OLD FLR(M) waiting times Thread

[33kerryhouse]

Here are my details. I think because of Christmas and New Year thingy the applications over this period might take comparatively longer due to less number of working days. But still fingers crossed. Still waiting for approval.

Has anyone else submitted their applications lately? Would be really helpful to know and yeah those of you who are just reading all this without registering with this website, please register here and tell us your story as well..?..


Date Applied/Docs sent: 22/11/2011
Date Received Ack. Letter: 25/11/2011
Date Biometrics booking letter arrived: 27/11/2011[approx]
Date Biometrics Appointment Post Office: 27/11/2011[approx]
Date Passport/Docs received from HO:
Result:
Visa Type : FLR(M)
Visa From: PSW

[qaziji]

Dear all

I am just over the moon, today my wife received her passport back from Home Office and the biometrics will be arriving in next 7 days;

Our FLR(M) application time line:

Date FLR(M) sent to HO: 18/07/2011
Docs received by the HO: 19/07/2011
Ack'ment Letter Arrived: 22/07/2011
Biometrics Letter Arrived: 23/07/2011
Biometric Enrolled at PO: 26/07/2011
Spouse visa Granted on: 28/10/2011 (From Sheffield UKBA office)
Passport & docs received: 05/11/2011
Date Bio-metric Card received: 08/11/2011.

Switched from student visa (not tier 4).

Could you please tell me
1) How much pay you showed?
2) How much amount bank statement you given for your wife in ur bank or her bank?
3) My wife student dependant visa is expiring in Dec 2012 and i got ILR on 7th Nov 2011 on 10 years long residency. Is there any restriction that when the soonest i need to apply for her spouse visa to switch from student dependant to spouse visa or i could apply any time before her visa expires.
I am going to apply for Spouse visa for my wife after getting ILR on 10 years basis.

[qaziji]

My Timelines so far:

Date Applied/Docs sent: 08/11/11
Date Received Ack. Letter: 15-11-11
Date Biometrics booking letter arrived:16-11-11
Date Biometrics Appointment:16-11-11(post office)
Date Passport/Docs received from HO: 19-12-11
Result & VISA stamped: 15-12-11
Visa Type : FLR(M) for spouse

Could you please tell me
1) How much pay you showed?
2) How much amount bank statement you given for your wife in ur bank or her bank?
3) My wife student dependant visa is expiring in Dec 2012 and i got ILR on 7th Nov 2011 on 10 years long residency. Is there any restriction that when the soonest i need to apply for her spouse visa to switch from student dependant to spouse visa or i could apply any time before her visa expires.
I am going to apply for Spouse visa for my wife after getting ILR on 10 years basis.

[Greenie]

My Timelines so far:

Date Applied/Docs sent: 08/11/11
Date Received Ack. Letter: 15-11-11
Date Biometrics booking letter arrived:16-11-11
Date Biometrics Appointment:16-11-11(post office)
Date Passport/Docs received from HO: 19-12-11
Result & VISA stamped: 15-12-11
Visa Type : FLR(M) for spouse

Could you please tell me
1) How much pay you showed?
2) How much amount bank statement you given for your wife in ur bank or her bank?
3) My wife student dependant visa is expiring in Dec 2012 and i got ILR on 7th Nov 2011 on 10 years long residency. Is there any restriction that when the soonest i need to apply for her spouse visa to switch from student dependant to spouse visa or i could apply any time before her visa expires.
I am going to apply for Spouse visa for my wife after getting ILR on 10 years basis.

this thread is for timelines only. if you want to ask a question about the requirements then start another thread in the forum or continue on an existing thread if you have one.

[HOB]

Why me?
Date applied: 06/04/11
Acknowledgement letter: 14/04/11 with money taken from bank.
Biometrics taken:24/07/11
Passport received: still waiting???
Visa: still waiting???
From April 2011???

[Stoney80]

Date applied: 22/11/11
Confirmation letter: 29/11/11
Biometrics Taken: 3/12/11 Cambridge PO
Approved: 4/1/12
Passport and Docs Rec'd: 7/1/12
Biometrics resident card: hopefully here next week!
Visa Type: FLR(M) unmarried partner
Was starting to get a little nervous but great little surprise in the post today!!
Good luck all!!

[mohd24]

Congrats!! Stoney80"
I am going to apply for my wife's visa soon(flr m) within uk.
It will be great help if you mention in short, list of documents u have sent along with application.
Thanks

[HOB]

You had a quick response. Congrats

[tcbrasil]

Hi Guys!

I'm so glad I found this forum! I will be updating my application details here from now on.

Date Applied/Docs sent: 18/01/2012
Date Docs arrived to HO: 19/01/2012
Date Received Ack. Letter: Waiting...
Date Biometrics booking letter arrived:
Date Biometrics taken - Sheffield PEO:

Date Aproval Letter issued:
Date Passport/Docs received from HO:
Date Biometric Card Arrived:

Visa Type : FLR(M) for spouse
Visa From: Tier 4 Student

[Jaycity]

We finally got our card and documents back today. sadly our application took 8 months with a straight forward case.

Our local MP really helped us and we had to put in a complaint with the UKBA.

My suggestion be very patient as it took us 8 months.


Good luck everyone

[coventry]

Congrats to Jaycity so it seems the longest wait it around 8 months, any one else waiting longer.

[HOB]

Hi
I have applied in April 6th, Biometrics taken July, not an overstayer, working for the government. Still waiting...10mths.

[coventry]

Hi
it would seem been approved timeline is from 4 weeks@ to 10months, although written text says 95% approved within 6 months, it doesnt state how long for the 5%. Is this correct does anyone know.

[endivolac]

Hi all, was wondering if someone could give any advice, seems like people here are very helpful!

Date Applied/Docs sent: 12/12/11
Date Received Ack. Letter: 19/12/11
Date Biometrics booking letter arrived: not yet
Date Biometrics Appointment: not yet
Date Passport/Docs received from HO:

Visa Type : FLR(M) for spouse
Visa From: 6 month fiancee visa

It is now 18 January (4 weeks for ack letter) and still no biometric booking letter. Does this not seem very long? I am a straightforward case. Was given fiancee visa in home country, came here, had my wedding!

The main problem is that my passport will expire in April! I really hope it will not take until then, but I also didn't think it would be 4 weeks after ack letter and still not heard anything!

Help!

[Jaycity]

Hi all, was wondering if someone could give any advice, seems like people here are very helpful!

Date Applied/Docs sent: 12/12/11
Date Received Ack. Letter: 19/12/11
Date Biometrics booking letter arrived: not yet
Date Biometrics Appointment: not yet
Date Passport/Docs received from HO:

Visa Type : FLR(M) for spouse
Visa From: 6 month fiancee visa

It is now 18 January (4 weeks for ack letter) and still no biometric booking letter. Does this not seem very long? I am a straightforward case. Was given fiancee visa in home country, came here, had my wedding!

The main problem is that my passport will expire in April! I really hope it will not take until then, but I also didn't think it would be 4 weeks after ack letter and still not heard anything!

Help!

Hi do not worry about your passport expired as you will get a biometric card. My passport expired in September and I got my FLRM in Jan 12. I would give minimum 12 weeks for end to end process as they are really busy these days. This coming from us who got FLRM after 8 months of waiting for a straight forward case . Did you apply within 6 months of condition ?

[endivolac]

[/quote]
Hi do not worry about your passport expired as you will get a biometric card. My passport expired in September and I got my FLRM in Jan 12. I would give minimum 12 weeks for end to end process as they are really busy these days. This coming from us who got FLRM after 8 months of waiting for a straight forward case . Did you apply within 6 months of condition ?[/quote]

Hi Jaycity, thank you for a quick reply! Not sure what you mean by within 6 months of condition? My fiancee visa was valid from 16th Aug 2011 til 16th Feb 2012, and I sent my application on 12 Dec 2011, so I sent it with plenty of time to spare, is that what you mean?

I saw that you had a very long wait, very sorry to hear that but at least you have it now and must be relieved! 8 months is very excessive, very bad that the ukba is not very clear on processing times.

I was a bit worried about the biometric booking letter, I knew the whole process could take many months, but I thought getting the biometrics would be done quickly and then there would be a very long wait!

The only problem is that my passport cannot be renewed in the UK :( ! I would need to go back to macedonia to get a new one, not sure how that will work out. I am assuming you cannot travel back using national identity card. Did you manage to get a new passport issued here?

[endivolac]

Hi do not worry about your passport expired as you will get a biometric card. My passport expired in September and I got my FLRM in Jan 12. I would give minimum 12 weeks for end to end process as they are really busy these days. This coming from us who got FLRM after 8 months of waiting for a straight forward case . Did you apply within 6 months of condition ?[/quote]

Hi Jaycity, thank you for a quick reply! Not sure what you mean by within 6 months of condition? My fiancee visa was valid from 16th Aug 2011 til 16th Feb 2012, and I sent my application on 12 Dec 2011, so I sent it with plenty of time to spare, is that what you mean?

I saw that you had a very long wait, very sorry to hear that but at least you have it now and must be relieved! 8 months is very excessive, very bad that the ukba is not very clear on processing times.

I was a bit worried about the biometric booking letter, I knew the whole process could take many months, but I thought getting the biometrics would be done quickly and then there would be a very long wait!

The only problem is that my passport cannot be renewed in the UK :( ! I would need to go back to macedonia to get a new one, not sure how that will work out. I am assuming you cannot travel back using national identity card. Did you manage to get a new passport issued here?

[guyanese]

My Timelines so far:

Date Applied/Docs sent: 10/11/11
Date Received Ack. Letter: 14-11-11
Date Biometrics booking letter arrived:28-11-11
Date Biometrics Appointment:14-12-11(croydon public house)

Result & VISA stamped: 18-01-11
Visa Type : FLR(M) for spouse + dependent

it took exactly 4 weeks after the biometrics

[nawright89]

applied 7/12/11
confirmation letter 9/12/11
biometrics letter 15/12/11
biometrics takin 22/12/11
19/1/12 waiting

little worried cause i was stupid enough to book a ski trip on the 6th of feb
fingers crossed hope xmas doesnt make it take to much longer

[lordgenty]

....

[endivolac]

What is the best way to contact the UKBA about an outstanding flr (m) application? I have been waiting for over a month now to receive the letter about submitting biometrics and am worried that it might have been lost in the xmas post. Is there anyway to contact them just to ask if they have sent it out?

[Brychele]

My timeline:

Date Applied/Docs Sent: 5/12/2011
Date Received Ack. Letter: 12/12/2011
Date Biometrics Letter Arrived: 16/12/2011
Date Submitted Biometrics at PO: 19/12/2011
Date Received Biometrics Residence Permit: 20/01/2012 (yay!)
Date Passport/Docs Received from HO: 21/01/2012
Visa Type: FLR(M) for Spouse
Visa From: Fiancee

So excited to receive my passport this morning! I booked a skiing holiday 2 hours after receiving my documents and will be starting my new job in just over 2 weeks! Good luck to all those still waiting and getting ready to apply.

[mattp]

Hi Brychele, congratulations on your quick result.

I'm curious how it is that your application has been processed so quickly.
So far, we have waited 6 months for my wife's FLR(M). We believe it is a straightforward application and the fiancée visa was granted with no trouble in just one week.

Does anyone know if it makes a difference depending upon the nationality of the fiancée? Or what other factor can affect the speed of processing?

Date Applied/Docs sent: 25/07/11
Date payment taken from bank: 01/08/11
Date Received Ack. Letter: 02/08/11
Date Biometrics completed: 10/08/2011

Date issued: --/--/--
Date Passport/Docs received from HO: --/--/--

Visa Type : FLR(M) for spouse
Visa From: Fiancée

[Brychele]

Thank you mattp - I'm sorry to see that you've had to wait so long and are still waiting. It seems quite unfair? I actually wasn't aware of the wait times for this visa and had assumed (ignorantly) that it would only take a couple weeks. It was only until I came to this site that I realised it could take a lot longer, if I had known this, my husband and I would have paid extra for the same day option. My fiancee visa arrived in 3 weeks and I submitted 5x more documentation for that visa.

6 months seems to be quite excessive, especially because you were granted a fiancee visa. Have you made contact with the UKBA to ask about the status of your application?

I am a Canadian citizen. I would hope that nationality would not effect processing times, but I would not be surprised if it did.

Once again, I am very sorry that you've been waiting so long. I felt completely paralysed while waiting for my visa. I hope your wait ends very soon!

[mattp]

Hi Brychele,
Thank you for the reply. I wonder if your nationality helped speed things up? My wife is Japanese.

I think there is only one change since the original fiancée visa, which is the marriage certificate, so it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to check!

I called UKBA a few days ago, but they will not tell me anything until exactly 6 months have elapsed since submission, so I will call them again on Wednesday.

It's frustrating not being able to travel (they have both passports) - we daren't even book any travel in case the passports aren't back here in time. And of course my wife can't work, or even open a bank account.

Enjoy your freedom!