Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

Thank you Larrabee, I certainly will!

I am a newbie here but wanted to share my timeline.

Applied from: Atlanta USA- Standard Spouse (husband is a Brit)
Online Application:  February 13, 2018
Biometrics: February 16, 2018
Documents received in Sheffield: February 26
Email Confirmation of application received: February 28
Non-Straightforward: None

I called a spoke with UKVI since it has been over 30 BD, after making me feel totally ridiculous for calling this soon, I was told that my application had been reviewed by the ECO and that it was pending decision since March 19.  That of course sounded great to me but she informed me that means little and it could take many more weeks or months for a decision to be made.  She also informed me that applications are being delayed right now and many are taking greater than 12 weeks.     Feeling totally frustrated and wishing I had applied expedited in hindsight....  Best of luck to all of you. This is brutal!

Welcome!

Who you spoke to was a third party who does NOT have access to UKVI's system.  All they can do is type the reference number into a screen and see what stage it is at.

Your application is in the "waiting in the queue for someone to pick it up stage".  As soon as it reaches the front of the line, it'll take 1-2 hours to process and then you will receive the "decision made" email.

While it feels like you are doing something by calling or emailing, all it is doing is flushing good money down the toilet.  Try to resist!   

Wow... now I've got my calendar out looking at when BD 16-19 will be!

Welcome!

Who you spoke to was a third party who does NOT have access to UKVI's system.  All they can do is type the reference number into a screen and see what stage it is at.

Your application is in the "waiting in the queue for someone to pick it up stage".  As soon as it reaches the front of the line, it'll take 1-2 hours to process and then you will receive the "decision made" email.

While it feels like you are doing something by calling or emailing, all it is doing is flushing good money down the toilet.  Try to resist!   

Thank you for the insight.  The process feels so shrouded in mystery!  I know calling doesn't help.  I just feel in the dark and was hoping they could shed some light.  In the end, it only makes me more anxious!

Thank you for the insight.  The process feels so shrouded in mystery!  I know calling doesn't help.  I just feel in the dark and was hoping they could shed some light.  In the end, it only makes me more anxious!

Don't worry. When I was going through the process for my husband to Immigrate to the US, I think I called every day for 11 months. Seriously. I got know the names of the different operators...

Thank you for the insight.  The process feels so shrouded in mystery!  I know calling doesn't help.  I just feel in the dark and was hoping they could shed some light.  In the end, it only makes me more anxious!

Unfortunately, for non-priority applications, it's been taking about 3 months for a decision lately... and since the service standards time is 60 working days (3 months), there's nothing you can do until those 3 months have passed, because until then, they're still within their normal processing times.

Unfortunately, for non-priority applications, it's been taking about 3 months for a decision lately... and since the service standards time is 60 working days (3 months), there's nothing you can do until those 3 months have passed, because until then, they're still within their normal processing times.

Yes that is what they stated to me as well.  I'm confused by the numbers that the Home Office produces on wait times.  It doesn't at all marry what you just stated (and UKVI reiterated).  There can't only be 5% of people applying standard.  We based our decision to not do expedited based on their figures.  Do you think it helps that I have been 'pending decision' since March 19th? 

Wow... now I've got my calendar out looking at when BD 16-19 will be!

Same here 

Yes that is what they stated to me as well.  I'm confused by the numbers that the Home Office produces on wait times.  It doesn't at all marry what you just stated (and UKVI reiterated).  There can't only be 5% of people applying standard.  We based our decision to not do expedited based on their figures.  Do you think it helps that I have been 'pending decision' since March 19th?

How do the figures not marry up?

In February 2017, 52% of applications were processed in 30 working days, and by 60 working days, another 43% of applications had been processed (making 95% in total).

They don't differentiate between priority and non-priority applications on the site, so based on the processing times people have posted here on the forum, we can assume that most of those 52% were priority applications and the other 43% were non-priority applications.

Therefore, the average processing time for a non-priority application is 60 working days.

However, 2% of applications took 120 working days, and 3% had still not been processed after 120 working days. These are likely outliers, with those applications having complicated circumstances.

The service standards time is to process 95% of ALL applications (priority and non-priority) within 12 weeks (60 working days), and 100% within 24 weeks (120 working days). See: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about-our-services#service-standards

So as per the published processing times, in February they met the 95% service standard, but they didn't manage to meet the 100% service standard:
https://visa-processingtimes.homeoffice.gov.uk/y/united-states/settlement-visas/settlement

How do the figures not marry up?

In February 2017, 52% of applications were processed in 30 working days, and by 60 working days, another 43% of applications had been processed (making 95% in total).

They don't differentiate between priority and non-priority applications on the site, so based on the processing times people have posted here on the forum, we can assume that most of those 52% were priority applications and the other 43% were non-priority applications.

Therefore, the average processing time for a non-priority application is 60 working days.

The service standards time is to process 95% of ALL applications (priority and non-priority) within 12 weeks (60 working days), and 100% within 24 weeks (120 working days). See: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about-our-services#service-standards

So as per the published processing times, in February they met the 95% service standard, but they didn't manage to meet the 100% service standard:
https://visa-processingtimes.homeoffice.gov.uk/y/united-states/settlement-visas/settlement

My question was based on the fact that UKVI said this morning on the phone that it was taking longer than 12 weeks.  I was just confused by that.  Perhaps she was just being ultra cautious about processing times with me.  You are right that most are completed within 60 days and that is a huge relief!

My question was based on the fact that UKVI said this morning on the phone that it was taking longer than 12 weeks.

Well, some applications are taking longer than 12 weeks. We recently had two priority applications not get approvals until after 60 working days and more than 80 working days... but the majority are processed within 60 working days.

Having said that though, the enquiry line don't usually know what they're talking about and they are known for giving bad advice and incorrect information... including telling people a decision has been made on their application, when it turns out their application hasn't even been picked up yet!

Yep- that was definitely my impression today! It will happen when it happens but that doesn't make the waiting any easier. 

Lol I am getting anxious for a decision email but hopefully not long now

Congrats to everyone on decision emails and approved visas


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Same here 

We're on the same dates! It will be interesting to see if we get the emails at the same time!

We're on the same dates! It will be interesting to see if we get the emails at the same time!

I hope so and I hope all of us get them soon