Non-priority Spousal Visa Timeline

It’s horrible! I’m sorry you’re in the same boat. I understand that there is a process to this but after the cost and everything that was sent I was hoping this would take 4 to 6 weeks not 12. I should have found this forum sooner. The information o the Gov UK site is so minimal. I’ve spoken to attorneys who don’t even know the exact process. Sorry for the venting, I’m just really getting frustrated. Good luck to everyone still waiting!

It’s horrible! I’m sorry you’re in the same boat. I understand that there is a process to this but after the cost and everything that was sent I was hoping this would take 4 to 6 weeks not 12. I should have found this forum sooner. The information o the Gov UK site is so minimal. I’ve spoken to attorneys who don’t even know the exact process. Sorry for the venting, I’m just really getting frustrated. Good luck to everyone still waiting!

You sound just like me. My husband and I were so naive and assumed we were a straightforward  case and everything would be wrapped up in 4-6 weeks. I kick myself daily for not choosing the expedited process and kick myself again for not reading these posts sooner!  I completely understand your frustration!  Have you received any of the docs back that you sent in?  I heard that they usually send them back before issuing the visa.  We have received nothing.

I haven’t received anything back but my docs were only just received in Sheffield on March 14th I think. I wish we could have done the expedited process but I couldn’t see the point because there was no guarantee of when the visa would arrive. We stupidly booked a vacation in May prior to all of this thinking it wouldn’t take very long. I wonder if there is anyway to get my passport back. Probably not! When did you send you documents to Sheffield?

I haven’t received anything back but my docs were only just received in Sheffield on March 14th I think. I wish we could have done the expedited process but I couldn’t see the point because there was no guarantee of when the visa would arrive. We stupidly booked a vacation in May prior to all of this thinking it wouldn’t take very long. I wonder if there is anyway to get my passport back. Probably not! When did you send you documents to Sheffield?

If you request your passport back, that will cancel the application unfortunately.

If you request your passport back, that will cancel the application unfortunately.

Yikes. Definitely don’t want that. It’s so annoying they need to keep my passport!

Yikes. Definitely don’t want that. It’s so annoying they need to keep my passport!

They need it to put the visa into. 

They need it to put the visa into. 

Haha! I was under the impression that the visa was a totally separate card, didn’t realize it was attached and part of
your passport. I got confused when researching name changes. The information I read made it seem like it was separate to your passport. If I decide to change my name I must make two changes, one to my passport and one to my visa. Why do we send in photos? Sorry for silly questions but none of this is explained when applying.

Haha! I was under the impression that the visa was a totally separate card, didn’t realize it was attached and part of
your passport. I got confused when researching name changes. The information I read made it seem like it was separate to your passport. If I decide to change my name I must make two changes, one to my passport and one to my visa. Why do we send in photos? Sorry for silly questions but none of this is explained when applying.

Once you arrive in the UK on a spouse visa, you'll pick up your biometric residence permit (BRP) but you need the visa in the passport to enter in the first place. And you need it stamped on entry in order to pick up the BRP so make sure you don't enter via Ireland or it won't get stamped!

We're not even sure why they ask for photos any more because they use the one taken at the biometrics appointment for the BRP!

Once you arrive in the UK on a spouse visa, you'll pick up your biometric residence permit (BRP) but you need the visa in the passport to enter in the first place. And you need it stamped on entry in order to pick up the BRP so make sure you don't enter via Ireland or it won't get stamped!


We're not even sure why they ask for photos any more because they use the one taken at the biometrics appointment for the BRP!

Thank you! I was afraid they’d use the biometrics photo. I think it will be the ultimate in bad photos. Ha! Thanks for the entry reminder. I’ve read so much on this process that bits and pieces get lost.

I haven’t received anything back but my docs were only just received in Sheffield on March 14th I think. I wish we could have done the expedited process but I couldn’t see the point because there was no guarantee of when the visa would arrive. We stupidly booked a vacation in May prior to all of this thinking it wouldn’t take very long. I wonder if there is anyway to get my passport back. Probably not! When did you send you documents to Sheffield?

Honestly, I’d go on and rearrange the vacation.  It’ll likely be mid-June at best before you hear.   

Hang in there.  Soon this will be a distant memory! 

Yes glad you found us! Where in the South coast will you be?

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We'll be outside of Brighton

Honestly, I’d go on and rearrange the vacation.  It’ll likely be mid-June at best before you hear.   

Hang in there.  Soon this will be a distant memory!

We’re going to change it. Hopefully I will be back by mid June! I have friends coming to visit.

We’re going to change it. Hopefully I will be back by mid June! I have friends coming to visit.

Glad you are changing it - it'll be good to not have that stress hanging over your head.

We had a few members miss their weddings last year in the UK and all their friends and family were in the UK.  Pretty heartbreaking!

Glad you are changing it - it'll be good to not have that stress hanging over your head.

We had a few members miss their weddings last year in the UK and all their friends and family were in the UK.  Pretty heartbreaking!

That is absolutely awful. Luckily our planned trip wasn’t that expensive and it’s mainly changing the flight. Unfortunate but not the end of the world. As everyone waiting for a visa knows it’s just a totally frustrating process. As long as I’m back in England by the end of June I can handle it. Fortunately I have my family and friends in the US.

I massively underestimated how sick I would feel to get the “decision made” email.

We received the email today on a non priority after 26 business days. My mind is going straight to the worst “there must have been something glaringly obvious for a rejection”

Type of Application: Settlement Spouse Visa (non priority)
Met Husband: January 2014
Got married: 14 November 2017
Online application: 24 February 2018
Biometrics: 27 February 2018
Application mailed: 27 February 2018
Application received in Sheffield: 05 March 2018
Application received email: 06 March 2018
Decision email received: 11 April 2018 (26 business days)
Passport received: