Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

Fun little story: when I looked in my passport there was the vignette valid from tomorrow until the 5th of October. I freaked out a bit cuz of the date being 05/10/18 and was like “they messed up the date! It’s not valid!” Then realized how stupid I was and was super relieved. Turn to the next page of the passport and see the same exact vignette but with red lines crossed through it. Upon closer inspection they had originally put the visa in there valid from August 4,2018 till September 4,2018 (which is the day I received the visa). Thankfully they realized this mistake before sending it to me!!! I have a valid vignette and a plane ticket home:) so very happy. ❤️

Thank you all for your help during the application process especially to @KFdancer as she is the one who told me about this forum, and was very helpful, and also to larrabee and ksand24 who were particularly helpful. Everyone else was amazing and I can’t wait to meet some of you at the Blizzard Party!!

That's fantastic!  I don't think we have ever seen them correct the date on the vignette like that before sending it. That has saved you a world of pain!

Questions regarding picking up the BRP... does my husband have to go with me to pick it up and what do I need to bring with me besides my passport?


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Questions regarding picking up the BRP... does my husband have to go with me to pick it up and what do I need to bring with me besides my passport?


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He doesn’t have to. You need your passport and the brp letter.

Documents received in UK today.

Passport is in US (Kentucky) with ETA 5 Sep.

When does the BRP get to the designated post office? Could calling the post office be a cunning way to see if it is an approval?

Documents received in UK today.

Passport is in US (Kentucky) with ETA 5 Sep.

When does the BRP get to the designated post office? Could calling the post office be a cunning way to see if it is an approval?

The letter will tell you what date the BRP will be available at the Post Office.  Unfortunately, it will arrive after the visa validity date, so no sneaky way of inquiring I'm afraid.

It used to be that they refunded the IHS fee immediately, so you knew if it was a refusal or approval.  But that lasted about 10 minutes. 

Documents received in UK today.

Passport is in US (Kentucky) with ETA 5 Sep.

When does the BRP get to the designated post office? Could calling the post office be a cunning way to see if it is an approval?

It can depend. Sometimes it’s ready the day your vignette says but it could be later. My vignette was valid a week before my brp was ready. I wouldn’t think the post office would know.

Documents received in UK today.

Passport is in US (Kentucky) with ETA 5 Sep.

When does the BRP get to the designated post office? Could calling the post office be a cunning way to see if it is an approval?

I like the way you're thinking! 

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice. I been browsing through this forum for the past few months and there has been some really helpful advice about this process.

My timeline is as follows:

Online application submitted: 9 July 2018
Priority Settlement
Biometrics done: 13 July 2018
Application submitted: 16 July 2018
Received at Sheffield: 18 July 2018
Email being prepared for ECO: 18 July 2018
Email requesting additional documents: 20 August 2018 - bank statements, we had used payslips and letters of employment as evidence for meeting financial requirement
Additional documents sent: 22 August 2018
Request for escalation: 27 August
Email from Sheffield: 31 August 2018 “A decision was made on 24 August 2018. You will be contacted shortly about regarding return of documents.”

Waiting for my document to come back since. No further updates since 31 August!

If a decision was made on 24 August, what is causing the delay for me to receive my documents? Could it be that it is in the process of physically attaching the visa to my passport? Or is this a reason for worry for e.g.  delay for writing a letter to justify refusal?

 Any thoughts 

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice. I been browsing through this forum for the past few months and there has been some really helpful advice about this process.

My timeline is as follows:

Online application submitted: 9 July 2018
Priority Settlement
Biometrics done: 13 July 2018
Application submitted: 16 July 2018
Received at Sheffield: 18 July 2018
Email being prepared for ECO: 18 July 2018
Email requesting additional documents: 20 August 2018 - bank statements, we had used payslips and letters of employment as evidence for meeting financial requirement
Additional documents sent: 22 August 2018
Request for escalation: 27 August
Email from Sheffield: 31 August 2018 “A decision was made on 24 August 2018. You will be contacted shortly about regarding return of documents.”

Waiting for my document to come back since. No further updates since 31 August!

If a decision was made on 24 August, what is causing the delay for me to receive my documents? Could it be that it is in the process of physically attaching the visa to my passport? Or is this a reason for worry for e.g.  delay for writing a letter to justify refusal?

 Any thoughts 

Unfortunately the people who told you a decision had been made, don't actually have access to your application.  They are a third party provider who "escalates" applications (which means nothing).  It's possible your application has been approved (as they would have just been waiting for the additional documentation).  It's also possible that a decision has not yet been made.  Unfortunately, you can't trust anything the third party tells you.

Yes, we know it's a horrible process.  The fact that they charge people for misinformation is incredibly unethical.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice. I been browsing through this forum for the past few months and there has been some really helpful advice about this process.

My timeline is as follows:

Online application submitted: 9 July 2018
Priority Settlement
Biometrics done: 13 July 2018
Application submitted: 16 July 2018
Received at Sheffield: 18 July 2018
Email being prepared for ECO: 18 July 2018
Email requesting additional documents: 20 August 2018 - bank statements, we had used payslips and letters of employment as evidence for meeting financial requirement
Additional documents sent: 22 August 2018
Request for escalation: 27 August
Email from Sheffield: 31 August 2018 “A decision was made on 24 August 2018. You will be contacted shortly about regarding return of documents.”

Waiting for my document to come back since. No further updates since 31 August!

If a decision was made on 24 August, what is causing the delay for me to receive my documents? Could it be that it is in the process of physically attaching the visa to my passport? Or is this a reason for worry for e.g.  delay for writing a letter to justify refusal?

 Any thoughts 

DO be encouraged that they asked for the missing documents instead of simply refusing the application.  You caught a lucky break!    They haven't been great about asking for missing information lately. 

Thanks for your quick reply KFdancer 

Alright! Looks like I dodged a bullet then.

I thought the official payslips and letter of employment stating our income would've been sufficient as evidence of meeting the financial requirement. I must have misread the information on family visas on GOV.UK website. But either way, I'm thankful they asked for the bank statements rather than making a decision right away - definitely encouraging 

The email stating that a decision was made on my case was actually sent from the same email address from Sheffield that confirmed the receipt of my application and that it is being prepared for consideration by an ECO. Therefore I assumed it was accurate but couldn't explain this delay in receiving my documents.

Some of you on this forum are experts in this area and have been here much longer. Do you know if any one encountered a similar issue in the past?

UPS delivered at 11:30am PST 

It's a YES!!

Country: USA (Washington)
Visa: Settlement - Spouse
Priority: Yes
Visa office: Sheffield, UK

Biometrics (USCIS Portland): 26th July 18
Email "prepared for consideration by ECO": 31st July 2018
Email "did not include pre-paid envelope": 31st July 2018
Email "ECO assigned":  Never received

Email "decision made": 3rd September 2018
Passport received (UPS): 5th September 2018
Decision: Approved!

26 BD from biometrics
24 BD from preparing for consideration email

It's a YES!!

Congratulations! 

It's a YES!!

Yay! Many congrats! 

It's another flurry!!!!


Just wanted to update everyone: I landed safely in Manchester at 9:30am local time and got to run into the arms of the love of my life!! <3

We took the journey to Swindon and I was (miserable) car sick and tired, but once I got home and saw our flat and showered I was ecstatic! We walked to the post office and got the BRP I AM OFFICIAL!!!!

Next, NI#. Driving out tomorrow and taking a ferry to France for a mini-moon, then it's on to wedding appointments (We got married in June, but the big wedding is 13 October)

You guys I am over the moon!!