EEA Family Permit - NYC Consulate Maximum Processing Times

[bigkahuna87]

Hello Everyone,

I am an American citizen with a valid US passport and my wife is a Polish Citizen with a valid US passport.

We have been married for 2 years and living together in Germany, Poland and the US for the last 4 years.

I recently got a job offer in the UK but did not get sponsorship since I can get an EEA family permit and the EEA2 once I am in the UK.

So I filled out all the paper work and did the biometrics early as they were able to take me on a walk in versus my scheduled appointment. With my application I included our marriage certificate, photos of us together all around the world for the last 4 years, some logs of our initial conversations, both of our original passports, and my job offer letter stating I will be making above 50,000GBP a year and copies of everything as requested as well as our flight confirmation (I know you should not buy flights a head of time but I figured we would have enough time (yes I was wrong) luckily BA let me change them free of charge.

Anyways I sent everything via FedEx overnight with a FedEx First Overnight Saturday delivery handwritten waybill this was sent and received on Feb 12 2014 to the British Consulate General in NYC.

On Feb 14th I got an urgent email from them saying the following:

Dear Applicant,

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE AND THIS MAILBOX IS NOT MONITORED

The package containing your UK visa application has been received and opened by an Entry Clearance Assistant at the British Consulate in New York.

Unfortunately, we no longer accept handwritten Fedex shipping waybills. Can you please provide us with an electronic shipping waybill following the instructions below.

To remedy this situation:

- You must purchase a prepaid return shipping label from a recognised carrier (UPS, Fedex, USPS, DHL etc).
- You must e-mail us the electronic label as a printable e-mail attachment.
- Please e-mail the electronic label to UKVINewYork.Shipping@fco.gov.uk. Please enter the following into the subject line of your e-mail : "SHIPPING WAYBILL - [6 digit reference number, found in the subject of this e-mail]".

Important points to note:

- You will not receive formal confirmation from us that your label has been received.

- As a courtesy, we do not require you to provide packaging at this stage.

- If you choose to purchase a FEDEX return shipping label please do not have FEDEX e-mail it to us directly. Please have FEDEX e-mail you and then forward that e-mail to us at UKVINewYork.Shipping@fco.gov.uk, entering the following in the subject line of your e-mail: "SHIPPING WAYBILL - [6 digit reference number, found in the subject of this e-mail]".

- Your application has not been reviewed by a decision maker and no assessment has been made of whether you have provided the relevant supporting documents required for the UK Visa category in which you have applied. You are strongly advised to consult the guidance using the link below and enclose any additional documents you did not include when you initially applied along with your passport. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/usa/fees

Service Standards
We have published service standards for processing UK visa applications that say we will process 90 per cent of non-settlement applications, including Points Based System applications, within 3 weeks, 98 per cent within 6 weeks and 100 per cent within 12 weeks of the application date;

Our average processing times for visa applications submitted to the British Consulate General in New York as of week commencing 17 February 2014 are:

- Non-settlement applications.......................................... 9 working days
- Current and forecasted delays to our service.....................None to report

The processing time starts when the New York Visa Team has received your completed application form, with your passport, photograph, supporting documents, biometrics registration and the relevant application fee. You will receive an e-mail when we have received your passport and processing can begin.


Please note: We strongly recommend that you do not buy a non-refundable, non-flexible ticket to the UK, until your visa application has been approved and you have received your visa. We do not accept responsibility for any financial loss incurred as a result of delays in processing your visa application and we do not fast-track applications solely due to planned date of travel.

What to expect next during the application process?
Your visa application will be assessed by an Entry Clearance Officer against the United Kingdom Immigration Rules.
If your application requires further assessment beyond our service standards, we will advise you via e-mail.
Once a decision has been made, you will receive an email advising you of the outcome of your application.
To find out who to contact about a UK visa application lodged in the USA, go to: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/usa/contact


To find out who to contact about a UK visa application lodged in Canada, go to: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/count ... da/contact

Is your company considering expansion into the UK Marketplace?
If so, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) can help. UKTI is the British Government organisation that assists international companies in bringing high quality investment into the UKs robust economy. UKTI can offer your company free and confidential expertise, and link you to their extensive network of industry specialists.

For further information please visit: www.ukti.gov.uk


So my question is as I called world bridge the embassy etc only to be rung around like crazy. Is it safe to assume it is 9 working days from the day I sent the label back which was within 2 hours of getting that message. (Of course they won't even confirm they got the label)

Should I request my passports back and just do this once I am in the UK I am suppose to start working in March.

Any insight from folks who applied for an EEA family permit in NYC in terms of processing times or any issues?

Thanks everyone!

[jbminger]

Took them all of one day to get issue mine!

from: http://www.immigrationboards.com/eea-ro ... 47111.html

Postby jbminger » Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:00 pm
The British Consulate General New York received my completed application yesterday and emailed me today to say that the UK Visa had been issued!

Thanks for all your help. I'm sure I'll seek more help when applying for the RC upon arrival to the UK.

[obormot]

EU FP applications are priority (should be treated quicker then non-settlement applications). When we applied to NYC consulate about 9-10 months ago, I tracked average processing time, and it was several days. We got FP back in less hen 2 weeks from applying (I think they got our docs on Monday and made decision on Friday same week).
They will send you another e-mail once they decided your case, and after that you should get your paperwork back in 2-3 days.
P.S. When we applied, I filled the form online, and at that time requested their quick return option (for $12 or so). Then I used UPS to send them documents, but without return label.

[SarahMartin]

I received a similar note from the NYC consulate on Tuesday - 29 May (it arrived at the consulate 28 May according to my FedEx tracking number). I submitted an electronic label immediately after getting the email. My concern is - I still haven't received the email saying they received everything and it's being processed - as stated here:

The processing time starts when the New York Visa Team has received your completed application form, with your passport, photograph, supporting documents, biometrics registration and the relevant application fee. You will receive an e-mail when we have received your passport and processing can begin.

So has my "clock" not started yet? I have a flight booked for next week but can easily change it. I just don't know at what point to make that change? This process is so stressful! Would greatly appreciate any advice.

[SarahMartin]

After hearing not a peep further from the NYC consulate after the label email - I changed my tickets to the 17th. Worried that I've had no further communication of any kind. Debating trying the live chat beta thing they offer. Anyone have luck getting a status update that way?

[chaoclive]

I haven't used it but if the option exists and it's easy to use, why not just ahead and try. You might get lucky! There aren't any drawbacks after all...

Don't forget to keep us in the loop!

Good luck
CC

[MVP]

Hi,

My father has applied for a 6 month Visitor/Family Visit visa application from US for UK. He also received the same email. so we've sent the electronic label then after, but we've not heard anything back. this is now 3 weeks over due.

I then contacted 00 44 1243 213 387, with a charge of £1.37/min. and I still do not have any stable update.

do you know what shall I do? whom shall I contact?

many thanks for your response in advance,

MVP