IDV App Info - for Applications Reusing Biometrics

Thrilled to say that I woke up to an approval email for my ILR this morning!

Congratulations!

Historically, when there has been a processing backlog for whatever reason, once we see the first couple come in, the rest follow quickly after that. It looks like that's starting to happen now, so shouldn't be too much longer for all of you who are still waiting.

Heidi1961 - I think you have hit the nail on the head! I think they are using our APP submission date as the basis for going "in date order... based on the date of your registration with UKVI ..."
But still, I have watched as app dates later than mine are getting approved.
They are certainly NOT using the dates we submitted our applications online...

In the past, the 8-week (or 6-month for ILR) processing time did not start until you had given biometrics, so I would look at the date you submitted using the app/attended an appointment to start your 8-week count and not the date you submitted online.

Especially as no applications could be processed for several months... so it’s not really accurate to include the months when the UKVCAS centres were closed and you weren’t able to book appointments or use the app, in your processing time calculation as it was not physically possible for your visa to be processed during that time.

Essentially, I would consider the app submission date (or biometrics appointment date) to be your ‘application date’ for the purpose of working out the processing time.


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In the past, the 8-week (or 6-month for ILR) processing time did not start until you had given biometrics, so I would look at the date you submitted using the app/attended an appointment to start your 8-week count and not the date you submitted online.

Especially as no applications could be processed for several months... so it’s not really accurate to include the months when the UKVCAS centres were closed and you weren’t able to book appointments or use the app, in your processing time calculation as it was not physically possible for your visa to be processed during that time.

Essentially, I would consider the app submission date (or biometrics appointment date) to be your ‘application date’ for the purpose of working out the processing time.


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They aren't even going in the order of using the app though. There is no rhyme or reason at the moment, aside from many from August and September seeing approvals before the rest of us waiting. But I am hopeful that we will all see movement in the near future. And then, I start writing more letters because the home office needs policies that do not leave people in the dark if they have administrative challenges (which are only going to get worse with EU citizens being added to immigration control). You should be able to check the status of your application and ensure all of the documents have been received. And their "right to work" online checking system for EU citizens has been plagued with errors so far, so the move to "digital documents" is going to be horrific.

They aren't even going in the order of using the app though. There is no rhyme or reason at the moment, aside from many from August and September seeing approvals before the rest of us waiting. But I am hopeful that we will all see movement in the near future. And then, I start writing more letters because the home office needs policies that do not leave people in the dark if they have administrative challenges (which are only going to get worse with EU citizens being added to immigration control). You should be able to check the status of your application and ensure all of the documents have been received. And their "right to work" online checking system for EU citizens has been plagued with errors so far, so the move to "digital documents" is going to be horrific.

Agreed. I just want applications processed in date order. It’s all well and fine to count from biometrics date, but that shouldn’t equate to August and September being approved first (who have bio date after me).

They keep harping on ‘we process in date order’, well you don’t. Clearly you don’t. The real answer is probably you want to make statistics look better so let’s get these late ones out the door, the early ones are already out of standard so forget them.

I don’t know. I check my email all day long, just hoping someone will start doing the right thing and quit lying about how these are being processed. And each day I’m let down. I’ve reached the point where I almost am too mentally exhausted to care.

In the past, the 8-week (or 6-month for ILR) processing time did not start until you had given biometrics, so I would look at the date you submitted using the app/attended an appointment to start your 8-week count and not the date you submitted online.

Especially as no applications could be processed for several months... so it’s not really accurate to include the months when the UKVCAS centres were closed and you weren’t able to book appointments or use the app, in your processing time calculation as it was not physically possible for your visa to be processed during that time.

Essentially, I would consider the app submission date (or biometrics appointment date) to be your ‘application date’ for the purpose of working out the processing time.


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This is true, although I was told my biometrics could be reused. That was 23 July. I was not able to use the app to confirm my facial scan until 29 August (the same date as jspay21), but by that time, others had already started attending appointments.

And while I'm genuinely happy for those who have received updates, that doesn't change the fact that there is something dodgy about the government's honesty and competence regarding this whole process. I really don't think the app was ready, nor do I think they were ready to process those of us who were encouraged to use it. I feel like I picked the wrong line at the supermarket checkout...AGAIN. 

 I just want it to be over at this point.

They aren't even going in the order of using the app though. There is no rhyme or reason at the moment, aside from many from August and September seeing approvals before the rest of us waiting.

Unfortunately, it's also normal for them not to work in date order. I've been on this forum for close to 14 years and I have yet to see any real rhyme or reason for the order in which they process applications.

I assume the way it works is that applications are assigned to case workers in batches and each case worker processes their assigned applications in the order they get them... which may or may not be in date order in each pile.

Application processing times could well vary simply because different case workers work at different speeds, or one case worker may have a pile of more complicated applications to work through than another case worker... or maybe one goes on annual leave in the middle of working through their pile... who knows, really?

Well, the logical way of working is that it’s a digital system. I am a caseworker and I hit ‘next’ and it’s one big queue per visa type, and I get assigned based on my skill set and training. No worries about Annual leave, sickness, Bob having ten cases from July and Sally having ten from September....

But that’s too logical right? 🙄 this is government we are talking about!

Well, the logical way of working is that it’s a digital system. I am a caseworker and I hit ‘next’ and it’s one big queue per visa type, and I get assigned based on my skill set and training. No worries about Annual leave, sickness, Bob having ten cases from July and Sally having ten from September....

But that’s too logical right? 🙄 this is government we are talking about!

I don't know exactly how they work it at UKVI, but I've applied for 4 US visas before and those were processed in a similar way to how I described above:
- they assign appointment times in 30-minute slots and they have dozens of people show up for each slot
- you go into the embassy, take a number and sit down in their large waiting area
- then you wait for your number to be called... and they do NOT work in any logical order
- you get called up once to give fingerprints and hand over your documents
- then you sit down and wait for your number to be called again... and it can take hours

I've sat in that room waiting for my number to be called for about 6 or so hours before. Last time, I had a 9:00 am appointment and I had the fun of watching as everyone else with later appointments and higher numbers got called up and had their visas approved before me. By the time I left the embassy, there were only a handful of us left waiting, while hundreds of other applicants had come and gone... even though I was one of the first applicants to arrive that morning.

The reason it took so long? I have a DUI on my record.. and anyone with a conviction has their application processed by separate case workers, who spend the entire day going through their small pile of applications, at a much slower pace than all the other applications being processed that day. In the time that 1 applicant with a conviction was called up for their visa interview, about 10 other applicants had their interviews conducted and visas approved.

Congratulations to those that have their decision made emails.

For those that are waiting like me, hang in on there. Our time will come.

I don't know exactly how they work it at UKVI, but I've applied for 4 US visas before and those were processed in a similar way to how I described above:
- they assign appointment times in 30-minute slots and they have dozens of people show up for each slot
- you go into the embassy, take a number and sit down in their large waiting area
- then you wait for your number to be called... and they do NOT work in any logical order
- you get called up once to give fingerprints and hand over your documents
- then you sit down and wait for your number to be called again... and it can take hours

I've sat in that room waiting for my number to be called for about 6 or so hours before. Last time, I had a 9:00 am appointment and I had the fun of watching as everyone else with later appointments and higher numbers got called up and had their visas approved before me. By the time I left the embassy, there were only a handful of us left waiting, while hundreds of other applicants had come and gone... even though I was one of the first applicants to arrive that morning.

The reason it took so long? I have a DUI on my record.. and anyone with a conviction has their application processed by separate case workers, who spend the entire day going through their small pile of applications, at a much slower pace than all the other applications being processed that day. In the time that 1 applicant with a conviction was called up for their visa interview, about 10 other applicants had their interviews conducted and visas approved.

This makes a bit more sense. Thank you for sharing your experience.

I've worked with digital application systems for other businesses that include document review, now that everything is fully digital there is no reason for them to be all over the place. They have both the application date and the "biometrics date", and even if everything is received in overnight batches from Sopra Steria, those dates still stand. The software when programmed appropriately creates work queues based on app type, probably citizenship, and likely based on answers to some questions like the criminal convictions. My main assumption is that like everything this government does, the technology is not up to snuff and poorly programmed by contractors who have no insight into their processes, and they've decided it would cost too much to modify it so people are able to game the system to improve processing stats. A stack of physical papers on a desk is not the same as a digital work queue.

Or maybe it's all in another one of their world beating Excel files? <sarcastic>

Or maybe it's all in another one of their world beating Excel files? <sarcastic>

Nearly spit out my drink

Out of curiosity has anyone who used the IDV app gone past the 8 weeks yet?

I am about to hit 7 weeks and hoping we should all hear back before going past 8 weeks but it just isn't feeling like we will I have also like someone on here said had to stop checking the forum and facebook groups because it is getting overly frusturating had to distance myself I was being suspended from work due to this whole delay thankfully I have amazing managers who fought for me and were able to get head office to allow me to stay just praying I hear soon so I dont need to worry again

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I’m 4 days away from hitting the 8 week mark of using the IDV app. 2 weeks away from 7 months since my online application.