Non-priority Spousal Visa Timeline

VISA APPROVED! Alhamdulillah! 64 business days, 2 days short of 3 months since Biometrics. I'm so over the moon, it feels like I have a new lease on life! To everyone waiting, your time will be coming soon. Whatever you do, don't contact HO at all. Save the money. Thank you to everyone for the support and keeping me sane. Can't wait for the reunion.


PS. Someone needs to update this spreadsheet.

Awww HELL YEAH!!!!! (spikes ball)  ;0)

after UPS holding on to the package over the weekend and not delivering it till 9pm EST last night, we final have confirmation of the approval! Thanks for everyone's help!

Rock on ;0)

Hadnt even received an email confirmation that they got my application (sent nov 27), but I got the email today saying a decision has been made.

w00t! ;0)

I've caved and paid the 5.48 for a second request on status (the first was just to make sure they had received our paperwork - would an email kill them?).  I've also asked a question about whether they will be processing paperwork over xmas or how long the break is for.  Will report back on that one.

I've caved and paid the 5.48 for a second request on status (the first was just to make sure they had received our paperwork - would an email kill them?).  I've also asked a question about whether they will be processing paperwork over xmas or how long the break is for.  Will report back on that one.

The thing is that the emails you pay to send go to some random call centre nowhere near Sheffield who have no access to your actual application and they probably have no idea if there’s a break over a Christmas. All they have is a computer screen in front of them into which which they can type your application details and read off what it says.

They are known for giving incorrect advice and information and are generally just a complete waste of money since they basically have no idea what they are talking about.

The only official break over Christmas will most likely be Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. However, the staff may take vacation time between those dates so they have several days off.


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Interesting, thanks for that.  You are quite right, as they ignored entirely the question about the break. 

Sadly, the processing times for my location as at October are now a mere 71% for the 60 days so I'm not feeling hopeful.  And yet, my country still has the Queen as our head of state.  Annoyed is an understatement.

Sadly, the processing times for my location as at October are now a mere 71% for the 60 days so I'm not feeling hopeful.  And yet, my country still has the Queen as our head of state.  Annoyed is an understatement.

Fingers crossed you hear sooner rather than later .

Bear in mind though that the processing times are several months out of date now.

They are for decisions made in October, which means that the people who got decisions in 30 working days applied between mid-August and October, while the people who got decisions in 60 days applied between the beginning of July and mid-August... and those are the busiest times of the year.

For US applications, the October processing times show 54% in 30 working days and 71% in 60 working days, yet almost everyone who applied in October and November now has their visa (several of the priority applications were processing in 14-20 working days), and someone just got their non-priority visa processed in about 2 weeks.


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In an extraordinary coincidence, within hours of emailing Sheffield, we have received three 'not straightforward' emails.  Guess I won't be seeing my family for a few months then.   

Hello - I have been watching this board for some time. I am in the UK waiting for my spouse on a settlement visa. This is our second application and we have been apart since June. Our first was denied due to "no financial proof" even though all information was sent. We got a lawyer for the second time and due to wait times they suggested a new application. This application was submitted October 16th. We got a not straightforward email November 1st. We are on BD 39 of this round. It is starting to become very tedious - we are expecting to not spend Xmas together.

Hello - I have been watching this board for some time. I am in the UK waiting for my spouse on a settlement visa. This is our second application and we have been apart since June. Our first was denied due to "no financial proof" even though all information was sent. We got a lawyer for the second time and due to wait times they suggested a new application. This application was submitted October 16th. We got a not straightforward email November 1st. We are on BD 39 of this round. It is starting to become very tedious - we are expecting to not spend Xmas together.

Welcome to the forum - sorry about your long wait to be together .

In terms of timing, a second application was probably the best idea, since an appeal can take up to a year to be decided and is usually only successful if you sent every single required document and UKVI made a mistake and overlooked it.

Out of curiosity, which financial requirement are you applying under, and what evidence did you send for the first application that they said you didn't?

Welcome to the forum - sorry about your long wait to be together .

In terms of timing, a second application was probably the best idea, since an appeal can take up to a year to be decided and is usually only successful if you sent every single required document and UKVI made a mistake and overlooked it.

Out of curiosity, which financial requirement are you applying under, and what evidence did you send for the first application that they said you didn't?

We are applying under my income as a UK citizen which meets the requirements. We sent my employment contract, savings and joint accounts and previous employment also. They asked for more evidence first round but nothing financial. We aren't sure what happened but had no legal help and jumped right into app #2 as waiting for a response could take until the end of never. I then moved to the UK to start work and so for the second app we had to delve into current contract but other employment to meet the standards for the 6 months. It was messy. But hoping we get an approval this time. There is no reason we should but I am tired waiting 

We are applying under my income as a UK citizen which meets the requirements. We sent my employment contract, savings and joint accounts and previous employment also.

Did you include the required 6 full months of original payslips and bank statements (for Category A - if you have been working in the UK for at least 6 months), or 12 full months of original payslips and bank statements (for Category B - if you haven't started working in the UK yet, or you haven't been with your current employer for 6 months yet)?

They won't be able to consider your savings unless you cannot meet the financial requirement with your income alone and you have at least £16,000 + (2.5 times the difference between your income and £18,600) in savings.

We aren't sure what happened but had no legal help and jumped right into app #2 as waiting for a response could take until the end of never. I then moved to the UK to start work and so for the second app we had to delve into current contract but other employment to meet the standards for the 6 months. It was messy. But hoping we get an approval this time. There is no reason we should but I am tired waiting 

Ah, so you were in the US when you applied the first time? So, you would have applied under Category B for both applications?

If you have recently moved to the UK to start your job, you'll have sent the following then:
- current UK job contract
- letter from your new UK employer confirming your employment
- 12 full months of original payslips (US and UK, if you have received payslips in the UK already) showing a total earnings of £18,600 or more before tax
- 12 full months of original bank statements (US and UK) showing the deposit of every single payslip

Ah, so you were in the US when you applied the first time? So, you would have applied under Category B for both applications?

If you have recently moved to the UK to start your job, you'll have sent the following then:
- current UK job contract
- letter from your new UK employer confirming your employment
- 12 full months of original payslips (US and UK, if you have received payslips in the UK already) showing a total earnings of £18,600 or more before tax
- 12 full months of original bank statements (US and UK) showing the deposit of every single payslip

Correct. All of the above. Our lawyer handled the second application meticulously. Fingers crossed.

This non-priority board has gone unnervingly quiet. Maybe most people who were active have received their visas... Who is still waiting and whats your timeline?

I’m still here and still waiting. BD 20 since UKVI receipt of my application.

My timeline:
Type of Application:  Settlement Spouse Visa (non priority)
Country applying from:  USA
Nationality:  US Citizen; wife is UK Citizen
Online application:  27-Oct
Biometrics:  2-Nov
Package sent:  7-Nov
Package arrived:  9-Nov
UKVI acknowledge receipt of online application:  13-Nov
UKVI opened and confirmed receipt:  none
Decision email from UKVI:
Passport return: