Non-priority Spousal Visa Timeline

Well they have been picking up a bit lately so hopefully you won't have too much longer to wait. As you say, it'll be a relief to know one way or the other. 

Exactly! It’s the waiting in limbo that is so frustrating, not being able to plan anything. This is hypothetical but worst case scenario is that we are denied and need to reapply. If that’s the case do you think border control will let me into England as a visitor for a few months and then I can come back to the US in the fall and reapply? I guess it completely depends on the denial reason. I know you can’t answer that, just throwing it out there. My husband (British) is missing his 4 month old daughter (also British) so I’m hoping I can at least visit him in England before reapplying...if that’s what we have to do.

Exactly! It’s the waiting in limbo that is so frustrating, not being able to plan anything. This is hypothetical but worst case scenario is that we are denied and need to reapply. If that’s the case do you think border control will let me into England as a visitor for a few months and then I can come back to the US in the fall and reapply? I guess it completely depends on the denial reason. I know you can’t answer that, just throwing it out there. My husband (British) is missing his 4 month old daughter (also British) so I’m hoping I can at least visit him in England before reapplying...if that’s what we have to do.

If that were the situation, you'd have to be able to show a return ticket and very strong ties to the US so that they would be in no doubt as to your intention to return there. The problem with that is that you have just submitted an application trying to show the opposite intention.
For that reason, it would be safer to apply for a visit visa in advance so that you have a chance to fully explain the situation.
The other option would be to meet in a third country. 

If that were the situation, you'd have to be able to show a return ticket and very strong ties to the US so that they would be in no doubt as to your intention to return there. The problem with that is that you have just submitted an application trying to show the opposite intention.
For that reason, it would be safer to apply for a visit visa in advance so that you have a chance to fully explain the situation.
The other option would be to meet in a third country. 

Third country makes sense if all else fails. Hopefully all is ok and it works out. An endless supply of money would also make this a whole lot easier.

Third country makes sense if all else fails. Hopefully all is ok and it works out. An endless supply of money would also make this a whole lot easier.

If you do visit in a third country, just make sure it is not Ireland. There are no immigration controls between Ireland and the U.K., so entering Ireland could be seen as trying to circumvent the U.K. immigration rules, and could cause problems.


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If you do visit in a third country, just make sure it is not Ireland. There are no immigration controls between Ireland and the U.K., so entering Ireland could be seen as trying to circumvent the U.K. immigration rules, and could cause problems.


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Thanks for the heads up. It would probably be Spain but hopefully it doesn’t come to that!

Yeah, it isn’t the best guidance because they’re wishy-washy about it. There’s a few things on there you don’t need to include and others you do, but there’s no indication as to which is which!


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Thank you so much for all your insight and wisdom!

The wishy-washy-ness is my problem. I submitted all the paperwork that we live together, that we're married (it was a paperwork fiasco to get married in Germany anyway), that I have a job that I am not at right now! We moved the company there and I need to be working!

Today is BD 47, so it's been like 10 weeks since I submitted my paperwork and did my biometrics. Yes, I'm frustrated but everyone says I just have to wait. It's not being able to take action that is making me freak out so. Sorry, you guys, you're really really helpful 

Type of Visa: Non priority settlement
US Citizen / German resident
Spouse: UK Citizen
Biomentrics / Application submitted: Feb 7 2018
Application received by UKVI: Feb 8 2018

Thank you so much for all your insight and wisdom!

The wishy-washy-ness is my problem. I submitted all the paperwork that we live together, that we're married (it was a paperwork fiasco to get married in Germany anyway), that I have a job that I am not at right now! We moved the company there and I need to be working!

Today is BD 47, so it's been like 10 weeks since I submitted my paperwork and did my biometrics. Yes, I'm frustrated but everyone says I just have to wait. It's not being able to take action that is making me freak out so. Sorry, you guys, you're really really helpful 

Type of Visa: Non priority settlement
US Citizen / German resident
Spouse: UK Citizen
Biomentrics / Application submitted: Feb 7 2018
Application received by UKVI: Feb 8 2018

This truly is the worst part. You are in the middle of waiting for something that there is no definite timeline for. As everyone on this board says, you will forget how bad the waiting was. I only got approved in March and have now been in the UK for a few weeks and I've already forgotten the feeling aside from just being frustrated. And once you get to the UK, you'll have a plethora of fun new problems to deal with 

So it was like 54 days until you got your not straightforward.  Thanks for your response. 

Type of Application: Settlement Spouse Visa (non priority)
Met Husband (he is the US applicant, I'm the UK sponsor): 20 August 2015 (I lived in US for a year)
Got married: 13 March 2018 (in New York)
Online application: 17 March 2018
Biometrics: 23 March 2018
Application mailed: 27 March 2018
Application received in Sheffield: 28 March 2018
Application received email: 3 April 2018
Application not straightforward and
request for more documents:
Decision email received:
Passport received:

We're only on the 11th working days since we received the online app received email and this is awful! Admire you all! This is so hard being away from my new husband!

Type of Application: Settlement Spouse Visa (non priority)
Met Husband (he is the US applicant, I'm the UK sponsor): 20 August 2015 (I lived in US for a year)
Got married: 13 March 2018 (in New York)
Online application: 17 March 2018
Biometrics: 23 March 2018
Application mailed: 27 March 2018
Application received in Sheffield: 28 March 2018
Application received email: 3 April 2018
Application not straightforward and
request for more documents:
Decision email received:
Passport received:

We're only on the 11th working days since we received the online app received email and this is awful! Admire you all! This is so hard being away from my new husband!

Did you get married at City Hall?  We did.  It has served us well.   

Did you get married at City Hall?  We did.  It has served us well.   

Yes! With just both sets of parents attending. We had an agreement that if he moves to England then we will get married in the US. It was a lovely day and so glad we did it!

Yes! With just both sets of parents attending. We had an agreement that if he moves to England then we will get married in the US. It was a lovely day and so glad we did it!

Did you have the guy with the amazing mustache?  I wonder if he's still doing weddings (we were nearly 6 years ago).  He married two other sets of friends as well.

We only had a photographer as our witness.  I will have to remind myself that we didn't invite our parents if our children decide to elope!   

Did you have the guy with the amazing mustache?  I wonder if he's still doing weddings (we were nearly 6 years ago).  He married two other sets of friends as well.

We only had a photographer as our witness.  I will have to remind myself that we didn't invite our parents if our children decide to elope!   

We had someone called Angel Lopez (we laughed at Angel and hope that it'll give us good luck haha!) Don't think he had a mustache though!

Ah I wish we had a photographer! My husband said we won't need one as his mum takes good pictures... this turned out to be not so true!!

Has anyone recently upgraded to priority? Hate this waiting game and am tempted.. Have seen some succeffuly u[graded and some weren't so lucky.

Has anyone recently upgraded to priority? Hate this waiting game and am tempted.. Have seen some succeffuly u[graded and some weren't so lucky.

We haven't had anyone try since last summer's backlog.

We recommend against trying, as the website is clear that they do not allow upgrades.  We had a couple of people successful last year but many who were NOT successful and just tossed the money down the drain.  Some were told the upgrade WOULD be honored, but it was NOT honored.  It's a gamble and risk only you and your partner can decide to take.