IDV App Info - for Applications Reusing Biometrics

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.

I do hope you hear back soon my husband and I have brainstormed we think that they have a select few caseworkers working on the backlog and the rest focusing on new applications which is the only reason I can come up with as to why we are seeing more recent applications hearing back then the people applied during lockdown as most likely more caseworkers on focusing on most recent applications just our guess

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It’s hugely unfair that the applications are not being processed in chronological order but as ksand says, this has always been the case.
Do remember though, that apart from the injustice of it (and the fact that some of you have employers who are being less than helpful at the moment regarding right to work or have other personal issues pending) in the grand scheme of things it makes no difference at all for those of you applying for FLR. You will all still qualify for ILR at the same time as you would have done had there been no delay.
ILR applicants, so sorry… but you are so close now and once you are done, you are done*!


*apart from citizenship of course, but almost everyone finds that application so much easier.

It’s hugely unfair that the applications are not being processed in chronological order but as ksand says, this has always been the case.
Do remember though, that apart from the injustice of it (and the fact that some of you have employers who are being less than helpful at the moment regarding right to work or have other personal issues pending) in the grand scheme of things it makes no difference at all for those of you applying for FLR. You will all still qualify for ILR at the same time as you would have done had there been no delay.
ILR applicants, so sorry… but you are so close now and once you are done, you are done*!


*apart from citizenship of course, but almost everyone finds that application so much easier.

Except for those of us switching from other visas -- that's the part that frustrates me the most, is that the longer this is delayed the longer it will be until I can become a citizen just because my path to settlement is being delayed. I'm worried about cases like mine being stuck in a queue of work that people aren't prioritising just because for the vast vast majority of people the delay of FLR makes such a minimal difference in terms of the whole timeline of things!

Except for those of us switching from other visas -- that's the part that frustrates me the most, is that the longer this is delayed the longer it will be until I can become a citizen just because my path to settlement is being delayed. I'm worried about cases like mine being stuck in a queue of work that people aren't prioritising just because for the vast vast majority of people the delay of FLR makes such a minimal difference in terms of the whole timeline of things!

These are by no means the longest processing times we've seen... in fact, they're doing pretty well given the Covid situation, and you're currently only at 8 weeks and 3 days from submitting the application and 4 weeks from submitting via the app.

- About 4 years ago, the average FLR(M) application took 2-4 months to be processed after giving biometrics.

- And in the massive backlogs 8 years ago (caused by the change in immigration rules and big staff cuts), the average FLR(M) application took anywhere from 8 to 13 months to be processed after giving biometrics.

I know it's frustrating, but the current situation is unprecedented and everyone is just doing the best they can. UKVI actually seem to be working through the applications much faster than I was expecting them to. To be honest, I was anticipating potential processing times of 6 months to 1 year once they got back up and running... yet, they seem to be managing to process applications in a few weeks to a couple of months so far.

These are by no means the longest processing times we've seen... in fact, they're doing pretty well given the Covid situation, and you're currently only at 8 weeks and 3 days from submitting the application and 4 weeks from submitting via the app.

- About 4 years ago, the average FLR(M) application took 2-4 months to be processed after giving biometrics.

- And in the massive backlogs 8 years ago (caused by the change in immigration rules and big staff cuts), the average FLR(M) application took anywhere from 8 to 13 months to be processed after giving biometrics.

I know it's frustrating, but the current situation is unprecedented and everyone is just doing the best they can. UKVI actually seem to be working through the applications much faster than I was expecting them to. To be honest, I was anticipating potential processing times of 6 months to 1 year once they got back up and running... yet, they seem to be managing to process applications in a few weeks to a couple of months so far.

Oh, I definitely understand that! I’m just saying that it’s forgetting a whole lot of us by saying that delays to FLR won’t impact how long it takes to get ILR — it definitely will in some cases.

Oh, I definitely understand that! I’m just saying that it’s forgetting a whole lot of us by saying that delays to FLR won’t impact how long it takes to get ILR — it definitely will in some cases.

I am sorry that I forgot about you. I was just trying to lift the mood a little in general. Don't forget that we've been through the experience too, we understand.

It’s hugely unfair that the applications are not being processed in chronological order but as ksand says, this has always been the case.
Do remember though, that apart from the injustice of it (and the fact that some of you have employers who are being less than helpful at the moment regarding right to work or have other personal issues pending) in the grand scheme of things it makes no difference at all for those of you applying for FLR. You will all still qualify for ILR at the same time as you would have done had there been no delay.
ILR applicants, so sorry… but you are so close now and once you are done, you are done*!


*apart from citizenship of course, but almost everyone finds that application so much easier.

ILR: so close, and yet so far... I know this is the home stretch for me, which is maybe why it seems so tedious.

The only issue I have is with my US passport, which expires in July 2021. I REALLY want to get my UK passport application submitted before I need to apply for my US passport. As long as SOMETHING comes through before January 2021 (and no one in my US family expires), I just need to sit tight. I can't flipping go anywhere anyway!

There is a lot more not having a current visa impacts than just getting ILR on time. Do you not realise that for those of us with mental health conditions this is actually traumatic? The thought of being forced through this again in 2 years now is enough to make me physically ill. I drastically underestimated the mental health impact of 3 visas, because it is something you don't know how will affect you until you do it. It really is not helpful to be told just wait, it shouldn't bother you and so on, when for many this is just adding to the trauma of a very difficult experience. One that the home office and our MP's could care less about. I am going to go back to taking a break from visa boards for another few weeks, hopefully by then some more of us from early in the pandemic will have approvals.

The home office, given how much they are charging for the application and for the help line calls, should at a minimum be able to tell us the status of our application and confirm it is really processing and a general estimate for processing times even if its outside the service standard. They know how many apps they can process in a day and how many employees are working, that is a metric they can easily measure and have available. That's a very basic tenet of pipeline management, and the status should be the bare minimum for customer service.

@margo This is a painful process we will make it through it though I do remember we applied around the same time 3 years ago now but we made it through that and we will again I do recommend taking a break from the forums and groups if your having trouble and just focus on your family try to distract yourself as much as possible thats what I have been doing my husband keeps telling me at least were together this time and not in seperate countries so I keep trying to think about that at least this time I can see my husband and girls every morning stay strong we will make it through

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@larrabee I do also believe it is hugely unfair my husband keeps saying were getting all this extra time for free as by the time it comes to file ILR I will be way over the 5 years I think more than anything its just the not knowing I do believe they should give us a free phone number or at least email to call just to check they have received all our documents and biometrics as some people in fb groups decided to call and it had turned out they didnt even have their biometrics and were advised to book an appointment but they hadn't been told till they called I feel they shouldn't of introduced the app as it seems the people who went that way its gotten more complicated than simple. I am just trying to stay positive and hope I hear back at least before the end of the year

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I am just trying to stay positive and hope I hear back at least before the end of the year

That's the spirit! 

Threads like this can be incredibly useful because you have company and support while you wait but can become counter productive when they start to spiral deeper and deeper into negativity.

That's the spirit! 

Threads like this can be incredibly useful because you have company and support while you wait but can become counter productive when they start to spiral deeper and deeper into negativity.

Yea I did have a rough time for a couple weeks from seeing so many more recent hearing back quicker but that is also what happened to me 3 years ago I had waited 2 months and some people who applied right before I heard back got decisions in a couple days but I did eventually get mine so I keep thinking I will get it eventually

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Yea I did have a rough time for a couple weeks from seeing so many more recent hearing back quicker but that is also what happened to me 3 years ago I had waited 2 months and some people who applied right before I heard back got decisions in a couple days but I did eventually get mine so I keep thinking I will get it eventually

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You will! Everyone does, eventually!  And honestly one you have your visa, you'll quickly forget how agonising the wait was.

No mention of IDV app but this is interesting reading.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-june-2020/how-many-people-continue-their-stay-in-the-uk-or-apply-to-stay-permanently

We've just received the email approving our ILR - SET(M), late afternoon.

We put our application in on the 20th June, received the biometric reuse email on the 23rd July. IDV app invitation was on the 28th Aug, completed and submitted on the 29th. So just short of 4 months from application submission to approval.

Really hoping all yours come through soon