supporting documents scan

[billalahmed]

Hi, so like some people on here I sent my supporting documents to Sheffield for a spouse visa application from Pakistan and had them returned as the documents have to be scanned at a VF centre.

Just want to ask, has anyone any experience of using the VF centres? the website doesnt show the full opening times, only says from 9-16:00, is that weekdays or weekends too? Also do they scan the documents whilst you wait? and how long does it take? And what fees do they charge in total?

[Halima19888]

Hi
I sent my supporting documents to Sheffield last Friday (5th april) and had them sent back to my solicitor as they do not take posted documents anymore.
I went to the VFS centre yesterday with ALL any supporting documents, including original nikahnama, TB test and English test.
They do not accept originals, or papers that are NOT A4 sized (my wage slips were printed small) so I had to get them photocopied at the centre (cost me over £4 for 17 pages) on A4 paper.
They then scanned them all (I had lots of papers because I printed my entire Whatsapp chat history) then they gave ALL papers back to me.
They scan and send to Sheffield themselves.
So basically on the 10th (yesterday)
I arrived at around 8:45 at the VFS centre in Manchester and they gave me some papers with barcodes on them. For example one paper said ‘financial evidence’ and had to be placed on top of the pile of my financial evidence. I had to sit down and do that myself which was awkward as I was doing it with all my papers on my lap! Some people were sat on the floor arranging their papers into the correct piles!
Mine were already arranged by my solicitor but they need the barcoded papers on top of each pile.
You have to put the first page of your application at the front of the entire document pile.
After this, I got a ticket number and had to sit and wait my turn.
My turn came around 10/10:30am
I went to the counter and she saw my originals and said can’t use original as scanner may ruin them. She sent them to be photocopied.
After the papers were scanned and given back to me I had to pay a fee of £75 BY CARD ONLY. They don’t accept cash. As well as photocopying fees.
Then I had to sit and wait for about 45 minutes, for the documents to save on the computer.
Once they were saved she called me and said I can leave now.
So basically I was at the VFS centre from 8:30am-11:45am. I was super late for work that day

[billalahmed]

Thanks for the feedback. By any chance do you know if the barcodes seperator is the same as this on VFS website, if so im thinking of printing it off so im prepared before I go.

https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/pk/en/-/med ... rators.pdf

[rmkirfan]

@ Halima19888 , Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I will have to take copies of marriage Photos ,wedding card, TB certificate in A4 Size or keep photocopies of every thing.

[bhargav24]

Please can you tell for passport copy. what they need front page and back page or copy of all passport.thanks

[Halima19888]

Yes, barcode seperators are exactly the same on website. I wish I knew about this earlier! It would be much easier if you could print at home, separate all piles accordingly and go to the centre. Rather than fussing about there with no space!
Yes take photocopies of everything.
TB certificate, English test certificate, nikahnama and all originals. Do not take ANY originals they don’t accept them.
They will then give the photocopies back to you.
Make sure they’re printed on A4 paper. If it’s bigger than A4 then print half and half.
Yes take passport photocopies of photograph page, and all travel stamps.

[Halima19888]

With photographs I suggest, make a word document and you can fit about 16, 8cm sized pictures per page. Upload pics onto your computer and do it like that. Saves paper.

[rmkirfan]

With photographs I suggest, make a word document and you can fit about 16, 8cm sized pictures per page. Upload pics onto your computer and do it like that. Saves paper.

Thank you very much. Its great idea, Will do that..
And also, by any chance have you tried uploading documents on line? I think if we upload documents online, we could save £75 and trip to VFS centers isnt.

[Halima19888]

With photographs I suggest, make a word document and you can fit about 16, 8cm sized pictures per page. Upload pics onto your computer and do it like that. Saves paper.

Thank you very much. Its great idea, Will do that..
And also, by any chance have you tried uploading documents on line? I think if we upload documents online, we could save £75 and trip to VFS centers isnt.

Yes I did read about that *after* I submitted my documents at the centre. I’m not sure how the uploading of documents works. I think I would have had to use a scanner, which I don’t have.

[Imhere01]

I went on Friday at around 3pm where they tried to turn me away because they were too busy! However I managed to get an appointment and I handed over my documents and the man said he would scan them and send me an email once done so left

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

[seagul]

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

You should have either waited there or book appointment for some other day. I wish they haven't lost them and fully uploaded them.

[Halima19888]

I went on Friday at around 3pm where they tried to turn me away because they were too busy! However I managed to get an appointment and I handed over my documents and the man said he would scan them and send me an email once done so left

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

I had to wait for approx. 45 minutes until they were uploaded. Maybe try going back or contacting them?

[billalahmed]

I went on Friday at around 3pm where they tried to turn me away because they were too busy! However I managed to get an appointment and I handed over my documents and the man said he would scan them and send me an email once done so left

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

I got my documents scanned today whilst i waited, I didn't receive an email but got a receipt as confirmation.
Do you not need to go back to collect your documents and pay for the scanning?

Does anyone know if its possible and how to upload the documents yourself rather than visiting VFS? They charge £75 just to scan and upload the documents.

[Imhere01]

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

You should have either waited there or book appointment for some other day. I wish they haven't lost them and fully uploaded them.

I didn’t know I had to wait. I thought I just hand them over and they will do the rest. I don’t need an appointment, it’s a walk in service.

[Imhere01]

I went on Friday at around 3pm where they tried to turn me away because they were too busy! However I managed to get an appointment and I handed over my documents and the man said he would scan them and send me an email once done so left

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

I got my documents scanned today whilst i waited, I didn't receive an email but got a receipt as confirmation.
Do you not need to go back to collect your documents and pay for the scanning?

Does anyone know if its possible and how to upload the documents yourself rather than visiting VFS? They charge £75 just to scan and upload the documents.

I got a receipt as I paid £75 but I also paid £20 so the papers would be couriered back to me

Does anyone know how I can contact them?

[Halima19888]

I went on Friday at around 3pm where they tried to turn me away because they were too busy! However I managed to get an appointment and I handed over my documents and the man said he would scan them and send me an email once done so left

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

I got my documents scanned today whilst i waited, I didn't receive an email but got a receipt as confirmation.
Do you not need to go back to collect your documents and pay for the scanning?

Does anyone know if its possible and how to upload the documents yourself rather than visiting VFS? They charge £75 just to scan and upload the documents.

I’m also wondering the same thing. I got a receipt and my documents handed back to me. They don’t keep your documents. The purpose of this new systems of scanning rather than posting supporting documents is so that you may keep the documents during the appplication process. Did you pay the £75? Or just give the documents and leave? @imhere01

[Halima19888]

@imhere01 “I got a receipt as I paid £75 but I also paid £20 so the papers would be couriered back to me

Does anyone know how I can contact them?”



Sorry just read your post. Try going back in or maybe they have some contact details online?
@imhere01

[Imhere01]

I went on Friday at around 3pm where they tried to turn me away because they were too busy! However I managed to get an appointment and I handed over my documents and the man said he would scan them and send me an email once done so left

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

I got my documents scanned today whilst i waited, I didn't receive an email but got a receipt as confirmation.
Do you not need to go back to collect your documents and pay for the scanning?

Does anyone know if its possible and how to upload the documents yourself rather than visiting VFS? They charge £75 just to scan and upload the documents.

I’m also wondering the same thing. I got a receipt and my documents handed back to me. They don’t keep your documents. The purpose of this new systems of scanning rather than posting supporting documents is so that you may keep the documents during the appplication process. Did you pay the £75? Or just give the documents and leave? @imhere01

I handed over my documents.. I then paid £75 for the fee and £20 for the courier service ..

I told him I paid for priority service so needed the documents to be uploaded ASAP to which he said he would do it the following day but I haven’t received an email from vfs to say that this has been done

[Halima19888]

I went on Friday at around 3pm where they tried to turn me away because they were too busy! However I managed to get an appointment and I handed over my documents and the man said he would scan them and send me an email once done so left

I’m now thinking I should have waited there?! Did anyone else do this or receive an email from vfs once scanning was done?

I still haven’t received my email

I got my documents scanned today whilst i waited, I didn't receive an email but got a receipt as confirmation.
Do you not need to go back to collect your documents and pay for the scanning?

Does anyone know if its possible and how to upload the documents yourself rather than visiting VFS? They charge £75 just to scan and upload the documents.

I’m also wondering the same thing. I got a receipt and my documents handed back to me. They don’t keep your documents. The purpose of this new systems of scanning rather than posting supporting documents is so that you may keep the documents during the appplication process. Did you pay the £75? Or just give the documents and leave? @imhere01

I handed over my documents.. I then paid £75 for the fee and £20 for the courier service ..

I told him I paid for priority service so needed the documents to be uploaded ASAP to which he said he would do it the following day but I haven’t received an email from vfs to say that this has been done

You really didn’t need to pay the £20 for them to post back to you. If you would’ve waited they would hand your documents to you there and then as soon as they were saved.
Mine was priority too, I didn’t really ask when they would send them to Sheffield but I did wait for them to save on their computers which took around 45 mins.

[Imhere01]

I got my documents scanned today whilst i waited, I didn't receive an email but got a receipt as confirmation.
Do you not need to go back to collect your documents and pay for the scanning?

Does anyone know if its possible and how to upload the documents yourself rather than visiting VFS? They charge £75 just to scan and upload the documents.

I’m also wondering the same thing. I got a receipt and my documents handed back to me. They don’t keep your documents. The purpose of this new systems of scanning rather than posting supporting documents is so that you may keep the documents during the appplication process. Did you pay the £75? Or just give the documents and leave? @imhere01

I handed over my documents.. I then paid £75 for the fee and £20 for the courier service ..

I told him I paid for priority service so needed the documents to be uploaded ASAP to which he said he would do it the following day but I haven’t received an email from vfs to say that this has been done

You really didn’t need to pay the £20 for them to post back to you. If you would’ve waited they would hand your documents to you there and then as soon as they were saved.
Mine was priority too, I didn’t really ask when they would send them to Sheffield but I did wait for them to save on their computers which took around 45 mins.

Well it wasn’t made clear to me and I was in a stressful situation so just paid. It’s not like I chose not to wait, I wasn’t given the option of waiting because they were extremely busy and nearing the end of the day apparently even though it was only 3.30ish. I thought this was their procedure.

Well if you didn’t ask when it would be sent to Sheffield then it looks I’m in a similar boat. I’ll just go in person and see what they say.

[Halima19888]

I can understand it’s stressful for us all because this is a new procedure. Even my solicitor was a bit taken back as she normally posts all supporting documents of her clients.
Hopefully by us posting our experiences on here others will know how it works and will be better prepared unlike we were
I pray all goes well for you.

[rmkirfan]

Yes I did read about that *after* I submitted my documents at the centre. I’m not sure how the uploading of documents works. I think I would have had to use a scanner, which I don’t have.

Ok, Thank you very much.

When you completed online application , Did you get option to upload documents?

Do you think we can self-upload documents after bio-metrics are done?

or We must self upload documents as soon as we complete online application form?

(Actually accommodation document due in 10 days and thinking to complete online application and by the time biometrics done, I will receive document and can self upload, just to speed up the process.)

Please advise.
Thanks in Advance

[ariamus]

Remember that the date you complete the online application is treated as the ‘date of application’.

Therefore any dated documents need to be dated prior to the date of application. As for financial documents they cannot be more than 28 days prior to the date of application.

Once you have completed the online application, you then need to book a biometric appointment. Before this biometric appointment all documents need to be uploaded, unless you have chosen the service where Sopra Steria will scan all documents at the biometric appointment.

[rmkirfan]

Remember that the date you complete the online application is treated as the ‘date of application’.

Therefore any dated documents need to be dated prior to the date of application. As for financial documents they cannot be more than 28 days prior to the date of application.

Once you have completed the online application, you then need to book a biometric appointment. Before this biometric appointment all documents need to be uploaded, unless you have chosen the service where Sopra Steria will scan all documents at the biometric appointment.

Thank you very much ariamus, much appreciate. I will aim to selfupload before biometrics and will ensure application date is less than 28 days wrt docs.
Could you please fwd the link please where I can self upload documents?
Thanks in advance.

[ariamus]

As you complete the online application, it will guide you through to paying the visa fee and application fee.

From memory, after the above point you are directed to the Sopra Steria site, to log in and upload documents.

Note you don’t have to upload all documents at once, you can add gradually on different days if you wish however don’t leave until a day before biometrics appointment, in case there is an internet connection issue, the site doesn’t work etc.