So now we are on BD 21 since receipt of documents email and BD 5 since this ‘not straightforward’ email. Having Received this email after paying for priority processing it feels like been ripped off! Especially when the common consensus seems to be its likely the application has not even been picked up yet. Surely there is some recourse for this. I understand paying for priority only puts you ahead of the queue with other priority apps but if they then just send out an email like this if they haven’t picked it up almost seems fraudulent to me.
It’s just an automated email - likely just sent out after X days from being logged in the system.
Also, priority has nothing to do with whether you get the non-straightforward email or not... you could have paid for priority but if you don’t meet the requirements or you have previous refusals or criminal convictions, it could potentially take several weeks or even months for a decision.
The average processing time for priority applications submitted over the last 6 months or so (before January) has been between about 20 and 35 business days... so you’re right on track with the normal processing time at the moment.
The majority of applications are not picked up until the day the decision is made anyway... the only exceptions are usually when they have to request more documents or the case is complicated and they have to spent more time on it.
The typical timeline is essentially:
Day 1: application arrives and email sent
Days 2-29: application sits in line waiting to be picked up. Non-straightforward email may be automatically triggered after X days.
Day 30: application is picked up, a decision is made within 1-2 hours, visa is issued and decision made email is sent that day
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