Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

Woke up to my application received email today!

@aliceinchains3 have you got yours yet?

I did! Sorry, I'm visiting friends on the west coast so I woke up to it too. Finally! It's already day 11, so hopefully they'll make good on their quick "15 day" promise!

I did! Sorry, I'm visiting friends on the west coast so I woke up to it too. Finally! It's already day 11, so hopefully they'll make good on their quick "15 day" promise!

Please keep us all posted when you get the approval!

Please keep us all posted when you get the approval!

I like your optimism!

Woke up to my application received email today!

@aliceinchains3 have you got yours yet?

I did! Sorry, I'm visiting friends on the west coast so I woke up to it too. Finally! It's already day 11, so hopefully they'll make good on their quick "15 day" promise!

@elee27 and @aliceinchains3, which email did you get?

Was it the confirmation that Sheffield has your documents and will start processing your visa, or was it the 'decision made' email saying your visa has been processed?

@elee27 and @aliceinchains3, which email did you get?

Was it the confirmation that Sheffield has your documents and will start processing your visa, or was it the 'decision made' email saying your visa has been processed?

Just that it has been “received at the UK Decision Making Centre” — not sure if it used to specify Sheffield or not. So it has not been processed. Yet!

Just that it has been “received at the UK Decision Making Centre” — not sure if it used to specify Sheffield or not. So it has not been processed. Yet!

Great, thanks .

Just wanted to make sure because we don't really know how the new New York to Sheffield system is working, or how long applications are taking, and I think some of us thought you meant your visa had already been processed (which would have been extremely fast).

@aliceinchains3 - you mentioned a '15 days promise'? Where was that from? I ask because the priority service is supposed to be a 30-working day service, and average processing times before the move to New York were about 20-30 working days from the date you got the 'application received' email.

So, for anyone else who has recently applied, it looks like it's taking about 2 weeks or so from submitting your documents to New York and Sheffield acknowledging the application.

I just reread the email and it looks like they mean15 days for visit visas sorry. This is really stressful because my FIL is terminally ill and I’m very scared something is going to happen whilst I’m waiting for my decision...

This is the email verbatim:

Dear  aliceinchains3,

Your online application has been received at the UK Decision Making Centre.  Your application is currently being prepared for consideration by an Entry Clearance Officer.

If you have made a Settlement application (except for applications lodged in USA and Canada): you must ensure that your UK sponsor has sent all relevant supporting documentation to the UK Decision Making Centre in Sheffield.  The documents should be arranged in this order: application form and relevant Appendix* (See below); English language evidence; relationship documents; maintenance documents; accommodation documents.   If documents are not received a decision will be taken on the basis on the information that has been provided.

If you have already had your supporting documents scanned in at the Visa Application Centre, or if you have already sent them in to us, please ignore the request for documents.

Please note that UKVI aims to complete all Visit Visa applications within 15 working days and all Settlement Visa applications within 12 weeks of the application date. If it is not possible to complete your application within this timeframe a member of our team will contact you to explain why.

If you have paid for Priority Service, your application will be placed in front of the queue and assessed ahead of other non-priority visa applications others but may still take 12 weeks to conclude if we require further time to consider the application. As indicated in the terms of service, the amount paid for the priority service, as well as the visa fees, is not refundable if the visa application is refused or if the decision is delayed.

We regret that we are unable to respond to enquiries asking about the status of any application.  Any status enquiry should be made to the international enquiry service, details of which are on the GOV.UK website.  Staff at Embassies, visa processing centres and visa application centres cannot assist with visa enquiries.  You may also wish to view the current processing times for applications made in your country.

A further email will be sent to you to confirm when your application has been assessed and dispatched.  If your application was made in a Visa Application Centre, the staff there will contact you when your documents are ready – please do not attend the Centre until you are requested to do so.

Please note that you are advised not to purchase flight tickets until you have secured a visa for travel to the UK.

*List of Appendices:
Appendix 1 - Children / Other Dependants
Appendix 2 - Spouse / Partner
Appendix 4 - Pre-flight family members of Refugees
Appendix 5 - Access Rights to Child

Further information is also available on the UK visas and immigration website.

Kind regards,

UK Decision Making Centre


This is an automated message - please do not respond to this email address as incoming mail is not answered. UKVI contact details can be found at www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-outside-uk

This email is intended for the addressee(s) only.  All messages sent and received by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office may be monitored in line with relevant UK legislation
available at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office/about/personal-information-charter

Great, thanks .

Just wanted to make sure because we don't really know how the new New York to Sheffield system is working, or how long applications are taking, and I think some of us thought you meant your visa had already been processed (which would have been extremely fast).

@aliceinchains3 - you mentioned a '15 days promise'? Where was that from? I ask because the priority service is supposed to be a 30-working day service, and average processing times before the move to New York were about 20-30 working days from the date you got the 'application received' email.

So, for anyone else who has recently applied, it looks like it's taking about 2 weeks or so from submitting your documents to New York and Sheffield acknowledging the application.

I just reread the email and it looks like they mean15 days for visit visas sorry. This is really stressful because my FIL is terminally ill and I’m very scared something is going to happen whilst I’m waiting for my decision...

Sorry to hear that .

Just wanted to check that this wasn’t something new, because settlement visa applications haven’t taken as little as 15 days for about 2 years now, and they now say priority will take about 30 working days (was originally 15, then they stopped guaranteeing a timeframe and now VFS have put 30 working days on their site).

Before they changed things to New York, it was only taking 1-2 days from documents arriving to receive the confirmation email from Sheffield, but now, from what you and elee27 have said, it seems to be taking 2-3 weeks.



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Sorry to hear that .

Just wanted to check that this wasn’t something new, because settlement visa applications haven’t taken as little as 15 days for about 2 years now, and they now say priority will take about 30 working days (was originally 15, then they stopped guaranteeing a timeframe and now VFS have put 30 working days on their site).

Before they changed things to New York, it was only taking 1-2 days from documents arriving to receive the confirmation email from Sheffield, but now, from what you and elee27 have said, it seems to be taking 2-3 weeks.



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Thanks. It's certainly stressful. I'd discussed this with you before, but of course, my major concern was the worst happening while I'm stuck in visa limbo.

On a lighter note, who all did the dividers? I didn't because I went to print them out and it seemed like they  were only for people who were doing the in person appointments, but of course, now I'm worrying because I'm seeing some people did print them out. It seems like everything keeps changing so fast! Hopefully they make allowances for  us guinea pigs.

Thanks. It's certainly stressful. I'd discussed this with you before, but of course, my major concern was the worst happening while I'm stuck in visa limbo.

On a lighter note, who all did the dividers? I didn't because I went to print them out and it seemed like they  were only for people who were doing the in person appointments, but of course, now I'm worrying because I'm seeing some people did print them out. It seems like everything keeps changing so fast! Hopefully they make allowances for  us guinea pigs.

I asked about the dividers as well and the consensus was they were for people using the premium service or countries other than the USA that require them. I'm sending my application off in two weeks and still debating on whether to include them. Hopefully you'll get your approval by then so then I'll know for sure that they're not needed! Sending good vibes your way 

I asked about the dividers as well and the consensus was they were for people using the premium service or countries other than the USA that require them. I'm sending my application off in two weeks and still debating on whether to include them. Hopefully you'll get your approval by then so then I'll know for sure that they're not needed! Sending good vibes your way 

Im sending away for my app in hopefully 2 to 3 weeks too... Best wishes  I was wondering too about dividers or papercliping  things together . but I got to thinking if they scan things from New York, it will end up in a big ole pile anyway 

Im sending away for my app in hopefully 2 to 3 weeks too... Best wishes  I was wondering too about dividers or papercliping  things together . but I got to thinking if they scan things from New York, it will end up in a big ole pile anyway 

I know they're saying just copies are okay now, but I'm not convinced cause the VFS website still hasn't been updated to match the UK.gov site. I am planning to send one stack of all copies on US paper and one stack of originals on A4 paper. I'll probably end up including the dividers just to keep things sorted for myself. It is helpful to section all the papers off, in my opinion. Unless anyone gets their's back prior to me submitting mine and I hear that someone has actually been processed w/copies only and without dividers in which case I'll just do that.

I know they're saying just copies are okay now, but I'm not convinced cause the VFS website still hasn't been updated to match the UK.gov site. I am planning to send one stack of all copies on US paper and one stack of originals on A4 paper. I'll probably end up including the dividers just to keep things sorted for myself. It is helpful to section all the papers off, in my opinion. Unless anyone gets their's back prior to me submitting mine and I hear that someone has actually been processed w/copies only and without dividers in which case I'll just do that.

I sent mine in with copies only and with no dividers so hopefully I will be a successful guinea pig for the changes! Will post here as soon as I get my decision. 

I sent mine in with copies only and with no dividers so hopefully I will be a successful guinea pig for the changes! Will post here as soon as I get my decision. 

Yes, please do! Chomping at the bit to see how long it takes someone to get approved since they moved everything to NYC. My application isn't even in yet and I still feel stressed for everyone that's currently waiting!!!

I sent mine in with copies only and with no dividers so hopefully I will be a successful guinea pig for the changes! Will post here as soon as I get my decision. 

Also, for the Appendix 2 did you send in every page of the document or just the pages you filled out? Seems unnecessary to send the three extra pages at the end that just explain how to fill out the form.