Settlement Gold Premium Service Appointment

Although to be fair sometimes it did take longer before February, I remember waiting for 2 months for my non priority one, and then once I landed here it started only taking a week or two for non priority.  I was super salty about it 

Yes, it has done - in the summer months it's standard for priority to take up to 4-5 weeks and non-priority 3-5 months, and over Christmas as well it can take a bit longer.

However, in previous years, the much longer processing times only started around May/June and were over by late September, with a slight peak around Christmas... so that was about 4-5 months of longer processing times.

This year, the long processing times started in late February and were still going in November, and they're still relatively long now (i.e. people are still waiting up to 4 weeks for priority). That's about 9-10 months of backlogs so far... which we've never seen before (not in the last 11 years anyway).

This is the response to my e-mail asking if the gold settlement visas are processed before priority visas. Looking back, this person has been quoting ACIS times to me from the first reply. Do they think I am a student? My application wouldn't have anything to do with ACIS right? They mention my confusion 3 times. Are we allowed to swear here? 

I apologize for the confusion. Gold Settlement applications are, as I said in the last email, placed in a different queue. This allows them to be processed far quicker than they would normally be able to be if they had been submitted the ACIS center. I know that this process can be a little confusing to explain, but the two services are only comparable on a timeline format as there are different processes used between the two services. The most accurate answer I can give to your question, “Are they processed before the less costly standard priority applications?”, is yes. Both services process applications, but our processes with the Consulate enable the more expensive applications to be processed far quicker than normal.
 
I hope that this has answered your question. I know this is a very confusing process and I apologize if I have not answered your questions as clearly as I could have initially. Please let me know if you have any more inquiries and I will be happy to assist.

I'm trying hard not to write a response beginning "Listen pal..." lol. 

This is the response to my e-mail asking if the gold settlement visas are processed before priority visas. Looking back, this person has been quoting ACIS times to me from the first reply. Do they think I am a student? My application wouldn't have anything to do with ACIS right? They mention my confusion 3 times. Are we allowed to swear here? 

I'm trying hard not to write a response beginning "Listen pal..." lol.

I'd see if you can contact your MP maybe? Summarize the issues and how they've failed to respond along with the added cost of the service, and the fact they didn't do what was advertised. You may need to wait a bit longer before the MP would do anything but this is really shady and inconsistent imo.


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This is the response to my e-mail asking if the gold settlement visas are processed before priority visas. Looking back, this person has been quoting ACIS times to me from the first reply. Do they think I am a student? My application wouldn't have anything to do with ACIS right? They mention my confusion 3 times. Are we allowed to swear here? 

I'm trying hard not to write a response beginning "Listen pal..." lol.

OMG Dani, reading that was like déjà vu. So utterly infuriating.   

I apologize for the confusion. Gold Settlement applications are, as I said in the last email, placed in a different queue. This allows them to be processed far quicker than they would normally be able to be if they had been submitted the ACIS center. I know that this process can be a little confusing to explain, but the two services are only comparable on a timeline format as there are different processes used between the two services. The most accurate answer I can give to your question, “Are they processed before the less costly standard priority applications?”, is yes. Both services process applications, but our processes with the Consulate enable the more expensive applications to be processed far quicker than normal.
 
I hope that this has answered your question. I know this is a very confusing process and I apologize if I have not answered your questions as clearly as I could have initially. Please let me know if you have any more inquiries and I will be happy to assist.

Condescending much?   

I'm sure if they actually knew what they were doing,  it wouldn't be "confusing to explain" at all.   

Condescending much?   

I'm sure if they actually knew what they were doing,  it wouldn't be "confusing to explain" at all.   

That's how I perceived it too.

At least I know Sheffield has my application, or some version of it, but I wish I knew it if it's being processed with other US applicants only or in what order it will be attended to. This doesn't seem like it should be that hard to answer.

That's how I perceived it too.

At least I know Sheffield has my application, or some version of it, but I wish I knew it if it's being processed with other US applicants only or in what order it will be attended to. This doesn't seem like it should be that hard to answer.

Maybe ask them how many applications are in line ahead of you? It's something finite that they have to answer or admit they don't know.

Kinda off the subject a little but Do any of u ladies know .. when you pay for the application and NHS do u have to print everything out right then and there or do they email you the receipt and u can print it out whenever .. I had made a topic post about it but just wanted to double check .. as we are on a very tight time frame

Also has anyone ever used their phone to pay ? Like logged on from your phone and put all your details through to pay ?! 

I know random questions again for the topic post ! Any help would be amazing .. thank u ladies again !!!!

So we decided to take the plunge and book tickets, even though the visa application is pending... Awful last minute flights via Newark, on United no less, but we're arriving on Christmas Eve 

I'll then be returning by myself on the 5th. If I miraculously get the decision next week and visa in-hand by Friday, it'd be wonderful just to go and pick up my BRP during this trip. If it doesn't come before then, the Gold might have at least partly been worth it for the ability to travel, assuming it's not the reason for any undue delay.

Just praying this doesn't blow up in my face 

So we decided to take the plunge and book tickets, even though the visa application is pending... Awful last minute flights via Newark, on United no less, but we're arriving on Christmas Eve 

I'll then be returning by myself on the 5th. If I miraculously get the decision next week and visa in-hand by Friday, it'd be wonderful just to go and pick up my BRP during this trip. If it doesn't come before then, the Gold might have at least partly been worth it for the ability to travel, assuming it's not the reason for any undue delay.

Just praying this doesn't blow up in my face 

Fingers crossed it all works out one way or the other. Pulling for you to get the visa this week though! 

So we decided to take the plunge and book tickets, even though the visa application is pending... Awful last minute flights via Newark, on United no less, but we're arriving on Christmas Eve 

I'll then be returning by myself on the 5th. If I miraculously get the decision next week and visa in-hand by Friday, it'd be wonderful just to go and pick up my BRP during this trip. If it doesn't come before then, the Gold might have at least partly been worth it for the ability to travel, assuming it's not the reason for any undue delay.

Just praying this doesn't blow up in my face 

Absolute best of luck to you! I'm now wondering if I should try and collect my passport and head over as well...

So we decided to take the plunge and book tickets, even though the visa application is pending... Awful last minute flights via Newark, on United no less, but we're arriving on Christmas Eve 

I'll then be returning by myself on the 5th. If I miraculously get the decision next week and visa in-hand by Friday, it'd be wonderful just to go and pick up my BRP during this trip. If it doesn't come before then, the Gold might have at least partly been worth it for the ability to travel, assuming it's not the reason for any undue delay.

Just praying this doesn't blow up in my face 

I hope it works out for you .

I’m just a little concerned though, because if you look at the VFS Global pages for other countries, some of them say that the ‘Keep Your Passport While Applying’ option allows you to keep your passport if you need to travel urgently to a country OTHER THAN THE UK.

I have an awful feeling that if you enter the UK while your visa is processing, it could invalidate your spousal visa application because you cannot hold more than one visa at a time... and when you enter the UK, you will be issued with a visitor visa. It may be that either the act of being issued the visitor visa will cancel the spousal visa application or the issuance of the spousal visa will invalidate the visitor visa.


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 Ksand is it ok if I send you a privet message .. I'm asking because I a question and a bump in the road before I pay for everything on my visa and I didn't want to message you without your permission!

Ksand is it ok if I send you a privet message .. I'm asking because I a question and a bump in the road before I pay for everything on my visa and I didn't want to message you without your permission!

Sure, go ahead .


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Sent .. hopefully it went through .. thank u so much again !!!! ❤️