Non-priority Spousal Visa Timeline

Yep, my proposed travel date was January 20. I also expected that two months would be plenty of time.

Now my predicament is that I need to move out of my apartment at the end of this month and not only find somewhere for me and my cat to go, but my return shipping label is coming to this apartment. So I guess I'll have to stalk the tracking info and camp out outside of it when someone else is living here.

This process is so frustrating!!! 

Sign up for UPS My Choice if you haven't already. You should get a ship notification for any UPS shipment going to your name at that address. That way, when they ship it, you can log in and change the delivery to pick up at store or something along those lines.

Hoping you hear soon Jasiwalker! You're at what, 9 weeks in the process? So if you don't hear soon, I would imagine you could get your MP involved, right?

My submission dates are in my signature, but I just got the "your case isn't straightforward and we need more time" email today.

I'm so sorry! I'm starting to fear that more and more non-priority applicants are going to start getting these. It seems that it is taking quite a while for people to hear. I know that we probably all got shafted thanks to Christmas, but it's starting to feel like we're all going to take the full 12 weeks or even worse, start getting the "not straight forward" emails.

Now my predicament is that I need to move out of my apartment at the end of this month and not only find somewhere for me and my cat to go, but my return shipping label is coming to this apartment. So I guess I'll have to stalk the tracking info and camp out outside of it when someone else is living here.

This process is so frustrating!!! 

Sorry to hear that . What you can do (and others have done successfully) is, after the documents have shipped, you can contact the UPS depot and ask them to hold the package for you instead of delivering it... then you can just go and collect the package from them, so you don't have to wait around outside the apartment for it.

Just out of curiosity, for those of us who are still waiting to hear - has your proposed travel date already passed?

Mine has. I submitted on 27 October and said my travel date was 27 December. I know Christmas was in there, but it's nearly another month past.

Thanks! I have signed up for the notifications but I didn't realize i could have them hold it for me at the distribution center. I'll do that.

And also yes, my hubby in Cornwall will be contacting his MP in the next week or two if we haven't heard anything.

Good luck to everyone!

I'm so sorry! I'm starting to fear that more and more non-priority applicants are going to start getting these. It seems that it is taking quite a while for people to hear. I know that we probably all got shafted thanks to Christmas, but it's starting to feel like we're all going to take the full 12 weeks or even worse, start getting the "not straight forward" emails.

Yes, so disappointing this close to the end of the usual processing period. You may have seen on my other post that you responded to today, but I'll share the info for others here:

We have been in contact with someone from our MP's office who has been kind enough to reach out to the Home Office to try to get a status update for us. After calling for about 7 business days prior, she finally managed to get through to someone last week (on Thursday). They checked our case and said that there were no red flags indicating that our case would need any additional processing time beyond the standard 12 weeks, and they noted that this week was my 12th week. So, this "we need more time" email from Sheffield comes at the eleventh hour. Today marks 58 business days since I submitted the application. Just FYI, as I know information coming out of Sheffield is limited.

We have been in contact with someone from our MP's office who has been kind enough to reach out to the Home Office to try to get a status update for us. After calling for about 7 business days prior, she finally managed to get through to someone last week (on Thursday). They checked our case and said that there were no red flags indicating that our case would need any additional processing time beyond the standard 12 weeks, and they noted that this week was my 12th week. So, this "we need more time" email from Sheffield comes at the eleventh hour. Today marks 58 business days since I submitted the application. Just FYI, as I know information coming out of Sheffield is limited.

Wow.

My husbands travel date was December 1st. It was a stretch from the application date but we were hopeful haha what fools we were!

My husbands travel date was December 1st. It was a stretch from the application date but we were hopeful haha what fools we were!

Have you heard any more about the IHS/NHS payment? You're going on 12 weeks from when you heard that it wasn't straightforward.

Have you heard any more about the IHS/NHS payment? You're going on 12 weeks from when you heard that it wasn't straightforward.

Yes, it was paid. They confused my NHS payment with the refund from my previous application but said they had it straight now. My MP has been on the case now for a few weeks. She has been pressing for info but they are still saying it is awaiting decision. They said they escalated the case (if that even does anything) on the 9th and they have 15 business days to provide a response to that apparently I go between thinking it is hilariously woeful to complete desperation.

They said they escalated the case (if that even does anything) on the 9th and they have 15 business days to provide a response to that apparently I go between thinking it is hilariously woeful to complete desperation.

So, that means that you should have an answer no later than really early next week.

So, that means that you should have an answer no later than really early next week.

I'm not sure if their timeline is to be trusted...but I hope you are right!

Just out of curiosity, for those of us who are still waiting to hear - has your proposed travel date already passed?

My travel date was on Jan 4th to London from US. From London, I was planning to go to India for attending my sister's wedding. Yesterday was her marriage and I couldn't travel because my passport is with home office. I wish these government officials could understand our personnel emotions. I applied visa to stay with my wife and my little son (who completed just 2yrs old). I am missing all the fun with him. If they were providing an option to upgrade, I would do that and make it to Golden Priority.

My travel date was on Jan 4th to London from US. From London, I was planning to go to India for attending my sister's wedding. Yesterday was her marriage and I couldn't travel because my passport is with home office. I wish these government officials could understand our personnel emotions. I applied visa to stay with my wife and my little son (who completed just 2yrs old). I am missing all the fun with him. If they were providing an option to upgrade, I would do that and make it to Golden Priority.

You can't upgrade to Priority after the fact any more unfortunately. And as you have already submitted your application, the "advantages" of Gold Priority, the document check and keeping your passport, wouldn't apply and Gold Priority has turned out to be slower than regular priority in any case.
So even if you could, we do not recommend going with Gold Priority.

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:

Update: Received the dreaded "NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD" email today (Business Day 49.) Not sure what next step should be - sit and wait (again)?