Spousal Visa Renewal - How long does it take to receive it?

Hello,

I have the spousal visa which is valid until 5 April 2021. I know the procedure in regards to applying 28 days beforehand but I am wondering (on average) how long takes to receive it? The information says up to 8 weeks or pay priority of next day service.  We are invited to a wedding in mid April in Italy which was originally planned in June this year but postponed due to COVID-19. I am just wondering the chances of us being able to go without paying priority. 

Perhaps the processing time will be different now in light of COVID-19 but just thought to ask. Thank you very much.

Welcome to the forum .

I have the spousal visa which is valid until 5 April 2021. I know the procedure in regards to applying 28 days beforehand but I am wondering (on average) how long takes to receive it?

If you entered the UK on a 33-month spousal visa, you can actually apply up to 28 days before you reach 30 months in the UK, not 28 days before your visa expires... which means that if you entered the UK around July 2018, you will reach 30 months in January 2021 and can potentially apply for your visa as early as December 2020.

The information says up to 8 weeks or pay priority of next day service.  We are invited to a wedding in mid April in Italy which was originally planned in June this year but postponed due to COVID-19. I am just wondering the chances of us being able to go without paying priority. 

Before Covid, the FLR(M) application processing times were pretty standard for several years, running at 6-8 weeks for processing.

They are trying to get back to that now, but the timings are a bit all over the place as they process the backlog of applications... some people are getting their visas within a couple of weeks of attending biometrics, whereas others have been waiting 6+ weeks without hearing anything.

Also the £800 Super Priority service is not currently available because of Covid delays, and we don't know yet when it will be back up and running.

If you are planning to travel in April, I would probably apply for FLR(M) as soon as you qualify (i.e. December or January assuming you arrived in the UK around July/August 2018) and hopefully you should have enough time to get the visa without using priority. We should know more about how the processing times are going in a couple of months.

If it's available though, and you're concerned about not getting the visa in time (and you can afford it), I would recommend using the £800 Super Priority, if only for peace of mind. We don't know how Covid will play out in the next few months though, so you'll have to see what options are available nearer the time.

Welcome! 

Thank you so much for your reply! That is extremely helpful and amazing to know - so my spousal visa states that is valid from 8 August 2018 until the 5 April 2021. So I would assume then that I can apply in January? May I ask which website is best to do this through just to make sure I am in the right place for renewal?

Really appreciate it as I had no idea about that - Cheers! x

Thank you so much for your reply! That is extremely helpful and amazing to know - so my spousal visa states that is valid from 8 August 2018 until the 5 April 2021. So I would assume then that I can apply in January? May I ask which website is best to do this through just to make sure I am in the right place for renewal?

Really appreciate it as I had no idea about that - Cheers! x

What matters is the date you ENTERED the UK.  So what day was the visa sticker in your passport stamped?  You add 30 months to that date, then subtract 28 days.  That's the earliest you can apply.

If I'm honest, unless they can make HUGE progress, it is unlikely you'll be able to go to the wedding in Italy in April - if it happens.  I personally don't see things improving for some time.  In my medical opinion (that is ZERO medical training.  ), I think we'll have a vaccine come early 2021.  The rest of 2021 will be spent rolling out the vaccine in stages.  And HOPEFULLY a "normal" life going forward in 2022.  I also suspect COVID will be a bit like H1N1 and the flu vaccine and will need to be administered annually.  Just my Dr. KFdancer opinion..... #notadoctor

Thank you so much for your reply! That is extremely helpful and amazing to know - so my spousal visa states that is valid from 8 August 2018 until the 5 April 2021. So I would assume then that I can apply in January? May I ask which website is best to do this through just to make sure I am in the right place for renewal?

Really appreciate it as I had no idea about that - Cheers! x

When did you enter the UK on your spouse visa? That's the date to use for your calculations.

Only use the .gov website. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-as-a-partner-or-dependent-child-form-flrm

Well, I entered the UK on 1 December 2017 as I was on the fiancé visa and could live here until we got married. We were married in May 2018 and I applied for the spousal visa in June which was ready on 8 August 2018.... I was able to start work to follow that.

I think your DrKFDancer advice is probably right and I think our expectations are quite low that the wedding will happen..... sigh.

Well, I entered the UK on 1 December 2017 as I was on the fiancé visa and could live here until we got married. We were married in May 2018 and I applied for the spousal visa in June which was ready on 8 August 2018.... I was able to start work to follow that.

Ah, okay - your timeline is calculated a bit differently then.

You don't have a 33-month spousal visa, you have a 30-month FLR(M) visa.... which means that the date you entered the UK is not relevant, and instead the dates that matter are the 'issue Date' and 'Expiry date' listed on your BRP card.

Your 2.5 years started on the issue date of your current visa, and you should reach 30 months on the expiry date of your current visa. Therefore you cannot apply for your next FLR(M) visa until 28 days before 5th April 2021... which will be 8th March 2021.

In that case, unless you are able to use the Super Priority service, it's extremely unlikely you will be able to get your next visa by April 2021.

Oh right... well, thank you for your fast replies and for explaining further. What a shame but as you said, everything is so unknown anyway. Really appreciate all of the help here!

Actually you can apply anytime up until the expiry date of your BRP, which sounds like it might not expire until August 2021?

If so, you could apply AFTER the wedding!  And no need for super priority.

Poor couple, I hope they are able to marry soon.  Tomorrow is my 8th anniversary and we eloped.  I am a bigger and bigger advocate for eloping than ever before!   

Well, that would be amazing but I worry that on my Visa card, the expiry date says 5 April.... so is the BRP date different?

Ah, yes! I am very for elopement as well especially in this period - then just have the bigger wedding later if one so chooses! Happy anniversary

Well, that would be amazing but I worry that on my Visa card, the expiry date says 5 April.... so is the BRP date different?

Ah, yes! I am very for elopement as well especially in this period - then just have the bigger wedding later if one so chooses! Happy anniversary

If the card you are talking about is your Biometric Resident Permit, then sadly yes. You must apply by April 5th.  Sorry for getting your hopes up!

Oh yes it is that, just double checked. No worries - my hopes are neither up or down haha Thanks again!

Sorry just one last follow up - so now that we know I have the FLR(M) visa, does the renewal time still take 6 - 8 weeks on average? Or is this too all over the place in light of COVID-19?

Sorry just one last follow up - so now that we know I have the FLR(M) visa, does the renewal time still take 6 - 8 weeks on average? Or is this too all over the place in light of COVID-19?

We really don't know, because of Covid... processing times haven't been 6-8 weeks since Feb/March 2020, before lockdown. And current processing times are all over the place because they have a 6-month backlog of applications to get through... some people have been waiting 6 months since applying in order to just be able to give biometrics.

For those who have been able to attend biometrics in the last few weeks, some have received their visas in 2 weeks (usually those who attended an in-person biometrics appointments), others have been waiting 5+ weeks already with no word yet (usually those whose biometrics were reused and they submitted a new photo through the IDV app).

So all we can do right now is wait and see what happens.