Spousal visa question

I may be overthinking this, but don't want any unnecessary headaches in this whole process.

My fiance is coming to visit in about a week, and we are getting married on the 29th.

I am applying for my spousal visa to join her in the UK, and she is going back on August 10th.

It is extremely unlikely, I am aware, but in the off chance my priority application gets processed, I would love to fly with her because I absolutely HATE flying and get terrible anxiety.

Anyway, my question is that I am starting my application now and wanted to have it paid for and attend my biometrics appointment next week, that way when we get married on Monday, we can get pop in the certificate and mail the application that same day. The marriage certificate would be the last thing needed, everything else would be packaged and ready to send.

Is starting my application now not advisable? Obviously the questions I am answering as I would be answering when the application is received, i.e. marital status I am putting "married" instead of "single" since when the application is received, we will be married.

I would think that since the application will obviously be received in New York after we are married, there is no harm in getting a head start and completing and paying for it online so I can book my biometrics and have everything ready to send on Monday once we are married.

I may be overthinking this, but don't want any unnecessary headaches in this whole process.

My fiance is coming to visit in about a week, and we are getting married on the 29th.

I am applying for my spousal visa to join her in the UK, and she is going back on August 10th.

It is extremely unlikely, I am aware, but in the off chance my priority application gets processed, I would love to fly with her because I absolutely HATE flying and get terrible anxiety.

Anyway, my question is that I am starting my application now and wanted to have it paid for and attend my biometrics appointment next week, that way when we get married on Monday, we can get pop in the certificate and mail the application that same day. The marriage certificate would be the last thing needed, everything else would be packaged and ready to send.

Is starting my application now not advisable? Obviously the questions I am answering as I would be answering when the application is received, i.e. marital status I am putting "married" instead of "single" since when the application is received, we will be married.

I would think that since the application will obviously be received in New York after we are married, there is no harm in getting a head start and completing and paying for it online so I can book my biometrics and have everything ready to send on Monday once we are married.

You can start working on it but you should not submit the application until you are married. You should also have all of your supporting evidence in hand before you submit.

You can start working on it but you should not submit the application until you are married. You should also have all of your supporting evidence in hand before you submit.

Yes this is where I am a bit confused, I guess. If I complete the online portion and pay for it and book my biometrics, that should be fine, correct?

"Submitting" to me, sounds like when you mail it or when they receive it in New York, or is this incorrect?

Yes this is where I am a bit confused, I guess. If I complete the online portion and pay for it and book my biometrics, that should be fine, correct?

"Submitting" to me, sounds like when you mail it or when they receive it in New York, or is this incorrect?

No. Submitting the application is the when you submit and pay for it online. This date is important because it's the one that the 28 day rule about the financial document validity revolves around.

If you submit your application stating that you are married when you are not yet, then you don't meet the conditions of the visa you are applying for and stand to be refused.

Yes this is where I am a bit confused, I guess. If I complete the online portion and pay for it and book my biometrics, that should be fine, correct?

"Submitting" to me, sounds like when you mail it or when they receive it in New York, or is this incorrect?

No, you MUST NOT submit (press the submit button on the website) or pay for the visa until after you are married.

The date you submit the online application, pay for the visa and book biometrics is your official  application date. You MUST meet every requirement of the visa on that date, including being married, or you will not qualify for it and the application will be refused.

So, by all means, START the application now and keep saving it, but DO NOT submit or pay for it or book biometrics until after you have your marriage certificate.


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No, you MUST NOT submit (press the submit button on the website) or pay for the visa until after you are married.

The date you submit the online application, pay for the visa and book biometrics is your official  application date. You MUST meet every requirement of the visa on that date, including being married, or you will not qualify for it and the application will be refused.

So, by all means, START the application now and keep saving it, but DO NOT submit or pay for it or book biometrics until after you have your marriage certificate.


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Thanks. I only thought this might be an issue recently and didn't understand when the app. was technically "submitted".

Thanks. I only thought this might be an issue recently and didn't understand when the app. was technically "submitted".

No problem.

Btw, I did get your messages but I don't really have time to reply to PMs at the moment, so it's probably best if you post all your questions here in the forum and then other people can answer them.

No problem.

Btw, I did get your messages but I don't really have time to reply to PMs at the moment, so it's probably best if you post all your questions here in the forum and then other people can answer them.

That was my only question really. For now anyway, lol.

She is leaving August 10th, and I was really hoping to go back with her but from the sounds of things, there is no chance at all of that even with a priority application.

I don't fully understand the priority options offered on the VFS website.

They have a services listed as "Settlement Premium Package" where you attend in person I believe? The New York center is close enough to me that I would consider this but is this available for the spousal visa that I need?

Also, is this a "same day" decision service since you are going there to attend the application or whatever it may be?

I don't fully understand the priority options offered on the VFS website.

There's a new online application now, where you purchase priority processing on that site instead of VFS.

See here:  https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/appendixfm

They have a services listed as "Settlement Premium Package" where you attend in person I believe? The New York center is close enough to me that I would consider this but is this available for the spousal visa that I need?

Also, is this a "same day" decision service since you are going there to attend the application or whatever it may be?

It is not a same-day decision, as the application still has to be processed in Sheffield and still takes about 4-6 weeks. All you do is hand over your documents in person and then go home and wait a few weeks for the visa to be processed.

So, I would NOT advise paying for the Premium Package - it's a waste of money. The only advantage seems to be that you can keep your passport while the visa is being processed, but the rest doesn't seem worth it... you're basically paying over $1000 extra just to keep your passport!

The regular settlement priority service for about $750 is really your only option.

There's a new online application now, where you purchase priority processing on that site instead of VFS.

See here:  https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/appendixfm

It is not a same-day decision, as the application still has to be processed in Sheffield and still takes about 4-6 weeks. All you do is hand over your documents in person and then go home and wait a few weeks for the visa to be processed.

So, I would NOT advise paying for the Premium Package - it's a waste of money. The only advantage seems to be that you can keep your passport while the visa is being processed, but the rest doesn't seem worth it... you're basically paying over $1000 extra just to keep your passport!

The regular settlement priority service for about $750 is really your only option.

Thanks! Yeah that seems like a complete waste of money. And the way they word it on the website makes it sound as if you are "attending your application".

Is this application mailed to Sheffield then by me or is it sent to Sheffield after I send it to New York? I know in the past when applying for visitor visa, I would send it to New York.

Is this application mailed to Sheffield then by me or is it sent to Sheffield after I send it to New York? I know in the past when applying for visitor visa, I would send it to New York.

No, the whole application process changed in September 2018. Nothing is mailed to Sheffield anymore.

Now what happens is:
- you apply online (and it seems you pay for priority then too)
- you can either mail COPIES OF your documents to the scanning hub in New York, or upload your supporting documents to UKVI (this was done on the VFS website, but I'm not sure how it works with the new online application) and then just mail your passport, biometrics sheet and application form
- New York will then scan/forward your application and documents to Sheffield electronically for processing
- when Sheffield have made a decision, New York will issue the visa and mail it and your documents back to you

No, the whole application process changed in September 2018. Nothing is mailed to Sheffield anymore.

Now what happens is:
- you apply online (and it seems you pay for priority then too)
- you can either mail COPIES OF your documents to the scanning hub in New York, or upload your supporting documents to UKVI (this was done on the VFS website, but I'm not sure how it works with the new online application) and then just mail your passport, biometrics sheet and application form
- New York will then scan/forward your application and documents to Sheffield electronically for processing
- when Sheffield have made a decision, New York will issue the visa and mail it and your documents back to you

Gotcha, thanks.

Well this is a bit of a bummer as I thought I had a chance of going back with her, but I guess this means we can go for a short honeymoon now in the Caribbean instead of holding off and doing it later because I wouldn't have my passport. If it is going to take 4-6 weeks anyway, might as well wait a few extra days and enjoy the honeymoon we didn't think we would get until next year!

Gotcha, thanks.

Well this is a bit of a bummer as I thought I had a chance of going back with her, but I guess this means we can go for a short honeymoon now in the Caribbean instead of holding off and doing it later because I wouldn't have my passport. If it is going to take 4-6 weeks anyway, might as well wait a few extra days and enjoy the honeymoon we didn't think we would get until next year!

Yeah, unfortunately, there's no quick way to get a spousal visa these days. Definitely go enjoy your honeymoon while you have time now .

A few years ago, a priority application would have been processed within a few working days (anywhere from 1 to 15 working days), but now priority is generally taking around 30-35 working days (6-7 weeks) from the documents arriving in New York, and in some cases,  even as long as 60 working days (12 weeks). You might get lucky and get it quicker than that, but I would plan for 1-2 months for it to be processed.