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OLD FLR(M) waiting times Thread

Family member & Ancestry immigration; don't post other immigration categories, please!
Marriage | Unmarried Partners | Fiancé | Ancestry

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ken2mj
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Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:32 am
Location: Antrim, N. Ireland

Post by ken2mj » Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:09 pm

Looks like we are going to enrol biometrics on Tuesday in Belfast.

badger111
Junior Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:34 pm

Just an update

Post by badger111 » Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:41 am

Update - nothing changed really :(

Application sent: 5.3.2012.
Payment taken: 8.3.2012.
Biometrics enrolled: 30.3.2012.
Documents received: waiting
BRP received: waiting

22 weeks since payment is taken...

kuzey50
Newly Registered
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:58 am

Re: Just an update

Post by kuzey50 » Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:18 am

badger111 wrote:Update - nothing changed really :(

Application sent: 5.3.2012.
Payment taken: 8.3.2012.
Biometrics enrolled: 30.3.2012.
Documents received: waiting
BRP received: waiting

22 weeks since payment is taken...
Requested my passport as the sponsor last wednesday, received it today. The letter that came with my passport says they retained a copy for the application. I am now going to send in a 2 page letter requesting 'preferential treatment'.


Application sent: 02.03.2012.
HO received docs: 05.03.2012.
Biometrics enrolled: 28.03.2012.
Documents received: waiting
BRP received: waiting
Last edited by kuzey50 on Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

fury_161
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Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:25 pm

Post by fury_161 » Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:44 am

allymcb wrote:
fury_161 wrote:
allmcb you are a bit in front of us in the process!! let us know how it goes!!!!!
No worries fury_161 happy to update here and would be interesting to see when you get yours as our dates are pretty close.
Times:
Application made: 08/05/2012
Acknowledgment letter: 21/05/2012
Biometrics letter: 22/05/2012
Biometrics done: 30/05/2012
Letter requesting proof of cohabitation: 17/07/2012
6 forms from three sources sent: 09/08/2012
Decision letter/docs returned: 11/08/2012
biometric card: waiting!

finally! keep the faith all those waiting!

kid13
Junior Member
Posts: 78
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:57 pm
Location: UK

Post by kid13 » Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:49 pm

congrats fury_161!!! :) was it a straightforward app from a fiance visa?

it gives some hope!

fury_161
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Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:25 pm

Post by fury_161 » Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:03 pm

kid13 wrote:congrats fury_161!!! :) was it a straightforward app from a fiance visa?

it gives some hope!
Yes from fiancé visa for a Guatemalan national.

John

2222
Newbie
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 12:15 am

FLR M

Post by 2222 » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:30 am

22 weeks waiting!!!! I can't sleep these days......

My time line:

From - Tier 4 (Valid till 30th Sep 2012)
FLR M applied on 27th February
Payment out of the bank: 29th February
Acknowledgement letter: I didn't get one!!
Biometric letter received on 16th March
Biometric completed in Glasgow office on 28th March
Document return: still waiting!!!
Biometric card: still waiting !!!

I am just wondering, may be the delay due to my current Tier 4 Visa still valid till 30th Sep 2012??? Any advise guys??
I am hoping to hear something soon, as I really need to go home and see my family for Eid Ramadan!!!!!!!

Why they are too slow?? 22 weeks more than enough......

hredderson
Newbie
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:21 pm
Location: United States

Post by hredderson » Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:05 am

Hello everyone -

Tomorrow marks the 5 month point in waiting for my spousal visa. (I have my timeline outlined below).

I am seeking some advice... my husband and I, when we originally filed our application, were living with my father-in-law (indefinitely) and my husband was making less money than he is now. Since we filed our application in March, my husband has been promoted at work, we transferred to a new location for his job promotion, he received an increase in salary, AND we are now living on our own with bills that we previously did not have (and therefore did not declare) when we submitted our original application. We meet all of the financial requirements (just barely, but we do) for our application even with all of these changes. (Note: we meet all of the requirements prior to the changes made on July 9th, 2012).

My question is if we need to notify the HO of these changes? I have been given varying opinions on this, but given that we are approaching the 6 month waiting time frame, I am not sure how we should approach this.

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Our timeline:
Application received in Durham: 13/3/12
Application acknowledgement letter received: 16/3/12
Payment taken from bank: 15/3/12
Received biometrics letter in mail: 26/3/12
Completed biometrics: 29/3/12
Now we are waiting.... nothing since I submitted my biometrics.

(I am US applicant moving from Fiance to spouse)

kuzey50
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Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:58 am

Re: FLR M

Post by kuzey50 » Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:18 am

2222 wrote:22 weeks waiting!!!! I can't sleep these days......

My time line:

From - Tier 4 (Valid till 30th Sep 2012)
FLR M applied on 27th February
Payment out of the bank: 29th February
Acknowledgement letter: I didn't get one!!
Biometric letter received on 16th March
Biometric completed in Glasgow office on 28th March
Document return: still waiting!!!
Biometric card: still waiting !!!

I am just wondering, may be the delay due to my current Tier 4 Visa still valid till 30th Sep 2012??? Any advise guys??
I am hoping to hear something soon, as I really need to go home and see my family for Eid Ramadan!!!!!!!

Why they are too slow?? 22 weeks more than enough......
I dont think it has anythink to do wit that, we applied a day before my wife's visa expired. It has been 21 weeks and still waiting! They just dont have enough people to process applications in time.

Dsin
Newbie
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:50 pm

Post by Dsin » Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:00 pm

mrsclc78 wrote:Hi all,

Finally got my biometrics letter today, mailed the day after we called to request my husband's passport back - funny that!

I'm wondering about my surname though. Because we got married in May and had little time to get the application in before the 9 July law change date, I didn't have time to change my surname to my new married name on my passport.

So the passport they have of me has my maiden name, therefore they sent the biometrics letters in my maiden name.... but not Miss. They put "Mrs" with my maiden name.

I just called up and spoke to a chap who said that was fine, that they put the visa in whatever name is on your passport, and that when I travel I just have to book travel in my maiden name, until I change my passport - and then apply for a new bio card.

Has anyone else had this situation? He said it was nothing to worry about, that's just how they do it. Just wanted to check!

Payment taken: 22/06/12
App rec'd: 25/06/12
Ack. letter dated: 28/06/12
Biometrics letter dated: 7/8/12
Biometrics letter rec'd: 10/8/12
Date biometrics enrolled:
Date docs received:
Date BRP received:
Visa Type : FLR(M) for spouse
Visa From: PSW

Great to hear you got your biometrics letter. Looks like quite a few June applications have received their letters recently so hopefully things are moving along a bit at the UKBA!

Hope you managed to get your biometrics done and your passport back..... We managed to do my husband's biometrics last Tuesday (7th) in Oxford. Just got to try and be patient now......

nholler
Newly Registered
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:33 pm

6 months

Post by nholler » Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:46 am

So today is the 6 month mark since we applied for the visa and it still feels no closer to reality.

We've written to our MP who has provided us with a generic letter response from the UKBA so really there isn't much else we can do.

We've faxed and written for an update today as calling only seems to get a top level response as per earlier postings.

I could request my passport back but this probably won't have any bearing on whether we get our visa next week or next month.

Just have to sit tight and hope we all don't have to endure another month or 6!

Good luck all.

backagain
Junior Member
Posts: 84
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:58 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Post by backagain » Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:46 pm

hredderson wrote:
My question is if we need to notify the HO of these changes? I have been given varying opinions on this, but given that we are approaching the 6 month waiting time frame, I am not sure how we should approach this.
I am a US citizen applying to be with my UK spouse. She changed jobs back in May for a better paying position in a new company. When she called UKBA to update them, the person told her that they only care if you move or apply for benefits.

badger111
Junior Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:34 pm

Re: 6 months

Post by badger111 » Mon Aug 13, 2012 4:01 pm

nholler wrote:So today is the 6 month mark since we applied for the visa and it still feels no closer to reality.

We've written to our MP who has provided us with a generic letter response from the UKBA so really there isn't much else we can do.

We've faxed and written for an update today as calling only seems to get a top level response as per earlier postings.

I could request my passport back but this probably won't have any bearing on whether we get our visa next week or next month.

Just have to sit tight and hope we all don't have to endure another month or 6!

Good luck all.
Whatever you do is not going to help. UKBA is more protected then money in the Bank of England. I am in the week 23 and lost all my hope. But good lucky anyway

bobobo
Senior Member
Posts: 742
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:13 pm

Re: 6 months

Post by bobobo » Mon Aug 13, 2012 4:08 pm

I say its worth a shot, atleast they will get your application out of a pile and maybe when they see that its been a while, who knows they might just process the application. This is not guarenteed but its worth a shot, wont harm you in any way so might as well try.
nholler wrote:So today is the 6 month mark since we applied for the visa and it still feels no closer to reality.

We've written to our MP who has provided us with a generic letter response from the UKBA so really there isn't much else we can do.

We've faxed and written for an update today as calling only seems to get a top level response as per earlier postings.

I could request my passport back but this probably won't have any bearing on whether we get our visa next week or next month.

Just have to sit tight and hope we all don't have to endure another month or 6!

Good luck all.

nholler
Newly Registered
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:33 pm

waiting

Post by nholler » Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:17 pm

I agree BoBoBo, in this life if you don't ask you don't get.

Does anyone know, if you want to move from your current residency whether it affects your case at all? I understand theres a webpage where you can change your correspondance address: https://contact-ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ ... geAddress/

However, I wondered if it would affect the application as all the correspondance in the file would be at a different address.

bobobo
Senior Member
Posts: 742
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:13 pm

Re: waiting

Post by bobobo » Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:57 pm

Ideally this shouldnt impact the application. Just call HO and ask them whats the best way of letting them know. Sometimes they ask people to send a change in circumstances form and sometimes they will just do it for you over the phone. Additionally you can always have a royal mail re-direction service in place, to make sure nothing slipss through.
nholler wrote:I agree BoBoBo, in this life if you don't ask you don't get.

Does anyone know, if you want to move from your current residency whether it affects your case at all? I understand theres a webpage where you can change your correspondance address: https://contact-ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ ... geAddress/

However, I wondered if it would affect the application as all the correspondance in the file would be at a different address.

badger111
Junior Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:34 pm

Re: waiting

Post by badger111 » Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:03 pm

nholler wrote:I agree BoBoBo, in this life if you don't ask you don't get.

Does anyone know, if you want to move from your current residency whether it affects your case at all? I understand theres a webpage where you can change your correspondance address: https://contact-ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ ... geAddress/

However, I wondered if it would affect the application as all the correspondance in the file would be at a different address.
No, it shouldn't affect the application. For example, sponsors who ask for their passports back usually get it in 7-14 days from what I read, and it also doesn't affect the application.

allymcb
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Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:25 pm
Location: EDINBURGH

Wait is over

Post by allymcb » Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:02 pm

Hello
Just to update on my previous post, we received our letter of confirmation of the visa today having missed the delivery on 10 August. We seem to have a delivery from DX too which we think is the actual BRP which is due tomorrow now. So from an application on 26 April to biometrics on 10th (ish) May we got ours 3 months and a bit later.
We were interested to note that fury131 got theirs a few days before us despite applying 3 weeks later... so there is a bit of variation on the order they tackle them.
Thanks to everyone on the thread for their updates, it helped us feel less alone.
I hope you all get yours soon and that this now means that they are finally processing the backlog.
Now all we need to do is find a job in a recession.....!

2222
Newbie
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 12:15 am

FLR M

Post by 2222 » Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:01 am

Congratulations allymcb, but how come I applied before you (27th Feb) and I am still waiting?

I am hoping to be this week....

badger111
Junior Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:34 pm

Re: FLR M

Post by badger111 » Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:31 am

2222 wrote:Congratulations allymcb, but how come I applied before you (27th Feb) and I am still waiting?

I am hoping to be this week....
It happens all the time. They must have many offices around the country that deal with applications, and there is no communication, so lucky ones ended up having their applications dealing in an semi-efficient office.

I am happy for them though!

nholler
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Posts: 27
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:33 pm

waiting

Post by nholler » Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:34 am

Congrats allymcb, you must be relieved.

It would be good to understand why the UKBA doesn't necessarily process earlier applications first as has been mentioned above, there are people on the forum who have applied a lot earlier.

The number of applications confirmed here -

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1 ... 5.pdf.html

suggest typically 1000 apps a month with a spike in March to 3500 apps, however they processed allymcb's case who applied in April?

Doesn't make sense to me...

ken2mj
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Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:32 am
Location: Antrim, N. Ireland

Post by ken2mj » Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:36 am

Update:

Biometrics enrolled yesterday in Belfast. Quick and painless, in and out in 10 minutes.

Now it's just time to hunker down and wait the long wait.

badger111
Junior Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:34 pm

Post by badger111 » Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:44 am

ken2mj wrote:Update:

Biometrics enrolled yesterday in Belfast. Quick and painless, in and out in 10 minutes.

Now it's just time to hunker down and wait the long wait.
Good luck! I hope something will be done by this Government long before you join our "6 month wait I am going to lose my mind" elite club...

ken2mj
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Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:32 am
Location: Antrim, N. Ireland

Post by ken2mj » Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:36 am

badger111 wrote:
ken2mj wrote:Update:

Biometrics enrolled yesterday in Belfast. Quick and painless, in and out in 10 minutes.

Now it's just time to hunker down and wait the long wait.
Good luck! I hope something will be done by this Government long before you join our "6 month wait I am going to lose my mind" elite club...
Is that what they're calling themselves now? 'A government?'

That word. I do not think it means what they think it means.

badger111
Junior Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:34 pm

Post by badger111 » Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:54 pm

ken2mj wrote:
badger111 wrote:
ken2mj wrote:Update:

Biometrics enrolled yesterday in Belfast. Quick and painless, in and out in 10 minutes.

Now it's just time to hunker down and wait the long wait.
Good luck! I hope something will be done by this Government long before you join our "6 month wait I am going to lose my mind" elite club...
Is that what they're calling themselves now? 'A government?'

That word. I do not think it means what they think it means.
LOL yes, politicians should look for a definition of that word.

If only we had someone to tell us to pay extra and get everything done in matter of days, but you go by the logic and think that everything will work ok. We just thought it was unnecessary to pay 400£ extra for something they would do anyway, and we weren't in a hurry. But there you go. We have ended up being puppets for UKBA who control our lives how they want, and as long as they want.

Postman has been today, and nothing again. :( It will be 23 weeks tomorrow.

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