Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

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?

Use your MP, not the enquiry service.  You are now over the service standard processing times, so your MP should help.  Hopefully you'll get an answer soon.

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!

You've always said you paid priority but not through VFS.... are you SURE you paid priority?

Yes, people have been successful in receiving refunds for priority in the past when Sheffield has owned up to not putting the application into the correct pile. 

Hello everyone! Me again...

I'm caving in and buying an email. I know it probably won't tell me anything that I don't already know but as I'm just a worrier I'm going to make sure I do *everything* I possibly can.

I cannot seem to find the IHS receipt that I thought had been downloaded and so I don't know my IHS number...

Is there any way that I can find it?

At least by emailing them it'll be on record somewhere that I made contact with them should worst come to worst.

Thank you all for your help and patience.

Alex



Sent from my ASUS_X00GD using Tapatalk

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.

There can definitely be misinformation. I had someone tell me I couldn't use my 401k savings towards the savings route. Even though I knew that to be wrong. I'm in 3 different groups, but tend to ignore at least 2 of them. The other one i mostly lurk and/or correct any wrong information that I can.

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.

Does this include a letter for my sponsors landlord and accountant? It has to be dated within 28 days before the application?

Does this include a letter for my sponsors landlord and accountant? It has to be dated within 28 days before the application?

Only the financial documents needed to be dated within 28 days.

Namely:
- latest bank statement (and any authenticating letter)
- latest payslip (and any authenticating letter)
- employer letter

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/ [nofollow]

When we made the application (9/1) we already had a legal rental agreement, the start date for the rental being 12/1 and the 1st month's rent having already been paid. Both the agreement and confirmation that the 1st month's rental had been paid (which could also be seen on the bank statements sent) were sent in the application package.

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....I think I saw someone requesting the priority fees back and got it in the last month.

Glad you got everything sorted, are you leaving for Christmas?

Sent from my SM-N960U1 using Tapatalk

When we made the application (9/1) we already had a legal rental agreement, the start date for the rental being 12/1 and the 1st month's rent having already been paid. Both the agreement and confirmation that the 1st month's rental had been paid (which could also be seen on the bank statements sent) were sent in the application package.

Assuming the applicant was named on the agreement or in a letter of permission, that should cover it.

How are you getting on with contacting the MP?

Ugh, I swear the one FB group I'm in, they keep telling me "You have to show SMS texts or some kind of digital documentation for your relationship". I know this isn't true. If we didn't work and live together (ie around each other 24/7) I could understand the sentiment. But we are already providing a ton of docs that show we have lived together for over the past 10 years (plus a few photos tossed in). Why do people think you need more than that? Sorry.. just a pet peeve of mine atm.

Ugh, I swear the one FB group I'm in, they keep telling me "You have to show SMS texts or some kind of digital documentation for your relationship". I know this isn't true. If we didn't work and live together (ie around each other 24/7) I could understand the sentiment. But we are already providing a ton of docs that show we have lived together for over the past 10 years (plus a few photos tossed in). Why do people think you need more than that? Sorry.. just a pet peeve of mine atm.

Walk away from the group... 

Ugh, I swear the one FB group I'm in, they keep telling me "You have to show SMS texts or some kind of digital documentation for your relationship". I know this isn't true. If we didn't work and live together (ie around each other 24/7) I could understand the sentiment. But we are already providing a ton of docs that show we have lived together for over the past 10 years (plus a few photos tossed in). Why do people think you need more than that? Sorry.. just a pet peeve of mine atm.

I agree with larrabee... walk away from the group !

What they are advising you to send is not relevant to your application because you have been living together for 10 years, so instead of sending SMS messages etc., you provide your documents showing you have been living together.

If you had never lived together and had been in a long distance relationship for those 10 years, then you would send things like digital messages, emails, texts, etc. ... because you would be showing that you were in regular communication for all the time that you had been in a relationship, but were not living together.

Ugh, I swear the one FB group I'm in, they keep telling me "You have to show SMS texts or some kind of digital documentation for your relationship". I know this isn't true. If we didn't work and live together (ie around each other 24/7) I could understand the sentiment. But we are already providing a ton of docs that show we have lived together for over the past 10 years (plus a few photos tossed in). Why do people think you need more than that? Sorry.. just a pet peeve of mine atm.

You have to give and take from the FB groups, trust me. They will drive you crazy. I'm in the group and I legit ignore them at times.

Sent from my SM-N960U1 using Tapatalk

Ugh, I swear the one FB group I'm in, they keep telling me "You have to show SMS texts or some kind of digital documentation for your relationship". I know this isn't true. If we didn't work and live together (ie around each other 24/7) I could understand the sentiment. But we are already providing a ton of docs that show we have lived together for over the past 10 years (plus a few photos tossed in). Why do people think you need more than that? Sorry.. just a pet peeve of mine atm.

If it helps, in all the years I've been active on this forum, we have NEVER ONCE given anyone advice that lead to a refusal.  If you were to follow that Facebook groups advice and provide evidence of texts and not living together, you WOULD get a refusal.  Sometimes it's best to stick with one source of information.  Otherwise you will drive yourself bonkers.

Good morning everyone,

It turns out that they can and do send multiple requests for additional documents...

We received another email yesterday requesting our marriage certificate! They had 4 copies of it in the pack we sent!!!

The original
2 signed stamped and sealed copies from the clerk and recorders office itself
An A4 sized photocopy.

The email did include an apology though which I guess was kind of nice. I emailed them another 2 scans of the certificate. I only had the signed, stamped and sealed copy of the certificate though.

I stated in my email that the original document was still at the scanning hub in NY and that the scan I sent was a certified copy. Do you think this will be ok?

What an ordeal, I nearly managed to relax a bit yesterday until we got the dreaded email...

Thanks again,

Alex

Sent from my ASUS_X00GD using Tapatalk