Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

Hello everyone!

I am one of the 'guinea pigs' for the new processing system as well. My documents arrived in NY on the 25 Oct. and I have yet to receive any word of progress. I've been checking this feed regularly for everyone else's progress in hopes that mine will soon follow. Trying not to stress and hoping for the best! Good luck to everyone!


Priority Settlement Spousal Visa
-------
Online app submitted: 20 Oct 2018
Biometrics & docs sent: 24 Oct 2018
Application delivered in NY: 25 Oct 2018
Application received email: not received
Decision made email: TBD
Passport received: TBD

Hello everyone!

I am one of the 'guinea pigs' for the new processing system as well. My documents arrived in NY on the 25 Oct. and I have yet to receive any word of progress. I've been checking this feed regularly for everyone else's progress in hopes that mine will soon follow. Trying not to stress and hoping for the best! Good luck to everyone!


Priority Settlement Spousal Visa
-------
Online app submitted: 20 Oct 2018
Biometrics & docs sent: 24 Oct 2018
Application delivered in NY: 25 Oct 2018
Application received email: not received
Decision made email: TBD
Passport received: TBD

Welcome to the forum! Yes, I'm super curious about this whole NY system. I'm not sure why it was put in place - maybe a way to expedite the process? Unsure. I'm sort of on the same timeline as you - about 14 days earlier though (biometrics and docs deliver oct 10)...and still waiting for decision.

I'll keep everyone informed as I believe I'm the first of this incoming batch to submit docs.

Yes, I'm super curious about this whole NY system. I'm not sure why it was put in place - maybe a way to expedite the process?

More than likely it was to bring the process closer to being in line with the rest of the world.

Keep your spirits up, you brave pioneers! 

Howdy, folks!

Just inputting our journey here to in the new New York system/interm before they move everything seemingly to digital processing.:

So yesterday my spouse sent everything off! Heres a short re-cap:

1. Biometrics, was very short and sweet. So those who have that ahead, its a 10 minute appointment.
2. The confirmation sheet she got back, interestingly stated that she "should send copies". Again, notice the should and this section was bolded on the page. We obviously planned for originals to be sent, which we did anyway. Not taking the risk.
3. The VFS service address was for New York and had the correct address. I know someone on here noticed, they shipped it to the wrong Suite number. That may have been a user error, but it was all good
4. The effective notice at the bottom was marked as: 10 September 2018. This was the last update and as of that date, you should follow its recommended procedure.
5. The link on the form telling her how to ship the documents was this one: https://mycart.vfsglobal.co.uk/usashoppingcart/pages/authorization.aspx
6. We did go with this instead of the new 'register'/login' on VFS, because it felt safer and quicker to get the priority receipt and return courier, rather than uploading a bunch of 'Mailed in documents' or to be extra safe, actually uploading all those documents.


So it is currently shipped and actually out for delivery! I/we will still be active as we can and I am sure we appreciate having communication with people in the same timeline and headaches

Question - has anyone on here submit their documents through VFS? or did you all purchase the priority package and shipped it yourself? I didn't go through the NY thing - or unsure, because VFS scanned and sent the documents on my behalf. Wondering how this effects the processing time

Question - has anyone on here submit their documents through VFS? or did you all purchase the priority package and shipped it yourself? I didn't go through the NY thing - or unsure, because VFS scanned and sent the documents on my behalf. Wondering how this effects the processing time

I purchased priority processing and shipped everything myself using the UPS label from VFS.

Question - has anyone on here submit their documents through VFS? or did you all purchase the priority package and shipped it yourself? I didn't go through the NY thing - or unsure, because VFS scanned and sent the documents on my behalf. Wondering how this effects the processing time

As far as I know, using the Premium Service for $1900 doesn't really affect the processing time much at all... in fact, when it was first introduced last year, it was taking even longer than the regular priority service. In the summer, though, we had a couple of people get theirs in 20-25 working days, whereas priority was 25-35 working days, but they've just overhauled the system, so we don't really know how long the processing times are now.

If you had gone through New York, which is the normal way to apply (probably 99% of people do it this way), they now scan the documents and transmit them to Sheffield electronically, so to be honest, all you are really getting for the extra money is the opportunity to keep hold of your passport while the visa is processing.

As far as I know, using the Premium Service for $1900 doesn't really affect the processing time much at all... in fact, when it was first introduced last year, it was taking even longer than the regular priority service. In the summer, though, we had a couple of people get theirs in 20-25 working days, whereas priority was 25-35 working days, but they've just overhauled the system, so we don't really know how long the processing times are now.

If you had gone through New York, which is the normal way to apply (probably 99% of people do it this way), they now scan the documents and transmit them to Sheffield electronically, so to be honest, all you are really getting for the extra money is the opportunity to keep hold of your passport while the visa is processing.

Interesting - Thanks for answering. Only time will tell I guess

Just putting my info in here as well because I know how obsessed I've been with everybody's timelines! Still waiting on...everything. 

Visa Type: Spouse Visa
Priority Service: Yes (not through VFS)
Online app submitted: 9/25/18
Biometrics & docs sent: 9/26/18
Application delivered in NY: 9/27/18
Application received email: Never received email. Wrote to them 11/7/18 and they wrote me back 11/8/18 with the standard "I can confirm that your application is being considered and is currently awaiting a decision." Cost me $7 for that email but gave me a tiny, tiny, tiny peace of mind for a day.
Decision made email: TBA
Passport received: TBA

Just putting my info in here as well because I know how obsessed I've been with everybody's timelines! Still waiting on...everything. 

Visa Type: Spouse Visa
Priority Service: Yes (not through VFS)
Online app submitted: 9/25/18
Biometrics & docs sent: 9/26/18
Application delivered in NY: 9/27/18
Application received email: Never received email. Wrote to them 11/7/18 and they wrote me back 11/8/18 with the standard "I can confirm that your application is being considered and is currently awaiting a decision." Cost me $7 for that email but gave me a tiny, tiny, tiny peace of mind for a day.
Decision made email: TBA
Passport received: TBA

So this estimate of 30 business days, do you think it's from the time it arrives in NYC or the time it arrives in Sheffield after being scanned? Sounds like you're about 35 business days out?

I would imagine it's from the time the scanned documents arrive in Sheffield and I have no idea how much time that takes. I'm sure it depends on how many applications they have received. But honestly, I doubt mine was scanned and sent quickly. The optimistic answer is it probably took them a week to get it done but I have zero proof of that.

It looks like the new system is a hindrance.

I would imagine it's from the time the scanned documents arrive in Sheffield and I have no idea how much time that takes. I'm sure it depends on how many applications they have received. But honestly, I doubt mine was scanned and sent quickly. The optimistic answer is it probably took them a week to get it done but I have zero proof of that.

It looks like the new system is a hindrance.

Before the new system, when you sent the documents directly to Sheffield, it generally took:
- 1-3 days for Sheffield to confirm receipt of documents for priority applications
- about 1 week  for Sheffield to confirm receipt of documents for non-priority applications

With the new system, it seems those times are more like:
- 2-3 weeks for priority
- about 4 weeks for non-priority

What we don't know is how long it is now taking from when Sheffield receive them and send the email out.

Just putting my info in here as well because I know how obsessed I've been with everybody's timelines! Still waiting on...everything. 

Visa Type: Spouse Visa
Priority Service: Yes (not through VFS)
Online app submitted: 9/25/18
Biometrics & docs sent: 9/26/18
Application delivered in NY: 9/27/18
Application received email: Never received email. Wrote to them 11/7/18 and they wrote me back 11/8/18 with the standard "I can confirm that your application is being considered and is currently awaiting a decision." Cost me $7 for that email but gave me a tiny, tiny, tiny peace of mind for a day.
Decision made email: TBA
Passport received: TBA

Yes that's good to hear. I've written to them too and have received that same email. Wonder what's going on - wish we had more visibility or at least an online tracking system.

Yes that's good to hear. I've written to them too and have received that same email. Wonder what's going on - wish we had more visibility or at least an online tracking system.

For the record, writing to them is a waste of time and money. They are just a random call centre nowhere near Sheffield, and they have no access to your application at all.

All they can do is look up your details and read off what it says on their screen... and that sometimes isn't even correct. They are also notorious for giving incorrect information and bad advice (like advising people to apply for visas they don't qualify for, or telling people a decision has been made on their visa, when in actuality, no one has even looked at their application yet, and it's still sitting in line).

As long as you know your documents made it to New York, your visa will be processed.

I admittedly felt stupid emailing them but you know how it is when you start to get really nervous. But this is good information for other people to have in the future!