Application started: 09.02.19
Application submitted: 11.02.19 @16.15
Fees taken: Unknown
Confirmation e-mail received: immediately on 11.02.19, inclusive of CoA
Confirmation on status: E-mail with pdf confirming Settled Status received 12.02.19 @ 9.30.
It was my Mum's application - in her 70s, self-sufficient, no CSI, here since 2012.
After about a year of procrastination, worry, second thoughts, certified translations, docs gathering, reading up about the dodgy data-sharing T&Cs, etc etc relative to my Mum's PR vs Settled Status app, we *finally* submitted her SS application.
We started on Saturday 9th with a bit of a mini-Settled-Status-application-party - her, me and my sibling.
Her Android's 5.0 so she borrowed mine to download the EU Exit app - all OK with the first scan of the passport photo page.
After trying 3 times to find the passport chip for the second passport scan, though, we got locked out of the app for 24 hrs. Annoying
Only then I thought of searching online to see where the chip is on the passport, and found it on the top left-hand side corner of the inside back cover. I tried that tip to scan my own passport as a trial, and it beeped immediately.
Wish I'd thought of that earlier!
So we continued on Sunday after the 24hrs were up - we scanned her passport's back cover & it beeped immediately.
We then scanned her face & took her photo.
Then onto the website to continue - we inserted the data relative to her passport & then couldn't carry on due to an error message saying to try again in 30 mins. We shut the page down, re-booted the laptop & tried again four times - to no avail. It looks like the site was down, probably too many people trying to apply.
So on Monday we tried again, ready to have to call the helpline. We logged in & the error message was gone - so we were able to carry on the application on the site, not needing to call the helpline.
After inserting her NIN, the site advised she needed to provide evidence for 5 years of residence - which we expected as she's not been working nor receiving benefits.
It took about four hours to either photograph or download the evidence required - we provided a mix of online bank statements/online credit card statements/poll tax cards/Electoral Register letters/Council Tax bills. Approx. 6 pieces of evidence per year.
About three times during those four hours while uploading the evidence, we got messages saying one of the files had a virus or there was an error. We closed the page, re-booted the laptop and logged in again each time - and were able to carry on.
So - took three days due to the technological glitches and the fidgety passport scanning lockout - but great that passport & documents can be scanned in rather than sent by post like with PR - the HO joins the 21C!
Her SS was granted on Monday morning - super quick!
It only took a few hours & she has no emploment/NIN/benefit records - so not sure how thorough a check was done of the evidence, but clearly it was found to be acceptable.
I have to say - much prefer this to the PR process!