a Friday night flight I could catch if I'm able to get my passport that morning, or if not, a Saturday night flight. I'm flying IcelandAir because I have 3 bags to check and of course, can't fly AerLingus. What about you? What are your tentative plans?

Hi everyone!

Hello!

I emailed my lawyer asking about this as she used to work at UKVI and she provided me with this response regarding the 30 days/60 days KPI theory:

"It’s an interesting theory, and whilst it is possible I would say it is unlikely.  The person is right about the ‘KPIs’ existing, and there are certainly ways that I have known UKVI to ‘massage the stats’, but if the Entry Clearance Managers are doing their job properly then they should be working through them in the order they were received (I used to be one, and have dealt with backlogs!).

One thing that will not be true is that there will be no ‘bank’ scheme of temp staff – which will be the problem.  Sheffield have just taken on settlement applications from much of Asia and Australasia in the last few months, and will therefore be recruiting I assume, but these applications are so complex that it will take new staff months to get up to speed.  And this is as we are heading into summer, which is their busiest period.  Sadly, it is rather common for UKVI to make major changes like this just at the beginning of a peak season :-((("

In other news, I received my documents email today! Fingers crossed I have my approved visa in my hands early next week. Thanks to everyone on this forum for keeping up the positivity and good vibes xo

Woohoo! Mine was picked up at 5:19 local time.

Yay! 

Hi everyone!

Hello!

I emailed my lawyer asking about this as she used to work at UKVI and she provided me with this response regarding the 30 days/60 days KPI theory:

"It’s an interesting theory, and whilst it is possible I would say it is unlikely.  The person is right about the ‘KPIs’ existing, and there are certainly ways that I have known UKVI to ‘massage the stats’, but if the Entry Clearance Managers are doing their job properly then they should be working through them in the order they were received (I used to be one, and have dealt with backlogs!).

One thing that will not be true is that there will be no ‘bank’ scheme of temp staff – which will be the problem.  Sheffield have just taken on settlement applications from much of Asia and Australasia in the last few months, and will therefore be recruiting I assume, but these applications are so complex that it will take new staff months to get up to speed.  And this is as we are heading into summer, which is their busiest period.  Sadly, it is rather common for UKVI to make major changes like this just at the beginning of a peak season :-((("

In other news, I received my documents email today! Fingers crossed I have my approved visa in my hands early next week. Thanks to everyone on this forum for keeping up the positivity and good vibes xo

Thanks for sharing that!    Your lawyer sounds like she knows what she's talking about. It's pretty much what ksand and KFdancer have been saying all along! 

Congrats on the email! 

Woohoo! Mine was picked up at 5:19 local time.

Mine, too!  I guess they were picked up together.  UPS says delivery on Monday.

I'm happy for all of you!

Working Day 33 here and nothing...  Our 14th Anniversary is in 6 days. This seems like it will be the first time we have ever been apart for our Anniversary.

Hang in there UKBound.  I feel for you! 

Mine, too!  I guess they were picked up together.  UPS says delivery on Monday.

Fantastic! I'm so glad you have got your decision -- you must be so excited to finally get to reunite with your husband.

UPS told me my package will arrive tomorrow, and it's going to be held at a customer service center for me since I've moved -- with any luck, I'll be able to pick it up and catch a flight out of here at 9 tomorrow night. :-o

Okay!  I just got the decision has been made email!  Holy cow!  Hooray!  Huzzah huzzah huzzah!  Calloo Calais!  OMG, OMG, OMG!

Oh Katoo!  Yippee!  I think we all want this for you, possibly even more than you want it yourself!

Thanks for sharing that!    Your lawyer sounds like she knows what she's talking about. It's pretty much what ksand and KFdancer have been saying all along! 

Congrats on the email! 

thank you! and again thanks to everyone on this forum i wish i'd found it sooner

Oh Katoo!  Yippee!  I think we all want this for you, possibly even more than you want it yourself!

That is not possible. 

That is not possible. 

We are soooooo ready to kick you out of the USA.

You guysssss, I'm so happy for you all! While simultaneously wanting to cry for myself!!

You guysssss, I'm so happy for you all! While simultaneously wanting to cry for myself!!

Same!