Non-priority Spousal Visa Timeline

My UK student visa was issued before my requested travel date, and it was valid for about a month. I just didn't know if the window was different for settlement. My requested date for this one is long passed (hope sprung eternal). We'll see what happens I guess!

It's now the same for all visas valid longer than 6 months.

- Visas valid 6 months or less are issued as a visa sticker valid for the full length of the visa (i.e. visitor visas, fiance visas), so you can enter the UK at any time in those 6 months.

- Visas valid for more than 6 months (i.e. spousal visas, Tier 2 visas, Tier 4 visas valid more than 6 months) are issued in 2 parts:
1) a visa sticker (vignette) in your passport valid for 30 days, for one entry into the UK
2) a plastic BRP ID card valid for the full length of the visa, which you pick up from a designated UK Post Office within 10 days of arriving in the UK


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My UK student visa was issued before my requested travel date, and it was valid for about a month. I just didn't know if the window was different for settlement. My requested date for this one is long passed (hope sprung eternal). We'll see what happens I guess!

Solaire has described the situation for a spouse visa but I think you applied for a fiancee visa didn't you?
Fiance visas are valid for 6 months. You have that length of time to enter the UK, marry and apply for FLR(M).

Solaire has described the situation for a spouse visa but I think you applied for a fiancee visa didn't you?
Fiance visas are valid for 6 months. You have that length of time to enter the UK, marry and apply for FLR(M).

I did! Since it's six months, would it be the same as the timeline Ksand described? Or would I not get a BRP until transitioning to FLR(M) ?

Ahhh yeah. I'm already married (legally) to my SO. So my situation is gunna be different to a fiancee visa.

I did! Since it's six months, would it be the same as the timeline Ksand described? Or would I not get a BRP until transitioning to FLR(M) ?

For a fiance visa, it will be the following:

- fiance visa sticker in your passport valid for 6 months
- enter the UK at any time during the 6 months
- get married
- apply for FLR(M) before the 6 months are up
- your FLR(M) will be issued as a BRP, and there will be no new sticker in your passport

I did! Since it's six months, would it be the same as the timeline Ksand described? Or would I not get a BRP until transitioning to FLR(M) ?

It's as ksand described. You will get a sticker in your passport valid for 6 months, this is your fiance visa. You won't get a BRP until after your FLR is granted.

Makes sense. We knew about the 6 month window and needing to apply for FLR, I just wasn't sure what the travel window would be like.

Makes sense. We knew about the 6 month window and needing to apply for FLR, I just wasn't sure what the travel window would be like.

Yeah, for you, there's no 'travel window' as such... the travel window will be based on your own personal circumstances and your timing for the wedding .

Yeah, for you, there's no 'travel window' as such... the travel window will be based on your own personal circumstances and your timing for the wedding .

We cut it close (started planning last fall and then were delayed from applying by some paperwork...after the dates were set)... so travel window will be "as soon as possible." I'm really glad that "let's plan a couple of weddings and also an international move" isn't likely to be a plan of ours again. 

Dude, I completely understand. Mine was stuck in Philadephia for 10 hours, and Louisville KY for six. I could have driven there quicker!

My vignette was dated about two days after it got to me (got in on the 12th, good as of today) so you can start looking up flights! Get everything ready for leaving asap.

My mother-in-law is a flight attendant so luckily my husband can literally get on the next available flight!

My mother-in-law is a flight attendant so luckily my husband can literally get on the next available flight!

OMFG! Lucky!!!! I would love to see my hubby in person in the imminent future.

I had to schedule around my husband's days off (which are ever changing) so there was no chance of him coming over here. 

I'm at day 46 today! getting close to the goal of 53-ish days.  Does anyone know if Sheffield has been asking for additional information for some applications? Since I messed up the bank statements, I'm hoping that they will ask for the correct statements soon.  Im so scared that they will deny me because of this!  Are the chance of them asking for them high?!

I'm at day 46 today! getting close to the goal of 53-ish days.  Does anyone know if Sheffield has been asking for additional information for some applications? Since I messed up the bank statements, I'm hoping that they will ask for the correct statements soon.  Im so scared that they will deny me because of this!  Are the chance of them asking for them high?!

It's impossible to tell for sure but they have been much better at asking for additional information than the used to be so there is a good chance that they will ask if there is something they really need to see.

It also depends on what is wrong with the statements you sent. If you just didn't have them stamped when they should have been, then they may just let that slide but if you have only sent 5 months when 6 were required, then they won't be able to overlook that but will hopefully be in touch with you.

I think I have seen somewhere on here about intercepting packages so you can get them early. How do you go about doing this?

Received my Visa from UPS today!  Now it's a mad dash to wrap up my American life.

Score! ;0)