Spouse Visa Help!

Makes total sense. Plus I was thinking that on a Monday they probably get a bunch of mail delivered since they don't handle these things on the weekends. So Monday is probably quite a backlogged kind of day for them. That's the way I'm rationalizing it and giving myself some comfort anyway! 

Yeah, usually they're pretty good at sending the emails within about 1-3 days for priority, but we had a very backlogged summer a couple of years ago, and it was taking about 2 weeks for priority application emails to be sent and up to 2 months for non-priority applicants to receive their emails! So, we had non-priority people applying in June, not receiving their email until August and then not getting their visa until November... which meant that although they waited 5 months for the visa, the processing time was actually only recorded as 3 months!

Yeah, usually they're pretty good at sending the emails within about 1-3 days for priority, but we had a very backlogged summer a couple of years ago, and it was taking about 2 weeks for priority application emails to be sent and up to 2 months for non-priority applicants to receive their emails! So, we had non-priority people applying in June, not receiving their email until August and then not getting their visa until November... which meant that although they waited 5 months for the visa, the processing time was actually only recorded as 3 months!

Holy mackerel!! Well, I certainly pray that won't be the case this time. My husband, stepdaughter, and I would be devastated if we had to wait that long. As much as I hated forking over the cash for priority service, I still have hope that it will be worth it in the end.

Holy mackerel!! Well, I certainly pray that won't be the case this time. My husband, stepdaughter, and I would be devastated if we had to wait that long. As much as I hated forking over the cash for priority service, I still have hope that it will be worth it in the end.

It will be.  Priority is usually at least half the wait of non-priority.

Funny that it's the exact same day that they've received our packages, too! So, yes, we are in this one together! 

I haven't received an email yet either... The fact that neither one of us has gives me a little comfort in that maybe they just haven't gotten to them yet. I'm sure we'll hear something soon enough! 

I know the same day!! I got my confirmation email today. Did you get yours?

So I have a random question. It is usually just one person looks at the visa or is it multiple people? Do you know what their process is? I'm just curious!

So I have a random question. It is usually just one person looks at the visa or is it multiple people? Do you know what their process is? I'm just curious!

I believe it is just one person, unless they need to look into things further (i.e. they might need a supervisor to check over something).

Say your visa is processed in 30 working days, the timeline for a straightforward application will look something like this:
- Day 1: Confirmation email is sent. Your application is put in the queue.
- Days 2-29: Application sits in line. No one is looking at it.
- Day 30: An Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) picks up your application, makes a decision in 1-2 hours, sends out the 'decision made' email and issues the visa
- Days 30-31 (approx): Package is picked up by UPS
- Days 32-34: Visa and documents are delivered back to you

I believe it is just one person, unless they need to look into things further (i.e. they might need a supervisor to check over something).

Say your visa is processed in 30 working days, the timeline for a straightforward application will look something like this:
- Day 1: Confirmation email is sent. Your application is put in the queue.
- Days 2-29: Application sits in line. No one is looking at it.
- Day 30: An Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) picks up your application, makes a decision in 1-2 hours, sends out the 'decision made' email and issues the visa
- Days 30-31 (approx): Package is picked up by UPS
- Days 32-34: Visa and documents are delivered back to you

Wow that's crazy!  They only look at it for two hours then make a decision, yet it takes 30 days?  woof. Just as long as we get an approved visa that's all I care about 

Wow that's crazy!  They only look at it for two hours then make a decision, yet it takes 30 days?  woof. Just as long as we get an approved visa that's all I care about 

I got my e-mail at like 3am local time, so while I was sleeping blissfully, someone across the ocean was deciding my future!!!

Wow that's crazy!  They only look at it for two hours then make a decision, yet it takes 30 days?  woof. Just as long as we get an approved visa that's all I care about 

Yep - it doesn't take long at all to actually issue a visa - all they have to do is go through your documents and tick off the boxes to say everything is included and meets the requirements. When you apply from inside the UK, you can pay extra to apply in person and you get a decision same-day, usually within about 2-3 hours.

The reason it takes so long is because they have hundreds, maybe even thousands, of applications waiting in line, and not that many people actually processing them. Especially since Sheffield started processing applications from a lot more countries in 2017, which meant they now process thousands more each month than they used to.

- There used to be a time, when settlement visas were still processed in the US, that you could pay about $100-150 for a 'visa expeditor' to submit your application to the consulate in person and you would get a same-day decision and your documents would be collected by the expeditor that day.

- Then they got rid of that option and moved to the 'priority processing' option instead, and priority was a guaranteed 15-working day service, though most priority applications were processed in 1-3 days (except in the summer where it could stretch to 2-3 weeks for priority and 5-6 weeks for non-priority)

- Then they started getting so many priority applications that they got rid of the '15-working-day' guarantee and just said 'it will be put to the front of the line'.

- It's only been since 2017, when Sheffield went from processing applications from only about 5-10 countries to maybe 30 countries (or perhaps more) that it's been taking 30 working days + for priority applications, regardless of time of year (though we had a few lucky people in January 2018 who got their visas in 1-2 weeks).

quote author=TeamTollie link=topic=93378.msg1245879#msg1245879 date=1534364523]
I got my e-mail at like 3am local time, so while I was sleeping blissfully, someone across the ocean was deciding my future!!!
[/quote]

That's a crazy way to think about it! and you passed!!

After I completed the visa I was thinking that was like a exam/test for our future!

I'm so happy for you and fingers crossed the same thing happens to us!

Yep - it doesn't take long at all to actually issue a visa - all they have to do is go through your documents and tick off the boxes to say everything is included and meets the requirements. When you apply from inside the UK, you can pay extra to apply in person and you get a decision same-day, usually within about 2-3 hours.

The reason it takes so long is because they have hundreds, maybe even thousands, of applications waiting in line, and not that many people actually processing them. Especially since Sheffield started processing applications from a lot more countries in 2017, which meant they now process thousands more each month than they used to.

- There used to be a time, when settlement visas were still processed in the US, that you could pay about $100-150 for a 'visa expeditor' to submit your application to the consulate in person and you would get a same-day decision and your documents would be collected by the expeditor that day.

- Then they got rid of that option and moved to the 'priority processing' option instead, and priority was a guaranteed 15-working day service, though most priority applications were processed in 1-3 days (except in the summer where it could stretch to 2-3 weeks for priority and 5-6 weeks for non-priority)

- Then they started getting so many priority applications that they got rid of the '15-working-day' guarantee and just said 'it will be put to the front of the line'.

- It's only been since 2017, when Sheffield went from processing applications from only about 5-10 countries to maybe 30 countries (or perhaps more) that it's been taking 30 working days + for priority applications, regardless of time of year (though we had a few lucky people in January 2018 who got their visas in 1-2 weeks).

Wow, thank you so much for that information. That definitely helps understand this process a little bit better!

Now I'm just sitting, waiting and wishing!!

quote author=TeamTollie link=topic=93378.msg1245879#msg1245879 date=1534364523]
I got my e-mail at like 3am local time, so while I was sleeping blissfully, someone across the ocean was deciding my future!!!


That's a crazy way to think about it! and you passed!!

After I completed the visa I was thinking that was like a exam/test for our future!

I'm so happy for you and fingers crossed the same thing happens to us!

Crossing my fingers for you as well!!!

Yep - it doesn't take long at all to actually issue a visa - all they have to do is go through your documents and tick off the boxes to say everything is included and meets the requirements. When you apply from inside the UK, you can pay extra to apply in person and you get a decision same-day, usually within about 2-3 hours.

The reason it takes so long is because they have hundreds, maybe even thousands, of applications waiting in line, and not that many people actually processing them. Especially since Sheffield started processing applications from a lot more countries in 2017, which meant they now process thousands more each month than they used to.

- There used to be a time, when settlement visas were still processed in the US, that you could pay about $100-150 for a 'visa expeditor' to submit your application to the consulate in person and you would get a same-day decision and your documents would be collected by the expeditor that day.

- Then they got rid of that option and moved to the 'priority processing' option instead, and priority was a guaranteed 15-working day service, though most priority applications were processed in 1-3 days (except in the summer where it could stretch to 2-3 weeks for priority and 5-6 weeks for non-priority)

- Then they started getting so many priority applications that they got rid of the '15-working-day' guarantee and just said 'it will be put to the front of the line'.

- It's only been since 2017, when Sheffield went from processing applications from only about 5-10 countries to maybe 30 countries (or perhaps more) that it's been taking 30 working days + for priority applications, regardless of time of year (though we had a few lucky people in January 2018 who got their visas in 1-2 weeks).

Any idea why they don't have more ECO's? Or, two locations? I guess two locations would complicate things....but if they doubled their countries, why not double their staff? Also, how did they do it before? Why were so many countries added?

Yep - it doesn't take long at all to actually issue a visa - all they have to do is go through your documents and tick off the boxes to say everything is included and meets the requirements. When you apply from inside the UK, you can pay extra to apply in person and you get a decision same-day, usually within about 2-3 hours.

The reason it takes so long is because they have hundreds, maybe even thousands, of applications waiting in line, and not that many people actually processing them. Especially since Sheffield started processing applications from a lot more countries in 2017, which meant they now process thousands more each month than they used to.

- There used to be a time, when settlement visas were still processed in the US, that you could pay about $100-150 for a 'visa expeditor' to submit your application to the consulate in person and you would get a same-day decision and your documents would be collected by the expeditor that day.

- Then they got rid of that option and moved to the 'priority processing' option instead, and priority was a guaranteed 15-working day service, though most priority applications were processed in 1-3 days (except in the summer where it could stretch to 2-3 weeks for priority and 5-6 weeks for non-priority)

- Then they started getting so many priority applications that they got rid of the '15-working-day' guarantee and just said 'it will be put to the front of the line'.

- It's only been since 2017, when Sheffield went from processing applications from only about 5-10 countries to maybe 30 countries (or perhaps more) that it's been taking 30 working days + for priority applications, regardless of time of year (though we had a few lucky people in January 2018 who got their visas in 1-2 weeks).

Wow... that's quite a change! While I'm hoping for a miracle of ours being processed quickly, I am ready for the long haul. Definitely sounds like they may need to expand that office and get a few more ECOs. That's quite a lot for only one human to handle. How stressful it must be!

Any idea why they don't have more ECO's?

I don't know how many ECOs there are, so it's just an assumption that there aren't enough, based on the long processing times.

Back in 2012, for some reason, UKVI got rid of a load of staff right before the immigration rules changed for settlement visas... so there were a ton of people trying to get their applications in before the rule change in July, which meant massive backlogs for applications made both inside and outside the UK - though the FLR(M) applications were affected the most.

Priority applications from the US went from about 5-10 working days to about 8 weeks processing (this was when they were still processed in New York, not Sheffield).

And FLR(M) applications went from about 4 weeks processing time to 10-13 months processing time... and all those people were stuck in the UK without their passports for all of that time!

Or, two locations? I guess two locations would complicate things....but if they doubled their countries, why not double their staff? Also, how did they do it before? Why were so many countries added?

No idea why they do things this way. It used to be that each country's applications were processed in that country - or they had a hub where applications from a few countries would be processed at that hub.

I believe they started moving everything to Sheffield in order to streamline the applications and gain more consistency in the decision-making process, since it sounds like there were big differences in how settlement visas were being processed in various countries.

When I first joined the forum, visa applications from the US were processed in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York and the consulate you sent your application to depended on which state you lived in. Then they stopped processing applications in the LA and Chicago consulates and ALL visas were processed in New York (all types of visas).

Then in early 2013, they decided to move settlement visa applications to Sheffield and keep all other visa types in New York... which is still the case today. Of course, back then, Sheffield only processed applications from about 4 countries (US, Canada, and a couple of other countries), so the processing times were pretty fast.

Since then though, they've been gradually adding more countries to Sheffield, but I'm not sure that they have actually increased the number of staff by a proportionate amount. Then in 2017, each month they added more countries (Jan, Feb and March mainly), so the processing time for US applications jumped from about 2-5 working days in Jan 2017 to 30+ working days by March 2017... and we're seeing that as a standard processing time even now.