So I had my appointment today under the new system! Last night once I had all the information and documentation, I finished my online application and looked for appointments. Because of our crazy lives, we decided to pay the extra and go for an appointment the following morning (today). This will give us a little more breathing space and allow for a few glitches if there are any. Here’s a rundown of my experience as best as I can remember. Sorry it’s so long!!! I just know I was pretty information-hungry when I was trying to get ready, and there’s not much out there on the new system. I hope someone can find it useful!
Online Application
I was applying for ILR with SET(M) and found the online application mostly straightforward with a few quirks.
- The sections on family and friends and ties in one’s home country don’t accept any punctuation whatsoever in the boxes, so my answers turned out looking pretty ugly.
- I wasn’t sure what to answer for the question there about social networks etc. so I just answered that I’m not part of any official organisations there but I do attend an annual conference. I have no idea what they’re looking for.
- The section on Absences from the UK only accepts 30 entries (tedious!) and I made 40 trips abroad since entering the UK. I just typed the additional ones into a separate document and uploaded it under the ‘Other’ section.
- It also asks for evidence of monthly housing costs and council tax costs (but doesn’t mention Land Registry document). It says evidence of council tax costs is optional. I included all three documents anyway.
Appointment Booking with Sopra Steria
After paying and submitting the application, it gives you a page with ‘Further actions you must complete’. These are easy to do. You must attend an appointment within two months to submit your documents and biometrics. You have the option to download your application and document checklist.
You’re then taken to the Sopra Steria/UKVCAS website to book your appointment. They email you an access code, which you then enter on their website, and choose a password to set up an account with them.
There are three types of service points you can choose:
Core Service Point (6 in total, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast, Croydon)
You don’t have to pay extra to get an appointment at these. Next day, Saturday, and early appointments (8:30 and 9:00) cost an additional £100. The latest appointments I saw were 12:00 noon. Birmingham had pretty good availability, with free appointments open as soon as the day after tomorrow.
Service Point (Libraries, etc. throughout the UK)
A lot of service points are fully booked. And you have to pay a minimum of extra £60 to book an appointment at these.
Premium Service Point (In London)
Appointments here cost an extra £260. The next available was 5 days later. They offer appointments earlier in the day (7:00 am is the earliest). Not sure what other perks there are, but it’s supposed to be a ‘personalised experience’. . .
Once I chose my appointment, it took me to a screen that said, ‘Extra Services: We offer extra services to help you prepare for your appointment and to make your visit easier.’ But it was blank - there weren’t any extra services to choose, I could only click the ‘Place Order’ button. Perhaps these will be coming later, like translation, and when you have to pay for document scanning. I got an email confirming my appointment and was prompted to self-upload documents if I wanted.
Document Upload
Files are to be uploaded in PDF, JPG and PNG format only, no larger than 6MB per file. Even if you scan and upload your documents yourself, you must bring the originals to the appointment. Supporting documents are supposed to be organised in the following categories as relevant. However, apart from this, there’s not much guidance.
Mandatory
Proof of Identity / Travel History
Proof of Application
Optional
Other
Residence in the UK
Finances
Proof of Business
Life Events
Medical Information
Sponsors / Employment
Educational
I was left guessing what to put where, and left some categories empty. Uploading was fast enough. I think I got it mostly right. The document checklist varies depending on what type of application you’re making, obviously, but for SET(M) it was slightly different than what we’ve been used to seeing. Employer letter, payslips, bank statements, LITUK pass lettter, etc. are all the same as usual. You do need to download the partner declaration and have it signed. I didn’t need to sign anything myself. Also, no need for any photos.
For evidence of cohabitation, it just says 6 letters/documents addressed to you and your partner at the same address over the past 2.5 years. Doesn’t specify 3 sources or evenly spaced—but I did it anyway!
Appointment
The Birmingham Core Service Point is near the airport. It was nice not to have to go into the city. Plus, parking was free! The location and place in the building was easy to find.
11:00 am - Arrived just on time for my appointment (was rushing to get my last mini statement from the bank right before - should have planned better!) There was no fancy security, metal detectors, etc. like the PSC had. A guy sitting by the door just asked to see my QR code and passport, gave me a number, and sent me four feet away to the check in desk. This was just someone standing behind a podium and directing everyone. She asked me if I had scanned my documents and had me sit down. Not quite enough chairs to accommodate everyone waiting comfortably. The room looked a little thrown together—I mean, almost still temporary. Maybe this will change.
11:30 am - Got called to ‘check in’ with a lady in a fairly open cubicle. She took my QR code and passport then asked if I had uploaded everything. She scanned and uploaded my bank statements since I ran out of time for that. Maybe this is the scanning service that you’ll have to pay for in the future if you have a free appointment?
12:00 pm - Got called to submit my biometrics at one of two self-service kiosks. Again, you have to scan your QR code and passport, then the machine takes a photo, your fingerprints, and signature. Although it took quite a few tries to get a photo that was approved, it was pretty easy. I didn’t see it until later, but I got an email at 12:05 from UKVI with the subject line ‘Home Office application’. It says ‘Thank you for your application to the Home Office. Your application has been received and is being processed.’ It goes on to say that it may take up to 6 months to get a decision and they’ll let me know ASAP if it will take longer. Generic email I suppose, but nice to know it’s been received!
12:40 pm - Got called to have my final check (I think there were two stations doing this). She again took QR code and passport, then she scanned all the pages of my passport (well, almost all…I think she got to page 40 and gave up, even though there are stamps on following pages).
- She asked for my council tax statement. I had scanned and uploaded it under the ‘Finances’ section, but she put it under the ‘Residence in the UK’ section. She said they can’t delete or move anything I had submitted.
- She asked for my bank statements. I told her the other lady had scanned them already, but she said it was for her to verify them. She scanned them again as well. Even though all mine were straight from the bank through the post plus the last transactions printed in-branch, I asked if downloaded online statements were acceptable now. She said she couldn’t answer that; it would be a question I’d have to ask UKVI.
- She took photos (?) of my passport and BRP with a special flip up light camera thing.
- Lastly, she said that was everything and she turned the screen to me and said, ‘This is you, and I’m going to submit it now, here where it says "Submit immediately”. You have Super Priority Service, so you should hear back from UKVI in 24 hours…it’s 1:00 now, so by 1 pm tomorrow you should have heard from them.’
Throughout the check, she was pleasant and even chatty, except when she needed to concentrate.
1:10 pm - Checked out with the lady at the podium and I was on my way.
I do miss the PSC same-day-decision, but hopefully this won’t be too much more painful! I’ll post an update when I have one.
