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Topic: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)  (Read 2640 times)

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Hi guys. I'm wondering if anyone who has completed the "new" online application process can help. I have just paid my IHS (£1000) and my application fee (£1052.20). There was a small note underneath my application fee payment confirmation that mentions that a £19.20 charge for my biometrics is included in the total.

Now, I'm on the UKVCAS site trying to book my Core Appointment (basic) for biometrics and it wants to charge me £110 to make the reservation. I was under the impression that a Core Appointment was free. It even said so when I chose the Standard processing (rather Priority) on the UKVI checkout when I paid the £1052.20.

Does anyone know what's up with this? The support line for UKVCAS costs £2.50/minute so I am very hesitant to call, but I am really not happy about this extra £110. Any advice? Have I missed some fine print and the Core Appointments actually do cost money?

Urgh!  [smiley=bigcry.gif]

Thanks in advance.
Married in NY: 18 April 2017
Spouse Visa received: 29 June 2017 (27 business days, Priority)
Relocated to UK: 16 July 2017
FLR(M) biometrics: 28 February 2020 (online app 17 January 2020)
FLR(M) granted: 12 March 2020 (10 business days, Standard) *BRP received 2 April 2020
ILR forecast: 17 July 2022 - 10 October 2022


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2020, 06:54:08 PM »
To add for clarity (well... I say clarity):

ALL "Core" Appointments are showing at £110.00 (weekdays, weekends, before & after hours, etc)

"Enhanced" Appointments are showing at £69.99

"Premium" Appointments are showing at £85.00, £100.00 or £110.00

HELPPPPPP  ???
« Last Edit: January 17, 2020, 06:57:06 PM by new-yorkshire »
Married in NY: 18 April 2017
Spouse Visa received: 29 June 2017 (27 business days, Priority)
Relocated to UK: 16 July 2017
FLR(M) biometrics: 28 February 2020 (online app 17 January 2020)
FLR(M) granted: 12 March 2020 (10 business days, Standard) *BRP received 2 April 2020
ILR forecast: 17 July 2022 - 10 October 2022


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2020, 06:56:48 PM »
Hi guys. I'm wondering if anyone who has completed the "new" online application process can help. I have just paid my IHS (£1000) and my application fee (£1052.20). There was a small note underneath my application fee payment confirmation that mentions that a £19.20 charge for my biometrics is included in the total.

Now, I'm on the UKVCAS site trying to book my Core Appointment (basic) for biometrics and it wants to charge me £110 to make the reservation. I was under the impression that a Core Appointment was free. It even said so when I chose the Standard processing (rather Priority) on the UKVI checkout when I paid the £1052.20.

Does anyone know what's up with this? The support line for UKVCAS costs £2.50/minute so I am very hesitant to call, but I am really not happy about this extra £110. Any advice? Have I missed some fine print and the Core Appointments actually do cost money?

Urgh!  [smiley=bigcry.gif]

Thanks in advance.

The free appointments are very hard to find as they are limited and snapped up right away.
You could try looking for appointments further in the future or ones further afield.


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2020, 06:59:34 PM »
Ah, thanks, @larrabee

Do you know if I am "allowed" to book an Enhanced or Premium appointment even though I have chosen a Standard application? The UKVCAS site is offering me the option to book these. I am thinking of doing this since it's cheaper for either of those than to go with Core.
Married in NY: 18 April 2017
Spouse Visa received: 29 June 2017 (27 business days, Priority)
Relocated to UK: 16 July 2017
FLR(M) biometrics: 28 February 2020 (online app 17 January 2020)
FLR(M) granted: 12 March 2020 (10 business days, Standard) *BRP received 2 April 2020
ILR forecast: 17 July 2022 - 10 October 2022


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2020, 07:03:18 PM »
If you’re willing to wait a few weeks/couple of months, you can probably find a free appointment.

If you want it sooner than that, you can pay £110 for one of the core/out of hours appointments.

Not sure what happens about booking enhanced/premium if you have selected standard though.


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2020, 07:04:23 PM »
Does it say what the premium appointments entail?

The only premium ones I know of are the £800 premium service appointments which give a decision within 24 hours.


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2020, 07:08:43 PM »
Hi @ksand24

I don't know why I'm also being given the option to book Enhanced and Premium appointments, but it will let me get all the way to checkout. This is all the UKVCAS site says regarding the difference between the types of appointments:

Quote
You can choose to book an appointment at a number of different service point types:

  • core service points offer free of charge appointments and out of hours appointments
  • enhanced service points offer an inclusive package of extra services
  • premium lounges that offers a personalised customer experience
Married in NY: 18 April 2017
Spouse Visa received: 29 June 2017 (27 business days, Priority)
Relocated to UK: 16 July 2017
FLR(M) biometrics: 28 February 2020 (online app 17 January 2020)
FLR(M) granted: 12 March 2020 (10 business days, Standard) *BRP received 2 April 2020
ILR forecast: 17 July 2022 - 10 October 2022


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2020, 07:42:47 PM »
Okay, looks like the premium lounge option is only available in London, Manchester and Birmingham and costs £210 or £270. It includes scanning of your documents, plus free newspapers, drinks and food!
See: https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services/detail

The enhanced appointments include document checking and scanning of your documents so you don’t have to upload them yourself:
https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services/detail

Or you can book a core appointment (free or £110) and add the scanning for £49.99:
https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services/detail



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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2020, 12:30:40 AM »
Nabbed a free appointment!   ;D

Thanks for the advice. I started checking the UKVCAS website regularly and new appointments go live each day at midnight. Click through the dates until you get to the end (5 weeks into the future) and scope out the last available date. I checked at 00:04 and there were about 7 free appointments available on that particular day.
Married in NY: 18 April 2017
Spouse Visa received: 29 June 2017 (27 business days, Priority)
Relocated to UK: 16 July 2017
FLR(M) biometrics: 28 February 2020 (online app 17 January 2020)
FLR(M) granted: 12 March 2020 (10 business days, Standard) *BRP received 2 April 2020
ILR forecast: 17 July 2022 - 10 October 2022


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2020, 07:30:38 AM »
Nabbed a free appointment!   ;D

Thanks for the advice. I started checking the UKVCAS website regularly and new appointments go live each day at midnight. Click through the dates until you get to the end (5 weeks into the future) and scope out the last available date. I checked at 00:04 and there were about 7 free appointments available on that particular day.

Excellent! Thank you for sharing your winning strategy!  :)


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Re: UKVCAS Biometrics Core Appoinment Fee £110 (not free of charge???)
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2020, 03:34:45 PM »
Sorry I'm a bit late to the party but I thought I'd throw in something I noticed in case someone else had a similar question.
I looked at all the appointments when I booked and it was actually cheaper to do the Enhanced service when no free core appts were available. Core listed as 100 while I saw a lot of enhanced for 60, which is what I paid. So if you can't find a free appt, check enhanced prices
Engaged: June 2014
Married: July 30 2014
Visa Application Received in UK: Nov. 27 2014
Visa granted: Dec 12 2014
Moves to UK: Jan 30th 2015


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