FLR(M) Biometrics and COVID

Hello!

My visa is expriing on the 12th of November. I submitted my application about 10 days ago and when i signed up for the UKVCA to book my biometric appointment I got an email that said basically that they would contact me to make my appointment as because of COVID they are backed up. I haven't heard anything yet and getting a bit nervous as I am about 6 weeks away from my visa expiring. I also haven't uploaded my documents just yet, but reread the email and it said I can do so planning on doing that today.

Anyone else been in this situation? I assume they can't throw me out from their own delays, but don't know if I need to do something about the delay??

Very ready to be done with this process again 

Hi! I'm in a similar situation, I submitted my application on 23 September and have uploaded my documents to UKVAS (but not clicked the scary 'Submit' button there yet). At the time I applied, I was told to expect an email telling me to book an appointment:

'Please continue with your registration and we will contact you, and update the website, when appointments are available for you to book. Until then, whilst the re-opened sites will appear on the website, you will not be able to find or book an appointment.'

I've not received an email, but now I see on the UKVAS website that anyone who submitted on or after 19 September should book an appointment upon registering:

'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.'

...but there's no appointments showing at all anywhere near me, paid or free. Should I just keep waiting and checking the website for appointments?

Now that service is apparently 'back to normal', you should be able to just go onto the UKVCAS website now and book an appointment without waiting to get an email.

So, if there aren't any appointments showing, you should just need to keep checking until an appointment shows up. You can try different UKVCAS centres to see if they have any.

I haven't heard anything yet and getting a bit nervous as I am about 6 weeks away from my visa expiring. I also haven't uploaded my documents just yet, but reread the email and it said I can do so planning on doing that today.

Anyone else been in this situation? I assume they can't throw me out from their own delays, but don't know if I need to do something about the delay??

It doesn't matter if your current visa expires before you get the new visa, because you only need to have submitted the online application by November 12th, you don't need to have the new visa by then. So you don't have to worry about being 'thrown out'.

As long as you submitted your online application before your current visa expires, you are protected under Section 3C Leave. Section 3C Leave states that if your visa expires while you have an application pending, as long as you submitted the online application when your visa was valid, your immigration status and right to work are automatically extended while the visa is processing.

See:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/771652/3C-3D-Leave-v9.0ext.pdf

Ah amazing! Helpful as always, thank you. I guess the spots just keep getting booked up. I will start checking back daily to see if I can get anything.

Glad I don't have to start packing my bags .

Ah amazing! Helpful as always, thank you. I guess the spots just keep getting booked up. I will start checking back daily to see if I can get anything.

Glad I don't have to start packing my bags .

I feel like I am same boat . I submitted 3ish weeks ago my visa expires on the 28th of October .got my email to use the app . I uploaded all my paperwork . But haven’t hit submit as I am scared to do it because I honestly have no idea if I hit submit and then it’s a waiting game or what ?   It’s like trying to understand some foreign language you never heard of before ..

I feel like I am same boat . I submitted 3ish weeks ago my visa expires on the 28th of October .got my email to use the app . I uploaded all my paperwork . But haven’t hit submit as I am scared to do it because I honestly have no idea if I hit submit and then it’s a waiting game or what ?   It’s like trying to understand some foreign language you never heard of before ..

They can't start processing your visa until you hit submit, so the longer you wait to submit it, the longer it will take you to get the visa.