Non-priority Spousal Visa Timeline

Hi All,

I've been lurking and reading on this forum for the past few months now, despite being a New Zealander, as I've found the quality of the information, particularly around process, requirements and evidence etc, so much better here than anywhere else I've read on-line.  (In fact, I really wish I had discovered this place before I applied - I would have saved myself so much time, anxiety, and hair-pulling.)

I met my partner in Nov 2014 online. We progressed to meeting in person the following year, in 2015, when I traveled to the UK to meet him, and visited for 10 days. This was followed by another visit the following Christmas/New Year 2015/2016 for a month; my partner visiting me in NZ in July 2016 for a month,  and then I headed to the UK March 2017, staying for 6 months under the 6 month visitor visa waiver rules. I returned to NZ in September 2017 to begin the process of applying under the Fiancee Visa category.

A brief time-line/synopsis of my Non-Priority application:

Type: Fiancee Visa
Online application submitted: 26/11/2017
Appendix and evidence/docs etc sent to Sheffield 4/12/2017
Biometrics Appointment: 13/04/2018
Application Received email from Sheffield: 18/04/2018

Yes, there was a big gap between submitting/sending off my application, and having my biometrics taken, as (And I realize how daft this sounds now) I didn't attend the first booked appointment, as I misunderstood the requirements, and believed that as the Fiance/e visa was for 6 months or less, biometrics were not required. (I thought the system must have glitched and thrown up the booking calendar part by accident, based on the "This a a BETA testing site" designation.) I did seek clarification of this from the contact center via email, but didn't hear back from them  until January - a month after my appointment was to have taken place.

Had I known the difficulties I would have to book another appointment here in New Zealand, I never would have been so complacent to assume that as I hadn't heard back from the contact center, the appointment wasn't needed. (You've no idea how idiotic I now feel about this after having read here for the past few months...  )

After a zillion emails via the contact center, escalated to the Sheffield Decision Making Center,  my passport was returned to me in order to attend a new Biometrics appointment. The problem was, that the Sheffield decision-making center could not organize a new appointment, this had to be done via the Australian VFS Global Office who oversees/manages the 3 New Zealand Biometric Centers. An even bigger problem - there was no way to directly contact the biometrics center to re-book - or any way to contact the VFS Global office in Australia directly either. (When I tried, I would simply be sent back in a truly circular fashion to the contact center - who are hopeless and awful and a total rip-off. It became a catch 22. Although the Sheffield Decisions Office emailed the VFS office to help me procure a new appointment, the VFS office simply never did.

Finally, at the end of March, I got fed -up waiting, filled out and paid for a new visa app online in a different visa category that also required Biometrics (The marriage visa - $87.00GBP), and booked a new appointment. I took a copy of my original fiancee visa application, the original appointment confirmation print-out, my passport, and the email trail between myself, the contact center and Sheffield. I held my breath, crossed my fingers, turned up to the appointment, explained what had happened - and they allowed me the appointment. It was a bit of a punt - I was so worried they would not take my biometrics and proceed - but they did.

Anddddd.... then like you all....I began waiting, waiting, waiting. Again.

It's now so close to the 60 business day mark - and I am increasingly anxious and stressed out! And horribly grumpy. 

I know we meet the requirements (My partner earns well over the $18,500.00 British pounds working as a Senior Lecturer at a N.Eastern University, and owns his own home; we had ample evidence of having met etc etc) but I worry endlessly that we haven't shown we meet them with the right documents. I think we probably have, but I find myself going over it all incessantly in my head. Which isn't very useful at this stage.

In any case, I wanted to stop in and add my dates to the thread, and wait with baited breath with other people going through the same thing, as this really is such a lonely and brutal process.

Welcome! 

Wow! That's a new one for us. Good for you to find a way to make it work!   
I hope that they make up for lost time with your application!

Hi All,

I've been lurking and reading on this forum for the past few months now, despite being a New Zealander, as I've found the quality of the information, particularly around process, requirements and evidence etc, so much better here than anywhere else I've read on-line.  (In fact, I really wish I had discovered this place before I applied - I would have saved myself so much time, anxiety, and hair-pulling.)

I met my partner in Nov 2014 online. We progressed to meeting in person the following year, in 2015, when I traveled to the UK to meet him, and visited for 10 days. This was followed by another visit the following Christmas/New Year 2015/2016 for a month; my partner visiting me in NZ in July 2016 for a month,  and then I headed to the UK March 2017, staying for 6 months under the 6 month visitor visa waiver rules. I returned to NZ in September 2017 to begin the process of applying under the Fiancee Visa category.

A brief time-line/synopsis of my Non-Priority application:

Type: Fiancee Visa
Online application submitted: 26/11/2017
Appendix and evidence/docs etc sent to Sheffield 4/12/2017
Biometrics Appointment: 13/04/2018
Application Received email from Sheffield: 18/04/2018

Yes, there was a big gap between submitting/sending off my application, and having my biometrics taken, as (And I realize how daft this sounds now) I didn't attend the first booked appointment, as I misunderstood the requirements, and believed that as the Fiance/e visa was for 6 months or less, biometrics were not required. (I thought the system must have glitched and thrown up the booking calendar part by accident, based on the "This a a BETA testing site" designation.) I did seek clarification of this from the contact center via email, but didn't hear back from them  until January - a month after my appointment was to have taken place.

Had I known the difficulties I would have to book another appointment here in New Zealand, I never would have been so complacent to assume that as I hadn't heard back from the contact center, the appointment wasn't needed. (You've no idea how idiotic I now feel about this after having read here for the past few months...  )

After a zillion emails via the contact center, escalated to the Sheffield Decision Making Center,  my passport was returned to me in order to attend a new Biometrics appointment. The problem was, that the Sheffield decision-making center could not organize a new appointment, this had to be done via the Australian VFS Global Office who oversees/manages the 3 New Zealand Biometric Centers. An even bigger problem - there was no way to directly contact the biometrics center to re-book - or any way to contact the VFS Global office in Australia directly either. (When I tried, I would simply be sent back in a truly circular fashion to the contact center - who are hopeless and awful and a total rip-off. It became a catch 22. Although the Sheffield Decisions Office emailed the VFS office to help me procure a new appointment, the VFS office simply never did.

Finally, at the end of March, I got fed -up waiting, filled out and paid for a new visa app online in a different visa category that also required Biometrics (The marriage visa - $87.00GBP), and booked a new appointment. I took a copy of my original fiancee visa application, the original appointment confirmation print-out, my passport, and the email trail between myself, the contact center and Sheffield. I held my breath, crossed my fingers, turned up to the appointment, explained what had happened - and they allowed me the appointment. It was a bit of a punt - I was so worried they would not take my biometrics and proceed - but they did.

Anddddd.... then like you all....I began waiting, waiting, waiting. Again.

It's now so close to the 60 business day mark - and I am increasingly anxious and stressed out! And horribly grumpy. 

I know we meet the requirements (My partner earns well over the $18,500.00 British pounds working as a Senior Lecturer at a N.Eastern University, and owns his own home; we had ample evidence of having met etc etc) but I worry endlessly that we haven't shown we meet them with the right documents. I think we probably have, but I find myself going over it all incessantly in my head. Which isn't very useful at this stage.

In any case, I wanted to stop in and add my dates to the thread, and wait with baited breath with other people going through the same thing, as this really is such a lonely and brutal process.

Welcome!

Had you posted earlier, we would have advised simply cancelling the original application and requesting a refund as you hadn't attended biometrics.  And starting fresh.

But hopefully has been joined up together in Sheffield and you'll be on your way before you know it. 

Welcome!

Had you posted earlier, we would have advised simply cancelling the original application and requesting a refund as you hadn't attended biometrics.  And starting fresh.

But hopefully has been joined up together in Sheffield and you'll be on your way before you know it. 

Thank you for the welcome KFdancer. 

The contact center told me I wouldn't get a refund because I had missed my appointment and that I would have to re-apply and pay again in full!  It was at that point, in late January, that my shocked reply to their email had them escalate my request for clarification to Sheffield, who then organised to have my passport sent back in order to attend a new biometrics appointment.

It would have been far easier to  start afresh. Grrr.

Thank you for the welcome KFdancer. 

The contact center told me I wouldn't get a refund because I had missed my appointment and that I would have to re-apply and pay again in full!  It was at that point, in late January, that my shocked reply to their email had them escalate my request for clarification to Sheffield, who then organised to have my passport sent back in order to attend a new biometrics appointment.

It would have been far easier to  start afresh. Grrr.

I like to just call them "The Line" cuz we know they are NO "Help Line".  Sorry they gave wrong advice.  You aren't the first.  I found my way to this forum 6 years ago due to them telling me porkies!  Shame it hasn't changed!

Welcome! 

Wow! That's a new one for us. Good for you to find a way to make it work!   
I hope that they make up for lost time with your application!

Hi Larrabee, thank you for the welcome!

I think it may have been a new one for the biometrics center as well. The woman at the center said, after I explained what had happened, "Hmm, this is a little unusual, but all your original appointment paperwork is in order, and you have your passport, so we will just go ahead and process you."

There does seem to be a gap in the system/process when there is literally no way to re-book an appointment once the original appointment date has passed. (At least in this part of the world) I found myself wondering what happens to people who miss their appointments for other reasons - flight delys/cancellations (I had to fly up to my nearest center as there are only 3 in my country); illness etc. I can't possibly be the only person who has missed an appointment. Though perhaps the only one who missed the appointment for the reason I did. 

Welcome!

Had you posted earlier, we would have advised simply cancelling the original application and requesting a refund as you hadn't attended biometrics.  And starting fresh.

But hopefully has been joined up together in Sheffield and you'll be on your way before you know it. 

I was actually going to ask about cancelling the application.  We applied in on June 9th but realized right away that we misunderstood the time frame we would have to submit documentations, so we decided to cancel 2 days later ( June 11th).  We still haven’t received the refund yet and we are hoping to get it shortly.  We are now planning to apply in the beginning of September.

I was actually going to ask about cancelling the application.  We applied in on June 9th but realized right away that we misunderstood the time frame we would have to submit documentations, so we decided to cancel 2 days later ( June 11th).  We still haven’t received the refund yet and we are hoping to get it shortly.  We are now planning to apply in the beginning of September.

It can often take a couple of months to get the refund.  Have you requested the refund?

It can often take a couple of months to get the refund.  Have you requested the refund?

Yes I did using the visa4uk website.  They said it will take 28 working days.  Fingers crossed. 

Yes I did using the visa4uk website.  They said it will take 28 working days.  Fingers crossed. 

Excellent. 

Excellent. 

I am assuming the NHS surcharged will be refunded after that ?

I am assuming the NHS surcharged will be refunded after that ?

That one usually takes up to 90 days.... 

It can often take a couple of months to get the refund.  Have you requested the refund?

My other question is on the website there is no button to cancel the application.  There was just a refund request button then I had to write down why I am requesting a refund.  I am assuming, that after I’ve done that it automatically cancels the application?  It’s 2 days after submitting it and before our biometrics appointment.

Also, since I’ve cancelled this application, we would be visiting my husband as a tourist in the next week.  I’ve gone to the UK more than 20 times.  I will be going with our daughter.  Do you all think it will be a problem ? We are only staying for 9 days, and it’s only so she could see her dad before school starts.  I do have a job and home here, and can prove I am coming back home if questioned.   Even my daughter is registered to come back to school a week after we come back. 

My other question is on the website there is no button to cancel the application.  There was just a refund request button then I had to write down why I am requesting a refund.  I am assuming, that after I’ve done that it automatically cancels the application?  It’s 2 days after submitting it and before our biometrics appointment.

Also, since I’ve cancelled this application, we would be visiting my husband as a tourist in the next week.  I’ve gone to the UK more than 20 times.  I will be going with our daughter.  Do you all think it will be a problem ? We are only staying for 9 days, and it’s only so she could see her dad before school starts.  I do have a job and home here, and can prove I am coming back home if questioned.   Even my daughter is registered to come back to school a week after we come back. 

You shouldn't have any problems.  Wise to carry proof of a job/home to return to and a bank statement showing plenty of funds.  But you may not even be asked for it. 

You shouldn't have any problems.  Wise to carry proof of a job/home to return to and a bank statement showing plenty of funds.  But you may not even be asked for it. 

Thank you

We just recieved the decision made email!! I thought my nerves would have calmed down when we recieved it but it has just skyrocketed! Now I understand what everyone else means by saying this part is actually worse!

Biometric Appointment: 26th April
Application received by Sheffield: 30th April
Decision made email: 16th July

I work that out to be 56 working days..., I don't know if this is a good thing or bad thing but I'm a bag of nerves right now!