**** COVID19 and UKVCAS Appointments **** (ONLY discuss here)

[Tanush01]

For new applicants help sake:

1) Documents submission:

Self-submission is optional but I would recommend it as your documents will be sent to UKVI even before biometrics and you will save time. It has nothing to do with biometrics appointment booking. However, this option is only available up to 48 hours before biometrics appointment.

2) Appointment booking:

Try different postcodes to view different locations. Look through out the day for any cancellations or 12AM GMT. Look for 1-2 days regularly, you maybe able to find an earlier one due to a cancellation. Appointments are reported to be available only after 3/4 weeks gap these days. Book the one available if you fail to book any earlier one in 1-2 days. Recommended because if you book a date now lets say, you will not be able to view the earlier availability (if any cancellations) then. Worth 1-2 days regular check.

3) Date of application:

Date of application is the date you pay and submit online. Biometrics date is irrelevant. You have a 2 months deadline though after application date. Documents upload date/self-submission is irrelevant but recommended.

Many Thanks Cullinan for your response

I have just searched near to my postcode & able to book appointments for 23 Nov since new slots have do come up after 12am. I will try calling ukvcas to find out if anything is visible at their end to reschedule early since I tried many postcodes & didn't find any.

One more point - while I booked appointment, I was expecting email with QR code however have not received anything... checked my junk, spam folder as well.

Is it worth escalating to ukvcas or is it normal. Will I receive it later on?

As guided, I will submit the docs as well - thanks

Kind Regards

[CULLINAN]

@Tanush01

1) UKVCAS helpline can do nothing in relation to booking any earlier appointments. Since you have booked now for 23rd Nov, you can not view any more availability. Stick with the appointment. You will only waste your time and money calling them.

2) QR code can take a couple of hours to come also. It will come soon.

[CULLINAN]

@Ameline

Definitely the reports on this forum alone are a very small proportion of the total number of cases HO receives/user experience’s shared here.

The overall picture is even worse.

I browsed some other forums and facebook immigration pages, people have reported waiting since Feb-June for FLR(M)’s, SET(M)’s - I focused on spouse visas’s only.

Just to share one: one person even reported that HO emailed back after 5 months that they do not have the documents even when the documents were submitted in March!!

[mesn]

Friend got a decision last week in 3 working days (T2G > Set O). But no decision update yet this week in the timelines forum.

[fx125]

Hi - I've just booked a (free) biometrics appointment in London exactly 4 weeks from now. I desperately need to get my ILR on time to travel in December to visit a sick relative. I can see that once you book the appointment, there is no way of seeing current appointment availability unless you cancel. Is there someone who is going to be booking an appointment over the next week or some kind of system where some kind soul could let me know if there are any earlier appointments available, don't mind if they're paid?! I'm really desperate and worried that end November gives me a very tight timeline - I would have to be really lucky and get my BRP like 3 weeks after to be able to travel

Would appreciate any help or advice anyone could provide - thanks!

I have seen quite a few slots in uncommon places like Sunderland, Wakefield, etc...where they have as early as 04 Nov but unfortunately none is free so you might need to consider

[Ameline]

@Ameline

Definitely the reports on this forum alone are a very small proportion of the total number of cases HO receives/user experience’s shared here.

The overall picture is even worse.

I browsed some other forums and facebook immigration pages, people have reported waiting since Feb-June for FLR(M)’s, SET(M)’s - I focused on spouse visas’s only.

Just to share one: one person even reported that HO emailed back after 5 months that they do not have the documents even when the documents were submitted in March!!

Many thanks CULLINAN, very helpful.

This would be frustrating for Feb-June applicants especially the ones HO claimed not receiving their documents.

[Tanush01]

@Tanush01

1) UKVCAS helpline can do nothing in relation to booking any earlier appointments. Since you have booked now for 23rd Nov, you can not view any more availability. Stick with the appointment. You will only waste your time and money calling them.

2) QR code can take a couple of hours to come also. It will come soon.

Many Thanks Cullinan

QR code has come this morning.

One more question - Is there any provision to update the address post biometrics if one needs to?

Kind Regards

[kittycatkeeb]

@Ameline

Definitely the reports on this forum alone are a very small proportion of the total number of cases HO receives/user experience’s shared here.

The overall picture is even worse.

I browsed some other forums and facebook immigration pages, people have reported waiting since Feb-June for FLR(M)’s, SET(M)’s - I focused on spouse visas’s only.

Just to share one: one person even reported that HO emailed back after 5 months that they do not have the documents even when the documents were submitted in March!!

I saw that one as well!! So shocking, I can't even imagine how helpless and frustrated they feel. What can you do when you know you've done everything correct and the HO still says they don't have your stuff???

[CULLINAN]

Many Thanks Cullinan

QR code has come this morning.

One more question - Is there any provision to update the address post biometrics if one needs to?

Kind Regards

https://visa-address-update.service.gov.uk/

[chopter]

Hopefully things are not slowing down too much, My wife applied for her ILR (LR) on 03/08, and received her approval email today (27/10)


Good luck everyone!

[ajitu92]

Hopefully things are not slowing down too much, My wife applied for her ILR (LR) on 03/08, and received her approval email today (27/10)


Good luck everyone!

Congratulations! Looks like we're still moving ahead on Set (LR).

[kiss300]

Hopefully, things are not slowing down too much, My wife applied for her ILR (LR) on 03/08, and received her approval email today (27/10)


Good luck everyone!

Congratulations
Waiting for mine. I did my in 01/08.

So hopefully it comes soon

[ajitu92]

Hopefully, things are not slowing down too much, My wife applied for her ILR (LR) on 03/08, and received her approval email today (27/10)


Good luck everyone!

Congratulations
Waiting for mine. I did my in 01/08.

So hopefully it comes soon

Still a couple applications outstanding between 26/07 and 03/08 including yours, so don't worry it's coming soon. Please do update us when it comes through!

[poper]

Hopefully things are not slowing down too much, My wife applied for her ILR (LR) on 03/08, and received her approval email today (27/10)


Good luck everyone!

Congratulations.
And thanks for posting. It gives all of us so much hope amongst the gloom

[ajitu92]

Hopefully things are not slowing down too much, My wife applied for her ILR (LR) on 03/08, and received her approval email today (27/10)


Good luck everyone!

Congratulations.
And thanks for posting. It gives all of us so much hope amongst the gloom

Seconded. It is much appreciated!

[poper]

ajitu92, Going by your records, when was the first approval obtained for a July applicant under Set LR?

[gag285]

Friend got a decision last week in 3 working days (T2G > Set O). But no decision update yet this week in the timelines forum.

It’s the half term week so it is likely some staff is on annual leave. I submitted my biometrics on Friday 23rd early morning but I am not expecting decision this week although Set(O) decisions are swift.

[Ameline]

Congratulations @chopter to your wife.

Really happy for SET(LR). It seems like moving!!

[ajitu92]

ajitu92, Going by your records, when was the first approval obtained for a July applicant under Set LR?

Hey @poper, according to this forum, first July applicant received approval on 7th September but this was an outlier. Within the bounds of the trend, the first July applicant received approval on 5th October.

[schen]

ajitu92, Going by your records, when was the first approval obtained for a July applicant under Set LR?

Hey @poper, according to this forum, first July applicant received approval on 7th September but this was an outlier. Within the bounds of the trend, the first July applicant received approval on 5th October.

@ajitu92, @Ameline, and other gurus, do we know when does the Christmas holiday start for HO caseworkers? I submitted my (LR) application on 5th September (biometrics in person on 25th Sep) and hope to get a decision by Christmas. Judging by the current trend, this seems possible (if they don't slow down significantly in December)? Thanks!

[ajitu92]

ajitu92, Going by your records, when was the first approval obtained for a July applicant under Set LR?

Hey @poper, according to this forum, first July applicant received approval on 7th September but this was an outlier. Within the bounds of the trend, the first July applicant received approval on 5th October.

@ajitu92, @Ameline, and other gurus, do we know when does the Christmas holiday start for HO caseworkers? I submitted my (LR) application on 5th September (biometrics in person on 25th Sep) and hope to get a decision by Christmas. Judging by the current trend, this seems possible (if they don't slow down significantly in December)? Thanks!

Not a clue, but I assume it will roughly be in line with the rest of the country/government and corporate institutions. Yeah, according to the current trend it should come before Christmas maybe even a lot earlier, but who really knows what UKVI have up their sleeves next

[Bengalthecat]

Friend got a decision last week in 3 working days (T2G > Set O). But no decision update yet this week in the timelines forum.

Feeling helpless reading on the timeline thread new set o applicant getting swift approval but not heard a lot on IDV-only or pre-Sep applicants..Pray for us all still anxiously waiting.

[kittycatkeeb]

ajitu92, Going by your records, when was the first approval obtained for a July applicant under Set LR?

Hey @poper, according to this forum, first July applicant received approval on 7th September but this was an outlier. Within the bounds of the trend, the first July applicant received approval on 5th October.

@ajitu92, @Ameline, and other gurus, do we know when does the Christmas holiday start for HO caseworkers? I submitted my (LR) application on 5th September (biometrics in person on 25th Sep) and hope to get a decision by Christmas. Judging by the current trend, this seems possible (if they don't slow down significantly in December)? Thanks!

Not a clue, but I assume it will roughly be in line with the rest of the country/government and corporate institutions. Yeah, according to the current trend it should come before Christmas maybe even a lot earlier, but who really knows what UKVI have up their sleeves next

Omg don't lots of 'civil services' companies + government related stuff break in early December?? Can you imagine, with all the backlog still there, just going away til the new year

[ajitu92]

Hey @poper, according to this forum, first July applicant received approval on 7th September but this was an outlier. Within the bounds of the trend, the first July applicant received approval on 5th October.

@ajitu92, @Ameline, and other gurus, do we know when does the Christmas holiday start for HO caseworkers? I submitted my (LR) application on 5th September (biometrics in person on 25th Sep) and hope to get a decision by Christmas. Judging by the current trend, this seems possible (if they don't slow down significantly in December)? Thanks!

Not a clue, but I assume it will roughly be in line with the rest of the country/government and corporate institutions. Yeah, according to the current trend it should come before Christmas maybe even a lot earlier, but who really knows what UKVI have up their sleeves next

Omg don't lots of 'civil services' companies + government related stuff break in early December?? Can you imagine, with all the backlog still there, just going away til the new year

Right in the feels, that one! Then again, Home Office/UKVI have been sending out approvals even on the weekends (not sure if this is people actually working or an automated system clearing out the queue) but if it is real people actually working weekends to clear the backlog, there may be some leeway in when they will actually break for xmas.

[poper]

ajitu92, Going by your records, when was the first approval obtained for a July applicant under Set LR?

Hey @poper, according to this forum, first July applicant received approval on 7th September but this was an outlier. Within the bounds of the trend, the first July applicant received approval on 5th October.

Thanks ajitu92. For your records, one of my contact(not part of this forum) received her ILR today after Home Office raised some queries.
Application Date - 21/July
IDV Submission - 21/Sep
Decision - 27/Oct