Priority Spouse Visa FALL Timeline (Oct-Dec)

I got my decision email!  I'm so anxious, I pray it's an approval!  Also today is my birthday so I'm hoping that's some extra luck!!

Docs Received Email: 8 Jan
Decision Email: 12 Jan

Good luck! Mine is only 2 days after yours so I am hopeful to hear back soon! Fingers (and toes and eyes) crossed that its an approval!

Congrats to people who got their visas! I am still waiting since the 8th December. I'm confused as to why some of us have been waiting so long and others are hearing so quickly. It seems like a very unfair system. I know I'm a little different as my hubby is Costa Rican and we applied via the Colombia office but it seems a little unfair for those who are still waiting.

We actually found a number to call in Colombia and they told us we would hear within 15 working days. That was last Wednesday, so hopefully this month! I'm 28 weeks pregnant and decided to stay with my husband in Costa Rica in case I wasn't able to fly and in case his Visa took a while or was denied. I can fly up to 36 weeks, which of course I would prefer to fly sooner than later.

I hope all those that have been waiting for more than a month hear really soon! Good luck everyone!

Applied online:1st December 2018
Bio-metrics and Docs scanned in Panama City: 6th December
Arrived in Colombia: 8th December
Email confirmation from Colombia: 8th December
Decision made:
Docs returned:
Flight to UK:

Congrats to people who got their visas! I am still waiting since the 8th December. I'm confused as to why some of us have been waiting so long and others are hearing so quickly. It seems like a very unfair system. I know I'm a little different as my hubby is Costa Rican and we applied via the Colombia office but it seems a little unfair for those who are still waiting.

We actually found a number to call in Colombia and they told us we would hear within 15 working days. That was last Wednesday, so hopefully this month! I'm 28 weeks pregnant and decided to stay with my husband in Costa Rica in case I wasn't able to fly and in case his Visa took a while or was denied. I can fly up to 36 weeks, which of course I would prefer to fly sooner than later.

I hope all those that have been waiting for more than a month hear really soon! Good luck everyone!

Applied online:1st December 2018
Bio-metrics and Docs scanned in Panama City: 6th December
Arrived in Colombia: 8th December
Email confirmation from Colombia: 8th December
Decision made:
Docs returned:
Flight to UK:

Unfair indeed. And very unpredictable. Hope you hear soon!

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Congrats to people who got their visas! I am still waiting since the 8th December. I'm confused as to why some of us have been waiting so long and others are hearing so quickly. It seems like a very unfair system. I know I'm a little different as my hubby is Costa Rican and we applied via the Colombia office but it seems a little unfair for those who are still waiting.

We actually found a number to call in Colombia and they told us we would hear within 15 working days. That was last Wednesday, so hopefully this month! I'm 28 weeks pregnant and decided to stay with my husband in Costa Rica in case I wasn't able to fly and in case his Visa took a while or was denied. I can fly up to 36 weeks, which of course I would prefer to fly sooner than later.

I hope all those that have been waiting for more than a month hear really soon! Good luck everyone!

Applied online:1st December 2018
Bio-metrics and Docs scanned in Panama City: 6th December
Arrived in Colombia: 8th December
Email confirmation from Colombia: 8th December
Decision made:
Docs returned:
Flight to UK:

I hope it comes through in time for you. Good luck Emilie.

Whilst unreservedly pleased for those who are having their decisions come through so quick, I have to say it is somewhat annoying that those who applied earlier continue to wait!!

That's kinda the thing though .. it's why I asked how many applications each agent gets .. because if the time get a stack and only work on one at a time then they must have a pile of straightforward apps because getting a random pile there's no way they could go though so fast but maybe I'm wrong ...

Though I hope we all get quick responses

Yeah. I REALLY wish that they had one main pile and each ECO just picked the next one in line, from that one main chronological pile, when they were ready for another case!

That's kinda the thing though .. it's why I asked how many applications each agent gets .. because if the time get a stack and only work on one at a time then they must have a pile of straightforward apps because getting a random pile there's no way they could go though so fast but maybe I'm wrong ...

Though I hope we all get quick responses

There's no way for us to know how UKVI balances work flow without actually being employed there, and even then whistle-blowers are saying they are not giving any priority to spouse visas in favor of other more profitable visas that are easier to process. It seems they like to twist their numbers by processing a bunch received a few days earlier at random and then a flurry of older apps done within a week. Hopefully everyone waiting has their decisions soon!

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There's no way for us to know how UKVI balances work flow without actually being employed there, and even then whistle-blowers are saying they are not giving any priority to spouse visas in favor of other more profitable visas that are easier to process.

See, for US applications, it can't be the case that they prioritise non-settlement visas because:

- Settlement visa applications (fiance, spouse, child dependant)  are processed in Sheffield, UK

- ALL other visa applications (student, work, visitor etc.) are processed in New York City, USA

So, it is physically impossible for Sheffield to give priority to non-settlement US applications over US settlement applications without all the Sheffield staff abandoning their office and flying to New York.

As far as I am aware, Sheffield is a hub for settlement visas, while other visa type are usually processed at application centres in other countries.

Am I correct in thinking that decision emails can come through over the weekend too? If so how does that work when it’s not a working day,or so I understand!

Am I correct in thinking that decision emails can come through over the weekend too? If so how does that work when it’s not a working day,or so I understand!

Yes, they can literally come at any time. A combination of Sheffield working overtime at busy periods and a delay in the email arriving perhaps.

And one other if I may, my wife is applying with her dependant son under appendix armed forces as I’m serving in the Army. Would this be classed or processed in any way different than any other straightforward spouse application? In terms of time etc.

And one other if I may, my wife is applying with her dependant son under appendix armed forces as I’m serving in the Army. Would this be classed or processed in any way different than any other straightforward spouse application? In terms of time etc.

It shouldn’t make a difference, no. 

And one other if I may, my wife is applying with her dependant son under appendix armed forces as I’m serving in the Army. Would this be classed or processed in any way different than any other straightforward spouse application? In terms of time etc.

Nope, not in any way.

The actual decision only takes 1-2 hours to make, and the rest of the processing time is your application sitting in line waiting to be picked up... and they won't know what type of visa it is until they pick it up and make the decision.

The only difference between an Armed Forces spousal visa and a regular spousal visa is the length of time the visa is granted for.

Regular spousal visa = valid for 33 months only

Armed Forces spousal visa = valid for 5 years, or until the end of the HM Forces member's length of service, whichever is shorter

Just got an email saying they’ve made a decision! I’m so nervous. It seems way too soon, and I’m worried that some of my documents (particularly the bank details) weren’t in the correct format 

Application submitted: Dec 21
Biometrics: Dec 29th
Documents Sent: Jan 2
Docs Arrive in Sheffield: Jan 8
Confirmation Email: Jan 9
Decision Email: Jan 12

I hope the fast processing means it was a straightforward yes rather than a straightforward no. Now more waiting and feeling incredibly anxious