Dear X,
I trust this note finds you well and you and your loved ones continue to stay safe amidst a very difficult time for the country at large given the situation with Covid-19.
I wanted to write to you this afternoon with the hopes of receiving some support with regards to my spouse’s Further Leave to Remain, FLR (M) application with UKVI.
By way of introduction, my name is X and I am an X constituent. I reside at X.
I wanted to bring your attention to my wife’s current FLR (M) Visa Application. Her name is X and her unique application reference number is X.
Please see the below timeline of dates.
June 12th 2020: Submitted online application for FLR (M) visa extension for further leave to remain based on marriage.
August 3rd: Received standard generic email from UKVI advising on application processing and operational delays due to Covid-19
August 13th: Received Email from UKVI/UKCVAS to book an appointment at a Sopra Steria centre for biometrics and ID submission.
Note that when my wife looked to book a free appointment (given that we had already paid for the application and IHS surcharge during the online submission) there were NO FREE or PAID APPOINTMENTS at any of the below LONDON Sopra Steria sites:
VICTORIA - Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square, Pimlico
London - NO FREE OR PAID APPOINTMENTS
TOWER HILL - 20 Mark Lane
London - NO FREE OR PAID APPOINTMENTS
STRATFORD - Stratford Library, 3 The Grove
London - NO FREE OR PAID APPOINTMENTS
VICTORIA - Regus, 52 Grosvenor Gardens
London - NO FREE OR PAID APPOINTMENTS
Thankfully, after trawling through a list of London Locations, we finally managed to find a PAID Appointment in Croydon, (also note that paid appointments for biometrics and document submission are normally for same day/next day appointments, however I completely understand that given the countrywide situation with Coronavirus, it has indeed put a spanner in the works when it comes down to business as usual and operational process).
We managed to find only paid appointments at a Croydon Sopra Steria UKVI Location at a cost of £110.00, also note that the appointment was three and a half weeks out as we were booking on the 13th of August for the first available appointment which was the 5th September...
My wife attended the appointment on the 5th of September and submitted biometrics.
It has now been just under a month since biometrics were submitted and over 3.5 months (approx 100 days) in total since her online application submission on June 12th via UKVI and she is yet to receive her new Biometric Residence Permit. I understand that in a normal pre-covid world, applications for FLR would be processed in about 8 Weeks or so.
During this time, understandably so, my wife has been unable to travel out of country, and has also not been able to visit her own immediate family overseas (her last visit to see her family was January). This has culminated into a very difficult time where mental health and well-being is already being tested due to the pandemic situation at large, exasperated more-so by the lack of processing or movement with FLR M visa applications.
I am by no means criticising UKVI or Home Office processes, as I like many of our fellow residents understand the severe impact Covid-19 has had across all our lines of business, our professional lives, our health, our mental health and our overall day to day mindset.
I would however be much obliged if you could please look into the status of my wife’s application as she genuinely needs to travel soon to visit her elderly parents.
In closing, please continue to stay safe, and thank you for your exemplary stewardship and servant leadership for the borough.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind Regards,
X
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk