Well, as most of you probably know, I currently lodged my ILR (April) and was able to get the biometrics letter 2 months after.. the thing is, we have already booked our holiday on July and was really looking forward to seeing my family again.. you may have read about my post on the biometrics fee and why I have to do it again.. Anyway, we've only got 3 weeks left before our holidays and still no sign of our passports. Panic mode? oh yes!!! so we called this number as stated in the biometrics letter.. said there that if we need our documents urgently, call the number above (the letter)... and I did.. well, Simon did.. everyday.. for the past 2 weeks.. and all he gets is a Mozart music on the line... Today, I called them.. waited.. and waited... and waited.. and finally after 20 minutes, managed to speak to a woman.. with a cold voice, she asked: Are you requesting for your documents back? I said: yes Woman: what documents? I said: our passports She said: you and? I said: my husband She said: Is you husband with you? Me: No, he's at work W: Well, he has to be with you coz we need to speak to him too. So then.. no luck.. end of conversation.. I ended up asking her their opening times and I can't seem to think how we'd manage to be together while husband is at work.. anyway, I called hubby and we thought of me going to work with him on Monday and call them again thru Skype (he'll give me wi-fi access at work)... after some time, hubby sent me a message through FB and said: Hi, after 17 mins I finally got through. She was a bitch and unhelpful. She said: If your passports are returned, the application will be withdrawn and we'll lose the £972.00. The process can take upto 6 months from applying. The woman didn't even sound English. I think the holiday is off now, well annoyed, and I'll get bollocked for using the phone so long. Oh dear.. oh dear... oh dear.... Really felt so helpless... if application would take up to 6 months (October), then I guess we have to forget about the holiday... goodbye to 1400 for the non-refundable tickets!!! This freaking immigration thing is costing us way too much!!!!
It seems that the times for ILR processing vary greatly. 7-8 weeks seems the norm, but ours took 17 weeks ! ... and there's nothing you can do. The official response is, it could take up to 6 mnths to process, and don't call us until at least 6mnths has passed.
It can actually take 6 months as my friend applied for his ILR last January 2012 and just received it last week.
oh dear.. well, the mp spoke to them and it has been tagged in their system that my application has mp intervention.. hope that will speed it up a bit... else... we would have to rebook everything and would cost us greatly!
I've known MP intervention to focus their attention on that particular case as the managers get a bit twitchy over the additional attention but it doesn't always happen. Hope it speeds things up in your case
I remember for one of the applications, my wife needed some documents countersigning. I craftily asked my local MP to countersign it which he graciously did. Funny how that application came back very quick!
Right, so here's an update. I got a letter today from our MP enclosing a letter from the UKBA regarding my request to expedite. UKBA's letter said, in a nutshell, that they received my postal application on the 5th of April and would aim to decide early to mid October 2012 (exactly 6 months!). Their letter also stated that the guidance notes for SET (M) state that they can't tell in advance how long it will take to decide particular cases, so their general advice is not to make any non-urgent travel arrangements. They added: "As Mrs. Walker didn't follow the advice in our guidance notes, we are unable to expedite this application." Great! Just great!!! I guess I had too much faith in them and thought that they will decide in less than 6 months. I can't simply think what's taking them sooo long.. my fiancee visa took less than 3 months, my FLR took 2 months, so why would ILR take 6 months?!
This really does beggar belief. How helpful In principle, if you make a personal appearance they will decide same day. If you post it it can take 6 months !!!! Makes me wonder if someone put an extra delay on it due to MP intervention.
I know this doesn't help you florgeW, but maybe it will help others. There is a process called Settlement checking service It's not free, but from the knowledge I have from those who've used it, the processing is in practice very much faster. Also the applicant's spouse/partner will have their passport returned to them by the checking service after having it copied. Here's what UKBA say about that Might help someone
I have thought of that as well but because of the charge, I didn't push through with it.. but then, even if I have my passport now but without the visa, how can I enter the UK? it's a catch 22 really...
That's a very fair point, although you (as the applicant) would still release your passport to UKBA even when using this service.It's only your spouse partner who would not surrender the passport. However the 'hidden promise' from UKBA is that the approvals process is much faster. From those cases I personally know about (somewhere between 40-60) the longest waiting time so far was 13 weeks.That seems to be really fast compared to the average. Of course the personal appearance would be ideal but I think that the extra cost is rather prohibitive. So I do have a feeling that the checking service offers a benefit. Especially given the stats. I'm not sure what the cost is these days though. Is it a lot?
in Manchester, its 80 quid for main applicant, then 10 quid per dependent .... charges may vary per area... it's the 13th week this week for my application.. and we're suppose to leave Sunday (15th July)... guess we would have to rebook.. but you know, it seems unfair to me because they already have preference to those going through this service as opposed to those applying by post.. i mean, is it because one has to pay more so they get a faster service? so what happens to first-come first-serve (as that's what UKBA said in their letter) then?
