IDV App Info - for Applications Reusing Biometrics

I think priority and super priority is still unavailable, but the biometrics will be much easier for everyone.

It’s frustrating because my husband and I planned to do super priority and then COVID hit. My visa expires in 3 days so no matter what I’d never get priority with COVID involved. I truly hope they don’t open that up when so many are waiting on decisions.

Got it - I'm sorry that you can't get the priority though, as I really feel your pain. Travel being impossible in the direst straits is very unpalatable.I feel they really should be pushing these through in date order, and seeing people with applications as far back as March getting no answer yet but with many coming through from far more recently is simply unconscionable.

The only thing that keeps me sane (and yes, I'm grasping at straws) is that I'm not going anywhere anyway anytime soon. It would be great to have the option, but my US passport will need to be renewed soon (it expires in July 2021), and I'd need six months on it to travel most places in Europe anyway. As soon as this goes through, I'm sending off to renew that sucker!

 I certainly would NEVER move back to the States at this point; I haven't even visited once during the five years since we moved to the UK.

The only thing that keeps me sane (and yes, I'm grasping at straws) is that I'm not going anywhere anyway anytime soon. It would be great to have the option, but my US passport will need to be renewed soon (it expires in July 2021), and I'd need six months on it to travel most places in Europe anyway. As soon as this goes through, I'm sending off to renew that sucker!

 I certainly would NEVER move back to the States at this point; I haven't even visited once during the five years since we moved to the UK.

I don’t have the same passport concerns you do - I think I have another 6 years on mine - but I had no intention to travel either.

My only concern was my mother still being in the States and if I had to, I can’t travel on a moments notice. 

UKVI Update Page: It looks like they have removed the line that said they would send an email within two weeks to all those who used the App. Now they just say they are 'unable to maintain service standards.' See below. ARGH!

Update about the IDV app
The IDV app has been successfully rolled out over the last five weeks to deal with the delays caused by COVID-19. We are now fully up to speed and are successfully submitting thousands of applications each day to UKVI.

All customers who are eligible for biometric reuse and registered with UKVCAS up to 18 September 2020 will have received an invitation from us to download and use the IDV app by 23 September 2020.
After you have submitted your application on the IDV app, all supporting information is sent to UKVI within 24 hours.
UKVCAS cannot provide any status updates about your application once it has been submitted to UKVI.
The unprecedented impact of COVID-19 means that UKVI are unable to maintain their usual service standards for all applications made in the UK. UKVI understands that this means some applicants are waiting longer for a decision.

I just read the updates and I am slightly confused with this one line....

“case will be dealt with by UKVI based on the date of your registration with UKVI/UKVCAS.” Does this mean the date of the online submission.... or the date at which you submitted biometrics/reused biometrics regardless of whether it was done via the app or an in person appointment.


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I just read the updates and I am slightly confused with this one line....

“case will be dealt with by UKVI based on the date of your registration with UKVI/UKVCAS.” Does this mean the date of the online submission.... or the date at which you submitted biometrics/reused biometrics regardless of whether it was done via the app or an in person appointment.


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I think they are being intentionally unclear.

UKVI Update Page: It looks like they have removed the line that said they would send an email within two weeks to all those who used the App. Now they just say they are 'unable to maintain service standards.' See below. ARGH!

They did that with the Settlement Priority Service for US applications a few years ago as well.

When they introduced it, it was a 15-working day service... then so many people used it that they couldn't process them all within that timeframe, so they took out the '15 working days' like and just said, 'your application will be processed ahead of non-priority applications'... then a while after that, they decided it was now a 30-working-day service instead... and the price of it has only risen over the years, even though it now takes twice as long for a decision than when it was first introduced.

I don’t have the same passport concerns you do - I think I have another 6 years on mine - but I had no intention to travel either.

My only concern was my mother still being in the States and if I had to, I can’t travel on a moments notice. 

Yes, my mom is still in the States and she's 80+, but my sister is over there and nearby, so there is an immediate family member on standby. However, if there is an emergency, I'll cross that bridge when it happens.

I honestly never thought my US passport would be a worry when I started all of this back in June. I sure hope it doesn't take a year to sort out! Then again, who knows when travel will be safe again anyway?

So looks like UKVCA lS have returned to normal service, which means everyone now books a biometrics appointment right away without waiting for an email, and only Tier 4 applicants can use the app:

Return to normal UKVCAS service
We are delighted to announce that our normal UKVCAS service has resumed. This means that UKVCAS customers (except T4 students) can book an appointment at a UKVCAS Service Point as soon as they register with us and no longer need to wait to receive an invitation email. This includes customers who registered on or after 19 September 2020.

Please take a look at ‘Booking an appointment’ and ‘Student applications’ below for further information.

The booking calendar now shows available appointments up to 25 October 2020. This offers a mix of free and chargeable appointments. Please note, free appointments do get booked up very quickly

And

Update about the IDV app
The IDV app was developed by UKVI and UKVCAS as a response to Covid-19 as the UKVCAS couldn’t operate at normal capacity.

Now that our normal service has resumed, UKVI have asked that all new applicants book a UKVCAS appointment. Moving forward, UKVI have decided that the IDV app is only for use by T4 students.

Don’t worry, if you have already been invited to use the IDV app, please continue to submit your application via the IDV app.

This means that moving forward all new UKVCAS customers (except T4 students) must book an appointment with UKVCAS and will not be able to use the IDV app.

UKVI are reviewing how they use the IDV app moving forward. We will keep you updated with any further news about the IDV app.

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message-detail?flashmessageId=74833


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So looks like UKVCA lS have returned to normal service, which means everyone now books a biometrics appointment right away without waiting for an email, and only Tier 4 applicants can use the app:

Return to normal UKVCAS service
We are delighted to announce that our normal UKVCAS service has resumed. This means that UKVCAS customers (except T4 students) can book an appointment at a UKVCAS Service Point as soon as they register with us and no longer need to wait to receive an invitation email. This includes customers who registered on or after 19 September 2020.

Please take a look at ‘Booking an appointment’ and ‘Student applications’ below for further information.

The booking calendar now shows available appointments up to 25 October 2020. This offers a mix of free and chargeable appointments. Please note, free appointments do get booked up very quickly

And

Update about the IDV app
The IDV app was developed by UKVI and UKVCAS as a response to Covid-19 as the UKVCAS couldn’t operate at normal capacity.

Now that our normal service has resumed, UKVI have asked that all new applicants book a UKVCAS appointment. Moving forward, UKVI have decided that the IDV app is only for use by T4 students.

Don’t worry, if you have already been invited to use the IDV app, please continue to submit your application via the IDV app.

This means that moving forward all new UKVCAS customers (except T4 students) must book an appointment with UKVCAS and will not be able to use the IDV app.

UKVI are reviewing how they use the IDV app moving forward. We will keep you updated with any further news about the IDV app.

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message-detail?flashmessageId=74833


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I see some appointments are available in my area. But I don’t want to book and pay for an appointment and a decision via the app comes in before that. I wonder if it does can we ask for a refund?


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How much do you want to bet they will tell those of us who used the app to go back and book an appointment? What an exercise in futility...

I just went ahead and booked the first free appointment I could for next month (Oct 16th). I can always cancel it if I hear anything before then. Trust me--I do not relish the idea of travelling to Croydon (especially not now).

I wonder if there is a massive backlog of IDV App registered applications. It's a pain that we have to second guess what is happening behind the scenes.

Anyway, I thought I would have a look on the UKVCAS website for appointments and I can see that in and around London there are quite a few appointments available, from £0 to £69.99 to £110 to £135 and also as much as £199. The ones best suited for us are £135 in mid-October. My wife had completed the IDV App part but I am tempted to book an appointment. I'd rather pay the £135 and get some traction on this rather than just wait and wait.

M.

I know I’ve been part of this thread but to be honest, I opted out of the IDV app once I finally received my invite on the 7th September.  I think there’s just a general backlog, with some categories worse off than others.

I was exhausted with the app and sick of the process so I decided not to upload through there at all. I was able to book and attend an appointment on 10 September, and I still have no movement either. Applied 16 June FLR(M).

At this point everything is speculation unless UKVI tell us more which they won’t. I’d say do whatever feels right for you - IDV app only, in person only, or dual submission. All the forums I follow only seem to be seeing movement on ILR, Tier and Switching applications 😐

Without UKVI saying anything though, we will never know. I’d say if you decide to go for an in-person don’t get your hopes up too much.

I am ILR(M). Really straightforward application, or so I thought. Employment, residence, marriage and income stuff is consistent. I am so boring!

Can anyone confirm that if we have uploaded our documents on the app then we don’t need to take anything with us should we decide to undertake an in person appointment? I gather that the only thing they need for the in person appointment is the biometrics?

It certainly seems like all of us who had used the app would be better off grabbing an appointment as who knows how long it will take for them to sort this out. It’s definitely concerning that they are not using the app moving forward when it comes to us.


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