Settlement Visa Progress - 7 Digit Reference

[venkat1]

Hi,

It could be a dumb question, but please bear with me.
My wife’s settlement visa was rejected in November for the application that we have made in august. Towards end of December, we have submitted a fresh second application and also made an appeal.

Recently when I wrote to Visa Enquiry team asking for an update on the progress of second application, they have reinstated on SLAs and advised that our application will be processed with in SLA.

But in the subject line of e-mail, they have included a 7 digit number. I have seen a similar format number on the refusal letter.

a) Not sure if anyone could advise but is the 7 digit number indicates that they have started processing our application ?
b) In one of the post I have read that generally they don’t start processing settlement applications until towards close to three months period. If they started processing our application as per the above 7 digit number details, is there a chance that we will have a decision soon ?

Apologies if any of you feel that above queries are irrelevant for the forum. But I just thought of getting experts view in case if they could shed some light.

[kumar2012]

Hi Venkat.

The 7 digit reference number is the Post (HUB) reference number for your application. This will be the reference number that will be used when you communicating with the Post or Hub. Mine was Chennai/XXXXXXX.

The reference number means that they have received your application, its under process with the UKBA. It does not indicate how long the process will be though.

When and where exactly did you make your application?
What are SLAs? Why are they processing your application?

[venkat1]

Thanks for your reply.

We have submitted application in Chennai for spouse settlement visa. The application made towards end of December.

The SLA they suggested is 90 working days for settlement visa.

What I am not sure whether they allocate 7 digit reference as soon as they receive application in normal or only towards the end when they start processing application ?

By any chance, any one would know on how long it might take once a 7 digit reference number is allocated for an application ?

[riversidecreations]

The number is generated from the day the application is submitted...

Service level agreements set by the British Government State that posts have 60 working days in which to deal with settlement

This is what they wrote to me when I sent them an email requesting an update.

[flyguy]

The 7 digit reference is generated as soon as the application has been logged in their computer system. It does not mean they have started processing as such - just means they are in receipt of the application and its in the "system". They have a SLA of 90 days for settlement visa's but it is not compulsory that they adhere to this if checks and other enquiries take longer to come through, however they try the best to meet this criteria and to get a decision back to you.

[riversidecreations]

SLA is 60 Days...

As confirmed by Chennai office.

[flyguy]

well normally it is 90 days generally speaking. Chenni office only processed only 60% of applications in 60 days in Dec 2012

[riversidecreations]

When talking about the service level agreements set by UKBA for VFS - it is 60 working days - i.e. 12 weeks... they aim to complete 95% of applications within 60 working days and 100% of applications within 120 working days.

recently, their performance has been below average... 60% seems low, but that is just 3 out of 5 applications - but there has been no change to the SLA set by UK government - it is still 12 weeks