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

[Trulysrp]

Hi All,
Any Set(O) applicants from August/September still awaiting decision?, i am one of the unlucky ones who applied in August and Biometric in Sept and still waiting.

Applied 10th Aug, bio on 1st Sept, still waiting

Thanks, ours is similar timeline, Application on 16th Aug and Bio on 5th Sept. Unlike Set M, Set (O) from pending from Aug/Sept must be a minority.

[nikhil_18in]

Hi All,
Any Set(O) applicants from August/September still awaiting decision?, i am one of the unlucky ones who applied in August and Biometric in Sept and still waiting.

Applied 10th Aug, bio on 1st Sept, still waiting

Thanks, ours is similar timeline, Application on 16th Aug and Bio on 5th Sept. Unlike Set M, Set (O) from pending from Aug/Sept must be a minority.

Did you mention any exception like i did(Driving Offence) or was it straightforward?

[Trulysrp]

Hi All,
Any Set(O) applicants from August/September still awaiting decision?, i am one of the unlucky ones who applied in August and Biometric in Sept and still waiting.

Applied 10th Aug, bio on 1st Sept, still waiting

Thanks, ours is similar timeline, Application on 16th Aug and Bio on 5th Sept. Unlike Set M, Set (O) from pending from Aug/Sept must be a minority.

Did you mention any exception like i did(Driving Offence) or was it straightforward?

No, We think ours is a straight forward case except that we have applied for self + 2 Dependent with multiple employers.

[bex654]

I am sorry that it did not make you feel better. I am not particularly anxious about this as my current visa wont expire soon or I am not planning to travel anytime soon either. But from what I can see, it seems like it takes longer for people who changed their employer in the past 5 years. I am not sure if this is definitely the case, but most people who are not getting quick decision mentioned they had changed employers before. There may be other reasons as well. - Maybe it is but my experience is on the flipside. One employer for 5 years but put in the wait queue.

Then I guess, we are all got suck in one case worker's in box, who is either have been on holiday or hates their job.

Actually I have been thinking the same. Its either one case worker or a single decision location where most cases are stuck. The other thing I have mulled over is the applications we are aware of. HO data suggests they get about 5-6k applications per quarter for ILR via the Tier 2 route. This suggests about 2k every month. Our dataset is not even a tenth of that. So the real story might be the opposite of what we think i.e. one case worker or location making quick decisions while most waiting the full period.

Yeah, it makes sense as well. My solicitor said, they work on at least 50 ILR application each month on average and during the first lockdown average decision time had been 12-14 weeks. But now it is around 2 months from the time that biometrics are submitted. So we never know. I guess, we just need to wait patiently.

[jvjroop]

Then I guess, we are all got suck in one case worker's in box, who is either have been on holiday or hates their job.

Actually I have been thinking the same. Its either one case worker or a single decision location where most cases are stuck. The other thing I have mulled over is the applications we are aware of. HO data suggests they get about 5-6k applications per quarter for ILR via the Tier 2 route. This suggests about 2k every month. Our dataset is not even a tenth of that. So the real story might be the opposite of what we think i.e. one case worker or location making quick decisions while most waiting the full period.

Yeah, it makes sense as well. My solicitor said, they work on at least 50 ILR application each month on average and during the first lockdown average decision time had been 12-14 weeks. But now it is around 2 months from the time that biometrics are submitted. So we never know. I guess, we just need to wait patiently.

it also seems that most Set O decisions are comming on weekends (lot on 28th and 29 Oct and last weekend), as i have observed,seems some overtime caseworkers are doing them on weekends who are active !

[azLondon2020]

Then I guess, we are all got suck in one case worker's in box, who is either have been on holiday or hates their job.

Actually I have been thinking the same. Its either one case worker or a single decision location where most cases are stuck. The other thing I have mulled over is the applications we are aware of. HO data suggests they get about 5-6k applications per quarter for ILR via the Tier 2 route. This suggests about 2k every month. Our dataset is not even a tenth of that. So the real story might be the opposite of what we think i.e. one case worker or location making quick decisions while most waiting the full period.

Yeah, it makes sense as well. My solicitor said, they work on at least 50 ILR application each month on average and during the first lockdown average decision time had been 12-14 weeks. But now it is around 2 months from the time that biometrics are submitted. So we never know. I guess, we just need to wait patiently.

it also seems that most Set O decisions are comming on weekends (lot on 28th and 29 Oct and last weekend), as i have observed,seems some overtime caseworkers are doing them on weekends who are active !

I have noticed that trend as well, Set (o) seem to be getting a flurry of decision from Friday - Sunday. But from what I have read on this forum the email that gets sent out is automated. So it might be that case workers are "finishing" the case on Friday and then the automated response goes out over the weekend. I would be VERY surprised if HO people are working on weekends....

[askukmaster]

Hi All,

I have filled the Set(O) application and paid the application fee and now I can see below

Further actions you must complete
Mandatory actions
Download and sign the verification checks consent form
Attend and appointment to provide your documents and biometrics by 15 January 2021.

Next to that I have link to book appointment which redirects to UKVCAS where I uploaded all my documents and book biometrics and submitted biometrics but my question is whether I should have waied until any sort of communication to approve application or something because I dont have any clue whether I have submitted the application or not,no where it is saying I have submitted. Please help

[Mixharvey]

Update mine - SET(M) approved today after sending GP confirmation letter for mental health at 12:00, decision letter came at 15:35pm

Application Biometrics F2f or app Decision Name
01/05/2020 27/08/2020 both 08/10/2020 Pat01
03/05/2020 25/08/2020 both 23/09/2020 batty42
03/05/2020 26/08/2020 both 12/10/2020 Paprika
13/05/2020 25/08/2020 both 20/10/2020 jay2ddee
14/05/2020 25/08/2020 both 10/10/2020 MKC
20/05/2020 11/09/2020 app 12/11/2020 Ami2020
21/05/2020 12/10/2020 f2f 09/11/2020 usmann
23/05/2020 10/08/2020 both 28/10/2020 1Kpaekpe5
28/05/2020 21/08/2020 f2f 21/10/2020 stonelove
11/06/2020 30/08/2020 app 24/10/2020 randompersonx
11/06/2020 30/08/2020 app 12/10/2020 EA (FB)
15/06/2020 08/09/2020 f2f 25/09/2020 Huss11
15/06/2020 03/09/2020 app 11/11/2020 MA (FB)
16/06/2020 28/08/2020 app 19/11/2020 lunaray
18/06/2020 10/09/2020 app 18/11/2020 CBB (FB)
19/06/2020 23/07/2020 app 04/12/2020 MUA (FB)
19/06/2020 02/08/2020 app 26/11/2020 Troggy
22/06/2020 10/09/2020 app 12/10/2020 alkemistakshay
22/06/2020 28/08/2020 both 27/11/2020 debrancherenzym
22/06/2020 28/08/2020 both 05/11/2020 Victor7109
23/06/2020 22/09/2020 app 30/11/2020 SA (FB)
24/06/2020 02/09/2020 app 25/11/2020 ZA (FB)
26/06/2020 29/08/2020 both 05/10/2020 prjose
27/06/2020 29/08/2020 app 02/12/2020 TS (FB)
28/06/2020 29/08/2020 app 16/11/2020 avsh
29/06/2020 01/09/2020 app 26/11/2020 youngzen
01/07/2020 29/08/2020 both 23/09/2020 ncopier
01/07/2020 01/09/2020 both 07/10/2020 Tdotlady
02/07/2020 29/08/2020 app 30/11/2020 Adeel_fatima
02/07/2020 28/08/2020 both 01/12/2020 zzzindagi
03/07/2020 04/09/2020 app 09/11/2020 AG (FB)
04/07/2020 07/09/2020 f2f 05/10/2020 junebug1981
06/07/2020 05/09/2020 app awaiting KN (FB)
07/07/2020 01/09/2020 app 07/12/2020 fabsco
08/07/2020 30/08/2020 app 04/11/2020 RZ (FB)
09/07/2020 30/08/2020 both 01/10/2020 sk1984
13/07/2020 31/08/2020 both 13/10/2020 cherryplum01
13/07/2020 29/08/2020 app 16/10/2020 Salem32
16/07/2020 16/09/2020 f2f 21/09/2020 QA (FB)
17/07/2020 03/09/2020 app awaiting TP (FB)
21/07/2020 15/08/2020 f2f 27/08/2020 SR (FB)
22/07/2020 07/09/2020 app 13/10/2020 Sharj1
22/07/2020 09/09/2020 app 07/12/2020 DJS (FB)
22/07/2020 09/09/2020 both 23/09/2020 Zhukman
23/07/2020 30/08/2020 both 13/10/2020 Jojo0316
25/07/2020 31/08/2020 app 04/12/2020 EC (FB)
27/07/2020 17/09/2020 app awaiting DM (FB)
30/07/2020 30/08/2020 both awaiting JC (FB)
30/07/2020 01/09/2020 both 16/09/2020 bond.boy203
30/07/2020 30/08/2020 app 02/10/2020 AB (FB)
31/07/2020 05/09/2020 app 23/11/2020 manishaahuja
31/07/2020 09/09/2020 app 20/11/2020 MS (FB)
31/07/2020 11/09/2020 app 01/12/2020 YJ (FB)
03/08/2020 04/09/2020 both 28/10/2020 sugaz
03/08/2020 09/09/2020 f2f 18/09/2020 Maiki
04/08/2020 04/09/2020 both 24/09/2020 Grimreaper
04/08/2020 07/09/2020 f2f 29/10/2020 kittycatkeeb
06/08/2020 07/09/2020 app awaiting ASD (FB)
10/08/2020 25/09/2020 f2f 05/10/2020 janie123
10/08/2020 14/09/2020 app awaiting GS (FB)
12/08/2020 05/09/2020 app awaiting AH (FB)
12/08/2020 06/09/2020 app 13/11/2020 AS (FB)
15/08/2020 05/09/2020 app 09/11/2020 RainyDayRun
16/08/2020 05/09/2020 both awaiting Sfw290419
16/08/2020 05/09/2020 both 24/09/2020 athinglikethat
19/08/2020 07/09/2020 both awaiting sean2606
25/08/2020 07/09/2020 both 28/09/2020 vmp
25/08/2020 14/09/2020 app awaiting OS (FB)
25/08/2020 11/09/2020 app awaiting AA (FB)
27/08/2020 06/09/2020 app awaiting MW (FB)
28/08/2020 05/09/2020 both awaiting VDL (FB)
28/08/2020 07/09/2020 app awaiting luv_pocky
29/08/2020 12/09/2020 f2f awaiting AFJ (FB)
04/09/2020 12/09/2020 app awaiting kiwihanz
07/09/2020 18/09/2020 f2f awaiting grizza
10/09/2020 07/10/2020 f2f 23/11/2020 HA (FB)
12/09/2020 29/09/2020 app awaiting WA (FB)
13/09/2020 28/09/2020 f2f awaiting QK (FB)
15/09/2020 08/10/2020 app awaiting CL (FB)
16/09/2020 23/09/2020 app awaiting VK (FB)
16/09/2020 24/09/2020 app awaiting harryisababy
18/09/2020 23/09/2020 both awaiting pblanko
26/09/2020 02/10/2020 f2f awaiting EW (FB)
27/09/2020 12/10/2020 f2f 08/12/202 Mixharvey
01/10/2020 29/10/2020 f2f awaiting HW (FB)
01/10/2020 06/10/2020 f2f awaiting cisman
02/10/2020 17/10/2020 f2f 27/11/2020 TRN (FB)
08/10/2020 17/10/2020 f2f awaiting Sharkey
11/10/2020 23/10/2020 f2f awaiting radiogaga
15/10/2020 23/10/2020 f2f awaiting dmx1
18/10/2020 14/11/2020 f2f awaiting Abchardik
19/10/2020 09/11/2020 f2f awaiting rstar60
22/10/2020 03/11/2020 f2f awaiting sanahtalha
22/10/2020 18/11/2020 f2f awaiting walnut_bearmountain
30/10/2020 18/11/2020 f2f awaiting Fk27
20/11/2020 02/12/2020 f2f awaiting AlexAlexAlex
02/12/2020 29/12/2020 f2f awaiting babyface_liu

[azLondon2020]

Update mine - SET(M) approved today after sending GP confirmation letter for mental health at 12:00, decision letter came at 15:35pm

What did your letter from the GP say? Did you email the HO directly? Which email did you use?

[Amy_R88]

Search for ukvi complaints on gov.uk and fill the online form.

Thanks Amy will try that. How long did they take to reply?

I got response after 1 month.

Hi Amy, I wrote to my MP, and the MP said to me to provided copies of existing visa (BRP), Passport copy, Application copy etc. Is that what your MP asked for?

I haven't contacted my MP yet. If that's what they are asking for you should provide these. However, I believe you can contact MP after 6 months have passed. However I'm still in my 5th month. When have you applied @minho87

[srsw]

UKVCAS Twitter update: Unfortunately we've had to temporarily close all our Manchester Service Points due to a COVID-19 issue. We have contacted all affected customers letting them know next steps.

UKVI have asked us to assure customers that their visa status will be unaffected if their appointment has been cancelled.

More info via flash message (8th Dec)

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message- ... geId=56249

[azLondon2020]

What is the best email to use to contact the home office for an escalation due to COVID related reasons?

I see a phone number on the website, but no email...

[shohjura]

Wtf they are taking ages to move to sep lr applications

[shohjura]

Wtf they are taking ages to move to sep lr applications

[minho87]

Thanks Amy will try that. How long did they take to reply?

I got response after 1 month.

Hi Amy, I wrote to my MP, and the MP said to me to provided copies of existing visa (BRP), Passport copy, Application copy etc. Is that what your MP asked for?

I haven't contacted my MP yet. If that's what they are asking for you should provide these. However, I believe you can contact MP after 6 months have passed. However I'm still in my 5th month. When have you applied @minho87

Hey Amy, I applied on 24th June for spouse Visa extension. Did the IDV on 9th September. And received a random survey in November start of the week. That was it.

[lukeh8793]

Hi All,
Any Set(O) applicants from August/September still awaiting decision?, i am one of the unlucky ones who applied in August and Biometric in Sept and still waiting.

Applied 10th Aug, bio on 1st Sept, still waiting

Thanks, ours is similar timeline, Application on 16th Aug and Bio on 5th Sept. Unlike Set M, Set (O) from pending from Aug/Sept must be a minority.

I applied 1st Sept; submitted IDV 21st Sept; still waiting

[ajitu92]

Wtf they are taking ages to move to sep lr applications

Understand your frustration mate, I feel the same. One possible reason may be:

Post by ajitu92 » Mon Dec 07, 2020 11:21 pm

poper wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 8:16 pm
I think the pace of decisions have gone down significantly. The time for decision was bout 85 days before lockdown 2.0. Now, this has ballooned to 105+ days
Close, but not quite. It was 85 days on average and now, Set LR 15th August onwards applicants are averaging 94 days (date of application to date of decision).

Now, here's my theory (speculation but based on deduction and statistics). The number of Set LR applicants is significantly higher for the end of August, hence it's not the Home Office taking it easy that is slowing it down per se, but just the higher volume of applications with the same amount of resources to process the applications. I think so because:
A lot of people applying for Set LR in 2020 would have entered the country on a Tier 4 visa initially (in 2010).
Proportion of students in September intakes is significantly higher than January intakes (and hence more people initially first entering the country in August/September 2010.
Tier 4 visas were issued with a start date of no greater than 1 month before the start date of the course/CAS. Which means most Tier 4 visas would have had a start date in the last week of August 2010 (given that universities normally start in the 3/4th week of September.
Two things specifically make the number of applications for Set LR higher in the last week of August. First being people entering at or near the start date of their initial Tier 4 visa and applying only after they have completed 10 years of lawful residence. The second being people who entered just before the start of their courses (3/4th week of September 2010) but made use of the 28 day concession for ILR applications, allowing them to apply in the last week of August 2020.

[Lakshmiasha]

HI Team,
I have submitted the Visa application for my son. I'm suppose to book appointment before 31 December 2020. But appointments are not available. DOes anybody has the similar situation? what happens in this case?

[CULLINAN]

HI Team,
I have submitted the Visa application for my son. I'm suppose to book appointment before 31 December 2020. But appointments are not available. DOes anybody has the similar situation? what happens in this case?

You will not be penalised for late biometrics due to corona. Keep looking especially 12AM midnight. Look tonight and you will get one for 6th Jan. Keep looking during the day at regular intervals/different locations, you maybe able to secure an earlier appointment if there is any cancellation.

[Lakshmiasha]

Thanks for your reply.DOes that mean I can still book after 31st December if I find appointment. Just want to confirm again as it says "Attend an appointment to provide your documents and biometrics by 31 December 2020"

[CULLINAN]

Thanks for your reply.DOes that mean I can still book after 31st December if I find appointment. Just want to confirm again as it says "Attend an appointment to provide your documents and biometrics by 31 December 2020"

Isn't your son’s case the same where an exception was given from India and he is already in UK?? or it is another application for some other child?

[Lakshmiasha]

Yes. same case. For my son to travel from India. UK visa waiver team asked us to Submit an application and based on that application submission reference they allowed kid to travel to UK.

We were checking the option of cancelling this application and apply MN1 as he is eligible for british citizenship and checked with UKBA if they can refund the fee of previous application which we submitted and biometric was not given. As we have not received the confirmation and we are suppose to submit the biometric before 31st December.We are thinking of going for biometric and can apply for Mn1 later.

Thanks.

[CULLINAN]

Yes. same case. For my son to travel from India. UK visa waiver team asked us to Submit an application and based on that application submission reference they allowed kid to travel to UK.

We were checking the option of cancelling this application and apply MN1 as he is eligible for british citizenship and checked with UKBA if they can refund the fee of previous application which we submitted and biometric was not given. As we have not received the confirmation and we are suppose to submit the biometric before 31st December.We are thinking of going for biometric and can apply for Mn1 later.

Thanks.

Book tonight. You will get one for 6th Jan. No issues to miss deadline during corona.

[zeeshi1122]

Hi everyone,

I submitted my ilr (set lr) last week and i booked an appointment for 4th Jan 2021 in Enfield.

Anyone please tell me from their experience what is the next step do we need to submit the documents or they will do at the appointment and what is the best approach?

Also anyone been to Enfield is there any parking available?

Regards

[CULLINAN]

Hi everyone,

I submitted my ilr (set lr) last week and i booked an appointment for 4th Jan 2021 in Enfield.

Anyone please tell me from their experience what is the next step do we need to submit the documents or they will do at the appointment and what is the best approach?

Also anyone been to Enfield is there any parking available?

Regards

Self-submission is better (OPTIONAL) even before biometrics.