Non-priority Spousal Visa Timeline

One hasn't been done for this year....  but anyone can take the reigns and go for it.  Wink wink, nudge nudge.   

If only I had the time 

Sure, I wouldn't recommend taking advice from there, but I think it's interesting to see timelines.  It gives you an idea where Sheffield is in the backlog.

They usually state the country they are applying from and there are US applicants in that group.

One non-priority US applicant received his visa yesterday, and he posted his timeline thus:

Date application submitted 3 March
Date docs received 13 March
Confirmation Email 31 May
Received visa 6 June
Total days from docs received to passport delivery 59

Yikes ... this is brutal. Is there just the one phone number to call? I'd love if I could send them additional documentation somehow that may help whether through a family member in London bringing it to them physically or me emailing it ...

I've decided to just change the exam location to New York for Jul 10 if I don't hear an update by Jun 18 ... :/ we'll have to stop over there anyway ... we would miss his sister's birthday though ...

I've decided to just change the exam location to New York for Jul 10 if I don't hear an update by Jun 18 ... :/ we'll have to stop over there anyway ... we would miss his sister's birthday though ...

Moving it to NY is wise if you don't hear in time. I'm sorry the uncertainty is forcing you to change plans, but at least you have a plan B. There will be more family gatherings for you to attend in the future!

Yikes ... this is brutal. Is there just the one phone number to call? I'd love if I could send them additional documentation somehow that may help whether through a family member in London bringing it to them physically or me emailing it ...

The only number to call is the third party 'helpline'... but it's anything but a helpline. They are just a call centre nowhere near Sheffield, who have no access to your application and are known for giving incorrect and inaccurate advice (like telling someone a decision had been made on their visa, when it hadn't even been looked at yet).

It is not possible to add any extra documents after your application has arrived in Sheffield unless they contact you specifically to ask you for it, in which case, you will be given a deadline and a specific contact to address it to.

It only takes 1-2 hours to actually process a visa application once they pick it up, so 99.9% of the 'processing time' is just your application waiting in line for someone to pick it up and look at it.

So, all you can do is wait, I'm afraid.

Having said that, someone else on the forum who applied non-priority got their 'documents received' email from Sheffield on March 5th and they received their 'decision made' email yesterday... on business day 64... so since you got your email on March 6th (and are currently on BD 63), you could be very close to getting a decision now.

I've decided to just change the exam location to New York for Jul 10 if I don't hear an update by Jun 18 ... :/ we'll have to stop over there anyway ... we would miss his sister's birthday though ...

Oh, I'm really glad you have options with the exam. Hope you don't have to use the contingency plan but it's really good that you have one! 

The only number to call is the third party 'helpline'... but it's anything but a helpline. They are just a call centre nowhere near Sheffield, who have no access to your application and are known for giving incorrect and inaccurate advice (like telling someone a decision had been made on their visa, when it hadn't even been looked at yet).

It is not possible to add any extra documents after your application has arrived in Sheffield unless they contact you specifically to ask you for it, in which case, you will be given a deadline and a specific contact to address it to.

It only takes 1-2 hours to actually process a visa application once they pick it up, so 99.9% of the 'processing time' is just your application waiting in line for someone to pick it up and look at it.

So, all you can do is wait, I'm afraid.

Having said that, someone else on the forum who applied non-priority got their 'documents received' email from Sheffield on March 5th and they received their 'decision made' email yesterday... on business day 64... so since you got your email on March 6th (and are currently on BD 63), you could be very close to getting a decision now.

Wow! Thank you for this info ... very helpful.

And thanks so much again everyone for all the solidarity and support <3 lots and lots of love and hope to be as helpful paying it forward once all of this is over ...

Hi all,

Just though id chime in with our timeline.

Visa type: Spouse Visa, non-priority
Application:4th May 2018
Biometrics: 7th May 2018
Supporting docs received in Sheffield: 21st May 2018
Confirmation email: 22nd May 2018
Decision email:
Passport received:

Hi! I am new to the forum and just wanted to see how others were doing in their wait times. I am not really sure what to expect and was hoping to be over in the UK by mid-July.




Type of Application:  Settlement Spouse Visa (non priority)
Country applying from:  USA
Nationality:  US Citizen; husband is UK Citizen
Online application:  19-Mar-2018
Biometrics:  22-Mar-2018
Package sent:  23-Mar-2018
UKVI receipt of application received: 17-Apr-2018
Decision made email: -n/a-
Passport return: -n/a-

Hi! I am new to the forum and just wanted to see how others were doing in their wait times. I am not really sure what to expect and was hoping to be over in the UK by mid-July.




Type of Application:  Settlement Spouse Visa (non priority)
Country applying from:  USA
Nationality:  US Citizen; husband is UK Citizen
Online application:  19-Mar-2018
Biometrics:  22-Mar-2018
Package sent:  23-Mar-2018
UKVI receipt of application received: 17-Apr-2018
Decision made email: -n/a-
Passport return: -n/a-

Welcome! 

Welcome! 

Thank you! 

Good luck this week everyone 

Just reading the time frames on here . My wife will be applying for spousal visa in mid July . She will be applying through non priority , looking at the current average decision times , this does not bode well . I was hoping for her to be with me around mid October . I take it this will take a lot longer due to the summer holidays . Does anyone have any historical data for applications submitted in July ? Say for 2017?

Thanks !


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Just reading the time frames on here . My wife will be applying for spousal visa in mid July . She will be applying through non priority , looking at the current average decision times , this does not bode well . I was hoping for her to be with me around mid October . I take it this will take a lot longer due to the summer holidays . Does anyone have any historical data for applications submitted in July ? Say for 2017?

Thanks !


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Last year the summer backlog applications cleared late Oct/early Nov.  So pretty close to your target.

Received my 'Decision Made' Email this morning! Came minutes before I opened my email to check if it was there, ha! Now the hard wait ^^ [Overall it took til business day 60 for me to receive the email.]

Received my 'Decision Made' Email this morning! Came minutes before I opened my email to check if it was there, ha! Now the hard wait ^^ [Overall it took til business day 60 for me to receive the email.]

Great news.  It looks like they are starting to slide from the 60 business days standard now that the summer rush is on.  Hopefully they'll keep close to it all summer.   

Looking forward to hearing your good news by the end of the week!