Not straightforward

We were intending to go to Chicago Premium Application Centre this time, and buy the Silver Service to get the documents checked in advance, and get priority processing, but having read the advice on another thread here I am not sure our (prospective civil partnership) visa is eligible. I am I right that the Priority Visa Service for $793 is the right option instead?


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In which case there is no point going to Chicago if there is an ASC closer by to do the biometrics (there is - in Des Moines).


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We were intending to go to Chicago Premium Application Centre this time, and buy the Silver Service to get the documents checked in advance, and get priority processing, but having read the advice on another thread here I am not sure our (prospective civil partnership) visa is eligible. I am I right that the Priority Visa Service for $793 is the right option instead?

The "Priority Visa for Settlement or Migration Services" for $793 is the best option.

There is a new-ish (since November 2017) service called "Settlement Premium Package" (originally called "Settlement Gold" or something) for $1700, but it is not recommended.  It's new, but it's so far seemed to be slower than the less expensive Priority service, and the features you pay extra for do not seem worth the additional $907 (people who don't really know what you need will look over your documents and 'advise' you, they'll scan your documents and send them in for you so you can keep your originals, and you can keep your passport while your application is being processed, but half the people who have used this service didn't take advantage of this option, anyway).

One more question, with apologies, my partner has two US passports. If we post everything to Sheffield then does she need to send both, or just the one that she wants the visa put into? Is there any point sending a photocopy of the second one or shall just ignore it?


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One more question, with apologies, my partner has two US passports. If we post everything to Sheffield then does she need to send both, or just the one that she wants the visa put into? Is there any point sending a photocopy of the second one or shall just ignore it?

I am not an expert on this, but if I recall they ask for previous passports so I would assume that they would want valid ones too. I understand that they are both valid US passports. But I would always err on the side of caution. I was refused and went through the appeal process because of something that I thought “it doesn’t mention, so they don’t need it”. My mistake.


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With thanks to everyone for getting me this far, here is my final supporting document checklist for a prospective civil partnership visa. Any comments gratefully received. (I've also added prices, which I thought might be interesting, as they show the effect of the current exchange rate.)

List of documents for Submission to Sheffield:

Applicant Documents

1.   Priority processing receipt ($793 from VFS)
2.   Return shipping label (outward & return shipping labels for package up to 5lbs was $265 from VFS)
3.   Cover letter
4.   Printed online application form (cost for application was $2,026)
5.   Appendix 2
6.   Stamped biometrics confirmation
7.   Applicant passports – we think it is safest for her to send both her current valid USA passports. She destroyed her previous passport (which would cover the rest of the 10 years requested), but will explain this in the cover letter and confirm it was neither lost nor stolen
8.   One passport photograph

Sponsor's Documents
9.   Copy of passport photo page
10.   Sponsor letter

Financial Requirement Documents
11.   Letter from employer re salary and employment, which also authenticates the payslips and P60
12.   7 months of ORIGINAL payslips, or online payslips that are accompanied by a letter of authenticity from the employer (did 7 months to be on the safe side)
13.   Print out of online P60
14.   7 months online bank statements that are stamped/signed by the bank on EVERY page (did 7 months to be on safe side)

Accommodation Evidence
15.   Official Copy of Title Register from Land Registry showing I own my house (cost £7 and had to be ordered by post)

Evidence of Plans to Marry/Register a Civil Partnership in the UK
16.   Email setting a date for an interview with the Registrar (cost £35 to book the interview)

Relationship evidence
17.   photos of us together
18.   e-tickets from trips to see each other
19.   screenshots of email inbox/call logs/message logs

Biometric appt at 2pm today - gulp.


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Biometric appt at 2pm today - gulp.

Nothing to it! This is the easiest part. 

Biometric appt at 2pm today - gulp.


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Biometrics is the easy part... it'll take maybe 5-10 minutes, and it's done by US immigration on behalf of UKVI, so they have nothing to do with your application and they don't care what visa you are applying for.

It will go like this:
- they check your passport and stamp your biometrics confirmation sheet
- they take your fingerprints and photo
- you go home

Then you place your passport and stamped biometrics sheet with your other documents and mail the package to Sheffield within 5 days.

Thanks - and especially thank you for your help earlier with the supporting documents. I have got the shipping labels from VFS Global so presume I just drop the parcel off at a UPS store and off it goes.


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Thanks - and especially thank you for your help earlier with the supporting documents. I have got the shipping labels from VFS Global so presume I just drop the parcel off at a UPS store and off it goes.


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Yep . If you've purchase the round-trip labels, I believe you'll need to get a UPS Envelope from the UPS store to put the package in.

If you are also using priority processing, you will need to write SETTLEMENT PRIORITY SERVICE in very large letters on the outermost packaging (i.e. the UPS envelope), so that it is immediately identified as priority when it arrives... as it will be sorted into priority or non-priority before they even open it.

UPS tell me my package was received in Sheffield at 8.45am on Monday 10 September, but I still haven't received an acknowledgement email. It's not a very encouraging start. *chews nails*

UPS tell me my package was received in Sheffield at 8.45am on Monday 10 September, but I still haven't received an acknowledgement email. It's not a very encouraging start. *chews nails*

We got our email 6 BD after our application was delivered to Sheffield . Be patient , it will come


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Yes, thank you. At least I have tracking!


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Still no acknowledgement email. It's now 8 business days since the parcel arrived in Sheffield.