Settlement Gold Premium Service Appointment

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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@ksand24, I'm also very apprehensive about doing this but we've tried to do our due diligence...

• Our solicitor advised us that there was no legal reason I couldn't travel to the UK on my US passport whilst the visa was pending. She was just concerned about the timeline for returning the passport.
• We called UKVI's £1.37/min help line and after some  initial confusion they said it would be fine to enter as a tourist for a couple of weeks on a US passport, even while the settlement application is pending.
• We asked VFS and you saw what ensued, but in the end they seeemed to say it would be fine.

None of these gives me the warm & fuzzies I was hoping for. The VFS global website for US to UK applicants doesn't specifically say anything. I didn't think to check the other countries, since I figured HO visa requirements would vary.

After your post, I just checked the Canadian applicant site and they don't say you can't enter the UK when using the 'Keep my Passport' service. I was shocked they only charge $50 for this privilege whilst Americans have to pay $1600 as part of Gold Service, since it can't be purchased separately. Conversely, the Australian site didn't seem to mention a 'Keep my Passport' option (though they charge only $50 for the scanning service).

I'm curious... Which countries did you see that list the 'Keep my Passport' service whist advising against travel to the UK? Until about a month ago, I suppose 'Keep my Passport' wasn't even an option for US applicants.

I just wish we weren't in the first batch of people attempting this 

 

It's hard to know what will happen, to be honest.

In regards to the information you've been given, I wouldn't actually rely on any of them to give you accurate information - the only people who would be able to tell you whether you can travel or not are Sheffield/the UK government themselves.

- The majority of lawyers we've come across here have given bad advice and haven't known the rules anyway
- the £1.37/min helpline is notorious for giving incorrect information and bad advice (including advising people to apply for visas they didn't qualify for), so I wouldn't believe a word they say
- VFS Global are really just a commercial company and have nothing to do with UK immigration rules, so I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know and are just assuming. In fact, they provide services for people applying for visas to many different countries and so are unlikely to keep up completely with the immigration rules of each country people are applying for visas for.

I'm curious... Which countries did you see that list the 'Keep my Passport' service whist advising against travel to the UK? Until about a month ago, I suppose 'Keep my Passport' wasn't even an option for US applicants.

I just wish we weren't in the first batch of people attempting this 

I checked a few different countries on VFS Global:
- several didn't offer the 'Keep My Passport' service at all (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia etc.)
- some offer it but don't mention anything about reasons you might keep it (i.e. India)
- Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan said you could keep your passport for travel to countries other than to the UK
- Brazil and Canada said you could keep your passport for 'travel' (no specific mention of the UK) or for applying for a visa for another country at the same time

The TLS website is down at the moment, so I can't check what it says for the countries serviced by TLS instead of VFS Global.

It's hard to know what will happen, to be honest.

In regards to the information you've been given, I wouldn't actually rely on any of them to give you accurate information - the only people who would be able to tell you whether you can travel or not are Sheffield/the UK government themselves.

- The majority of lawyers we've come across here have given bad advice and haven't known the rules anyway
- the £1.37/min helpline is notorious for giving incorrect information and bad advice (including advising people to apply for visas they didn't qualify for), so I wouldn't believe a word they say
- VFS Global are really just a commercial company and have nothing to do with UK immigration rules, so I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know and are just assuming. In fact, they provide services for people applying for visas to many different countries and so are unlikely to keep up completely with the immigration rules of each country people are applying for visas for.

@ksand24, thank you so much for being so well informed! It's just amazing that we can have such little confidence about each step of this process... From sparse or confusing guidance to misinformation to solicitors with 'immigration expertise' to the UKVI's 'helpline' and VFS' complete lack of interest.

I checked a few different countries on VFS Global:
- several didn't offer the 'Keep My Passport' service at all (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia etc.)
- some offer it but don't mention anything about reasons you might keep it (i.e. India)
- Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan said you could keep your passport for travel to countries other than to the UK
- Brazil and Canada said you could keep your passport for 'travel' (no specific mention of the UK) or for applying for a visa for another country at the same time

The TLS website is down at the moment, so I can't check what it says for the countries serviced by TLS instead of VFS Global.

I looked at India's version as well and at least they provide specific guidance about when you have to return the passport. I can't say I'm surprised about Saudi Arabia and Pakistan (no offense intended), and while the restriction for Hong Kong seems odd, I don't think they're in the UK commonwealth (if that even matters).

At this point, as I said, I'm just hoping it doesn't all blow up in my face! I'll certainly report back on what happens at the UK border. It does concern me slightly that VFS stuck a barcode on the back of my passport with my GWF number. I assume this was for administrative purposes, but perhaps it'll raise a flag at the border 

Any word yet ?

Any word yet ?

Not as of this morning

Not as of this morning

🙁 Oh No Still ?! .... Hopefully soon 🤞🏻

No word for me either.

I've toyed with the idea of attempting to ask VFS if our apps are in a US only queue or not, but I just feel like I'll end up really angry with no further information again. I can't quite get over their ability to not actually answer anything while simultaneously implying we're stupid, or whatever it is that prevents us from understanding their eloquent responses the first time

In other news, my u-crate has made it all the way across the country already and is waiting to be loaded on a ship. At this rate, it will be at my door before me 

In other news, my u-crate has made it all the way across the country already and is waiting to be loaded on a ship. At this rate, it will be at my door before me 

I'll refrain from any further comments on VFS and their customer service but thanks for sharing the name of your shipping service. We're leaning towards using UPakWeShip too. On the bright side, perhaps you won't have to wait for your stuff to arrive 

No word for me either.

I've toyed with the idea of attempting to ask VFS if our apps are in a US only queue or not, but I just feel like I'll end up really angry with no further information again. I can't quite get over their ability to not actually answer anything while simultaneously implying we're stupid, or whatever it is that prevents us from understanding their eloquent responses the first time

Sorry you haven’t heard anything yet.

Remember though that VFS are just a commercial partner of UKVI and have nothing to do with the visa processing itself. They probably don’t even know anything about what is happening to your application in Sheffield right now.



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That's awful, feel so bad for you guys.

What a total rip off.

That's awful, feel so bad for you guys.

What a total rip off.

Thanks @AHOXLA... Someone had to be first! Hopefully anyone that looks at this thread will steer clear of the gold service.

You had quite a wait too though! Must've been frustrating seeing others that submitted after you get approved so quickly whilst you were still waiting.

It's a shame they can't make this process more transparent.

I'll refrain from any further comments on VFS and their customer service but thanks for sharing the name of your shipping service. We're leaning towards using UPakWeShip too. On the bright side, perhaps you won't have to wait for your stuff to arrive 

Haha fair enough!

As for Upak, I can't speak to the end result yet, but customer service has been fantastic and made it really easy to get the kit, pack it, and get it picked up. If you get stuck on anything for that or the ToR, let me know, I've still got it all fresh in my mind and my completed docs to refer to 

Guys, I am so sorry that you're still waiting.     

Three weeks and counting... Still no decision email from Sheffield. Looks fairly certain I'll be entering as a tourist on this occasion afterall. I'll have to return to the UK for my BRP in a few weeks, assuming I eventually get approved.

I have a question for the experts on a separate but related matter... As I posted on the job forum, I've been looking for work remotely. I fortunately have a couple of pending interview requests. One of these firms has asked me to interview on Jan 2 or 3, whilst I'll still be in the UK. It's a great opportunity with a multinational firm that has a big presence in the US & UK so it's ideal and I've said yes. Obviously any job offer would be contingent on the visa. Is this ok to do, given that I'll technically be in the country as a tourist? Perhaps I'm overthinking this?

Three weeks and counting... Still no decision email from Sheffield. Looks fairly certain I'll be entering as a tourist on this occasion afterall. I'll have to return to the UK for my BRP in a few weeks, assuming I eventually get approved.

I have a question for the experts on a separate but related matter... As I posted on the job forum, I've been looking for work remotely. I fortunately have a couple of pending interview requests. One of these firms has asked me to interview on Jan 2 or 3, whilst I'll still be in the UK. It's a great opportunity with a multinational firm that has a big presence in the US & UK so it's ideal and I've said yes. Obviously any job offer would be contingent on the visa. Is this ok to do, given that I'll technically be in the country as a tourist? Perhaps I'm overthinking this?

Yes, you can interview as a visitor. Really hope it all goes smoothly. 

.Business – general activities
5   A visitor may:
(a) attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews;
(b) give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches provided these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser;
(c) negotiate and sign deals and contracts;
(d) attend trade fairs, for promotional work only, provided the visitor is not directly selling;
(e) carry out site visits and inspections;
(f) gather information for their employment overseas;
(g) be briefed on the requirements of a UK based customer, provided any work for the customer is done outside of the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules