Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

I take advise from people in this group. You can hit submit and still have a job letter/bank dated the same day you hit submit.

For example in my case: my sons father wrote a letter and it's the same day as the day I applied.


You just cant have anything dated after you hit submit, hence why the recommendation is to gather all the documents and then apply but you can do it all on the same day.

Hope that makes sense.

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That's kind of our thoughts. We are going to apply the same day we get the Feb statements printed out. So none of it will be dated after the date of application.

I think that we are in the same group.

We were only able to print and have our bank statements stamped on the 30th November, 2 days after our application was sent. We had everything ready on the 28th but realised that my name change was not on the bank statement. After many back and forths and juggling with work, the earliest I could get it rectified was the 30th.

Literally in tears now. I cannot believe that it’s possible that everything could be refused because of bank statements that hold all the information required is dated 2 days after our application date. After everything.

Has anybody ever seen a refusal for my situation stated above?

Yes we are, Caroline is a know it all who sometimes doesnt know anything. . She made me freak out too about my sons paperwork.

Dont cry, I know this is a very stressful process. As someone said they were approved. Take couple deep breaths.

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Thank you for the kind words x

What are the other nationalities?  Any chance they are commonwealth countries and you would have the option of ancestry visas?  Though, I’m probably asking this too late. 

Sorry for the confusion, I didn’t realise that you knew the email meant the application was received.  I thought you read it as “actively being processed”. 

I’m sure you won’t have much longer to wait.  They’ve been nailing the six week target for priority since the switch. 

Yes I'm from the commonwealth but I dont think I would qualify for ancestry Visa as we are now independent. Originally from Jamaica.



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Has anybody ever seen a refusal for my situation stated above?

No, they won't refuse for that. It's not a problem at all if any of the documents are dated AFTER the online application is submitted. They can be dated any time from 28 days before the online application is submitted right up to the date you mail the documents.

In fact, some people have been known to submit their online application before they've actually gathered the documents... though, of course, we don't recommend doing it that way, just in case you can't get the documents together in time, or they don't quite meet the requirements.

For those who paid for priority processing back in October and are still waiting to hear anything, I FINALLY got my answer 60 business days later (it’s a yes so yay!). My process is below.

I don’t suppose anybody has ever succeeded in getting their priority fee refunded? I’d sure love to try but hold out no hope. I will definitely complain...

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: 12/7/18 (This was about two weeks after our MP contacted them and discovered they had never received any of our materials.)
Additional materials were requested on 12/11/18 and sent same day.
Decision made email: 12/13/18
Passport received: 12/17/18 - visa approved!! Whew!

For those who paid for priority processing back in October and are still waiting to hear anything, I FINALLY got my answer 60 business days later (it’s a yes so yay!). My process is below.

I don’t suppose anybody has ever succeeded in getting their priority fee refunded? I’d sure love to try but hold out no hope. I will definitely complain...

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: 12/7/18 (This was about two weeks after our MP contacted them and discovered they had never received any of our materials.)
Additional materials were requested on 12/11/18 and sent same day.
Decision made email: 12/13/18
Passport received: 12/17/18 - visa approved!! Whew!

It's unlikely to be successful but you never know.. it certainly doesn't hurt to try. And at least you'll get it off your chest by complaining.

No, they won't refuse for that. It's not a problem at all if any of the documents are dated AFTER the online application is submitted. They can be dated any time from 28 days before the online application is submitted right up to the date you mail the documents.

In fact, some people have been known to submit their online application before they've actually gathered the documents... though, of course, we don't recommend doing it that way, just in case you can't get the documents together in time, or they don't quite meet the requirements.

You are truly a godsend. I thought this myself but the information in the FB I’m also in said otherwise. She was very adamant about it too. Thank you for this, it’s helped settle my anxiety for sure.

❤️

You are truly a godsend. I thought this myself but the information in the FB I’m also in said otherwise. She was very adamant about it too. Thank you for this, it’s helped settle my anxiety for sure.

❤️

Yeah, be careful with the groups on FB... they like to think they're right, but from what I've heard from others on the forum, a lot of the information and advice they post is incorrect.

For those who paid for priority processing back in October and are still waiting to hear anything, I FINALLY got my answer 60 business days later (it’s a yes so yay!). My process is below.

I don’t suppose anybody has ever succeeded in getting their priority fee refunded? I’d sure love to try but hold out no hope. I will definitely complain...

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: 12/7/18 (This was about two weeks after our MP contacted them and discovered they had never received any of our materials.)
Additional materials were requested on 12/11/18 and sent same day.
Decision made email: 12/13/18
Passport received: 12/17/18 - visa approved!! Whew!

Congrats on your approval - sorry it was such a palaver but at least it was a “yes”


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Online App Submitted: Oct 22nd
Biometrics: Oct 25th
Document received in NY: Oct 26th
Documents received by Sheffield email: Nov 27th
Escalated: Dec 7th
Decision Made Email: Dec 17th
Documents Received: Dec 18th
We got APPROVED!

It took 37 working days for a decision.
I sent originals only, since I didn’t need any of the documents back.
I did notice they made a copy of all the documents I sent, and then returned both the copies and originals back to me.

We got APPROVED!

Congratulations! 

For those who paid for priority processing back in October and are still waiting to hear anything, I FINALLY got my answer 60 business days later (it’s a yes so yay!). My process is below.

I don’t suppose anybody has ever succeeded in getting their priority fee refunded? I’d sure love to try but hold out no hope. I will definitely complain...

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: 12/7/18 (This was about two weeks after our MP contacted them and discovered they had never received any of our materials.)
Additional materials were requested on 12/11/18 and sent same day.
Decision made email: 12/13/18
Passport received: 12/17/18 - visa approved!! Whew!

Well, we paid for priority processing on 9/1, they have had the documents for 64 business days, and we are still waiting! Desperate for help/advice!!

This should have been a very easy decision. American spouse, married and living together 17 years (we are both currently in the USA). Financial requirement easily met. Housing requirement met. Language requirement met. No criminal issues etc. Previous visa with subsequent ILR issued in 2001 (can't be used as we have been out of the UK for over 2 years).

Visa Type: Spouse Visa
Online app submitted: 9/1/18
Priority Service: Yes (through VFS, 9/1/18)
UPS document return (via UPS) - documents have not been sent
NHS payment made: 9/1/18 (money not refunded, so no negative decision yet)
Biometrics sent: 9/4/18
Application delivered in Sheffield (from Immigration lawyer in UK): 9/18/18 (Royal Mail Recorded Delivery, signed for)
Application received email: 9/21/18 (so we know that they have had everything since 9/21)
..... waiting ....
Enquiry service (email): 12/4/18 decision has been made, we will contact you regarding document return
Enquiry service (voice): 12/5/18 usually takes 2-3 days after decision before documents are returned
Enquiry service (email): 12/6/18 there is no prescribed timeframe for how long a passport will be returned after decision
Enquiry service (email): 12/13/18 I can confirm that we have made a decision on your application

In the light of the simplicity of the application, the fact that it has been prepared properly, and the much shorter time frames that have been quoted on this forum it seems to me that Sheffield has lost the application. This could be that it has been lost and therefore not decided on (despite the email enquiry service responses, forum consensus seems to be that email enquiry service makes things up) or that a decision has been made (possibly months ago) but the documents have been lost so that they can't send them back.

Has anyone tried to use the Freedom Of Information Act to find out what is happening?
Has anyone tried to use the Data Protection Act to find out what is happening?
What is the best way to get an MP involved? Technically, my (the sponsor) MP is the one I had when I left the UK in 2008. I can't see them being interested as I am not physically in the constituency. However, we are also renting a property where we plan to live (UKVI requirement to have a property, rent being paid since 12/1 which was the travel date on the application). Would that MP be able to take up our case?

However, we are also renting a property where we plan to live (UKVI requirement to have a property, rent being paid since 12/1 which was the travel date on the application). Would that MP be able to take up our case?

If you were not actually renting the property at the time of your application, what evidence did you provide?

You can use the address of your last UK residence to contact your MP

https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/find-your-mp-help/

You are truly a godsend. I thought this myself but the information in the FB I’m also in said otherwise. She was very adamant about it too. Thank you for this, it’s helped settle my anxiety for sure.

❤️

I finally had to leave all the Facebook groups after people INSISTED on giving really bad advice and causing people panic.  Honestly, stay away!