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Dsin Junior Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2012 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: biometrics letter |
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| Dsin wrote: | | mrsclc78 wrote: | Question for you more experienced folks out there...
It's been nearly 6 weeks since my application was received and my payment taken, and while I received my acknowledgement letter, no biometrics letter yet.
Most cases on here seem to show the biometrics letter comes within 1-4 weeks, but I do see where in some cases it's 6 weeks and some even much longer.
My current situation is that my husband will need to travel to France for work in September. I was told to request his passport back no later than 20 working days prior to when he'll need it, but I'm afraid to request it back just yet because without my biometrics letter, I know they've not yet even inputted me into the system, nor assigned me to a caseworker.
If I request his passport now, I'm afraid they'll have to ask for it back and this will cause even more delay to the lengthy process. I've got another few days to hold out before the 20-working-day mark. It's a bit of a long shot.
I wonder if it's worth sending a letter to the UKBA address on the ack. letter, or the fax number, and inquiring about my biometrics letter and if its been lost in the post, or if it will be generated soon? I don't want to request his passport back too soon, but I also can't wait forever. Not sure what to do :-/ |
Hi there,
Just a quick update - my husband received his biometrics letter in the post today I know we still have a long wait but at least it feels like we have moved a step forward.
We're off to enrol his biometrics at the post office today so will post on here if we have any difficulties in doing so.
Hope this means your letter will also be arriving soon
Our dates are:
Applied online & payment taken: 10.06.12
Acknowledgement letter: 22.06.12 (dated 20.06012)
Biometrics letter: 04.08.12 (dated 01.06)
Biometrics enrolled: hopefully today! |
Quick update - we called the number on the biometrics letter and were told to go to Milton Keynes post office about 30 miles away. We got over there as soon as we could only to be told that their biometrics machine wasn't working so could we come back in half an hour. We were too late by then to get to the next closest PO in Oxford so waited.
45 minutes later they admitted that the machine had actually been broken for 2 days and couldn't be fixed until an engineer came out on Monday. They told us to come back on Monday but as a) I work full-time and b) they can't guarantee what time the engineer will come or if he can even fix it, we've decided to skip Milton Keynes altogether.
My husband will now be trying to find his way to Oxford by bus on Monday or Tuesday as I can't just take time off work at such short notice
Only a short delay I know but so disappointing when you feel like the process is already so long and difficult.
Fingers crossed everything works in Oxford!! |
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hellostarry Newbie
Joined: 04 Aug 2012 Posts: 2
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Date Docs sent: 05/04/12
Date Ack. Letter received: 21/04/12 (forgot about the exact day, but within these 2 or 3 days)
Date biometrics booking letter received: between 01/05/12 to 03/05/12, sent from Sheffield
Date biometrics enrolled: 05/05//12
Date BRP received: 03/08/12
Date Docs received: 03/08/12
(sent from Sheffield)
Visa type: FLR(M)
From - Tier 4
Good luck everyone who is still waiting and thank you all for sharing information. We have benefit from the forum so much so we hope we could help as well. |
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Dsin Junior Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2012 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| hellostarry wrote: | Date Docs sent: 05/04/12
Date Ack. Letter received: 21/04/12 (forgot about the exact day, but within these 2 or 3 days)
Date biometrics booking letter received: between 01/05/12 to 03/05/12, sent from Sheffield
Date biometrics enrolled: 05/05//12
Date BRP received: 03/08/12
Date Docs received: 03/08/12
(sent from Sheffield)
Visa type: FLR(M)
From - Tier 4
Good luck everyone who is still waiting and thank you all for sharing information. We have benefit from the forum so much so we hope we could help as well. |
Congratulations great news! Always nice to hear that someone has made it through to the other end! |
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2222 Junior Member
Joined: 30 Apr 2012 Posts: 35
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:38 pm Post subject: FLR M |
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Congratulations Dsin,
But how come I applied before you (27 February) Visa type: FLR (M)
From - Tier 4 and I am still waiting!! ?? lucky you!!
Hope mines will come through soon. |
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Dsin Junior Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2012 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: FLR M |
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| 2222 wrote: | Congratulations Dsin,
But how come I applied before you (27 February) Visa type: FLR (M)
From - Tier 4 and I am still waiting!! ?? lucky you!!
Hope mines will come through soon. |
Hi there,
We haven't got our visa yet, it was hello starry who got it. They did get it through quickly though - although four months is still a long time to wait so I'm sure they were equally frustrated at times.
You're nearly at 6 months - hope you will be chasing them as soon as we get to 27 th August
Good luck with it all  |
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waitwaitwait Junior Member
Joined: 01 May 2012 Posts: 49 Location: london
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:24 am Post subject: Re: FLR M |
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| 2222 wrote: | Congratulations Dsin,
But how come I applied before you (27 February) Visa type: FLR (M)
From - Tier 4 and I am still waiting!! ?? lucky you!!
Hope mines will come through soon. |
Dont worry, im still waiting too.
Date Docs sent: 08/02/12
Date Ack. Letter received: 20/02/12
Date biometrics booking letter received: 20/03/12 (dated 16/03/12)
Date biometrics enrolled (at Holborn post office): 22/03/12
Date BRP received: waiting
Date Docs received: waiting
Visa type: FLR(M)
From - Tier 4 |
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nholler Junior Member
Joined: 28 May 2012 Posts: 27
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:42 am Post subject: waiting |
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In the same boat too. It's getting quite unbearable.
My wife and I want to move asap to get away from our noisy neighbours. Does anyone think if we move and then re-direct all our post from the Royal Mail to our new address so when we do finally get an answer, it would be okay? Or when the UKBA do their checks this may mean that our case would become invalid?
Date applied & paid online: 13/02/12
Date Docs sent: 16/02/12
Date Ack. Letter received: 20/02/12
Date biometrics booking letter received: 20/03/12 (dated 16/03/12)
Date biometrics enrolled (at Holborn post office): 22/03/12
Date BRP received: waiting
Date Docs received: waiting
Visa type: FLR(M)
From: Fiance Visa |
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mrsclc78 Junior Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 43
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:28 am Post subject: Re: biometrics letter |
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| Dsin wrote: |
Hi there,
Just a quick update - my husband received his biometrics letter in the post today I know we still have a long wait but at least it feels like we have moved a step forward.
We're off to enrol his biometrics at the post office today so will post on here if we have any difficulties in doing so.
Hope this means your letter will also be arriving soon
Our dates are:
Applied online & payment taken: 10.06.12
Acknowledgement letter: 22.06.12 (dated 20.06012)
Biometrics letter: 04.08.12 (dated 01.06)
Biometrics enrolled: hopefully today! |
Wow, so happy for you! I'm really hoping mine shows up soon too, especially since tomorrow my husband has off work so we can call the UKBA together and request his passport back, as he'll need it to go to France for work in early September, and we're running out of 20-working-days-prior time.
As I've said, hate to request his passport before they've even put me in their computer system, but there's not much I can do about it. I'm hoping that in digging my file out of whatever pile on the floor its sitting in, they might actually look at it.
Thank you for sharing!  |
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mrsclc78 Junior Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 43
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:32 am Post subject: Re: biometrics letter |
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| Dsin wrote: |
Quick update - we called the number on the biometrics letter and were told to go to Milton Keynes post office about 30 miles away. We got over there as soon as we could only to be told that their biometrics machine wasn't working so could we come back in half an hour. We were too late by then to get to the next closest PO in Oxford so waited.
45 minutes later they admitted that the machine had actually been broken for 2 days and couldn't be fixed until an engineer came out on Monday. They told us to come back on Monday but as a) I work full-time and b) they can't guarantee what time the engineer will come or if he can even fix it, we've decided to skip Milton Keynes altogether.
My husband will now be trying to find his way to Oxford by bus on Monday or Tuesday as I can't just take time off work at such short notice
Only a short delay I know but so disappointing when you feel like the process is already so long and difficult.
Fingers crossed everything works in Oxford!! |
How frustrating!! I hope you're able to get to a working machine soon. That thought hadn't even occurred to me. The way things have been going, it wouldn't surprise me if the'd told you "All the engineers qualified to fix these machines are on strike..." Ludicrous  |
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Dsin Junior Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2012 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 3:26 pm Post subject: Re: biometrics letter |
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| mrsclc78 wrote: | | Dsin wrote: |
Quick update - we called the number on the biometrics letter and were told to go to Milton Keynes post office about 30 miles away. We got over there as soon as we could only to be told that their biometrics machine wasn't working so could we come back in half an hour. We were too late by then to get to the next closest PO in Oxford so waited.
45 minutes later they admitted that the machine had actually been broken for 2 days and couldn't be fixed until an engineer came out on Monday. They told us to come back on Monday but as a) I work full-time and b) they can't guarantee what time the engineer will come or if he can even fix it, we've decided to skip Milton Keynes altogether.
My husband will now be trying to find his way to Oxford by bus on Monday or Tuesday as I can't just take time off work at such short notice
Only a short delay I know but so disappointing when you feel like the process is already so long and difficult.
Fingers crossed everything works in Oxford!! |
How frustrating!! I hope you're able to get to a working machine soon. That thought hadn't even occurred to me. The way things have been going, it wouldn't surprise me if the'd told you "All the engineers qualified to fix these machines are on strike..." Ludicrous  |
Yes, we don't even want to risk going back there to hear that the engineer can't fix it/is on strike/is stuck in a traffic jam etc etc! We'll just try Oxford and hope for the best.
Let us know how you go with requesting your husband's passport back. As you say, it might bring your application to the top and help it progress a bit.... |
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kid13 Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2011 Posts: 58 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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We had the same problems regarding broken machines! We waited till my day off to go and get the biometrics done at a main post office. We sat and waited more than an hour till it was our turn. As soon as they started doing my husband's biometrics, the machine broke. They told us to sit and wait while they tried to fix it. Nearly an hour later they told us they had to call an engineer out, and it probably wouldn't be fixed that day. They also couldn't guarantee if it would be fixed the next day. It was so annoying!!! Had to wait till my next day off and drive to another post office much further away.
To be honest the few days extra won't make a difference in the whole 6-month scheme of things, but it was annoying nonetheless! |
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Dsin Junior Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2012 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| kid13 wrote: | We had the same problems regarding broken machines! We waited till my day off to go and get the biometrics done at a main post office. We sat and waited more than an hour till it was our turn. As soon as they started doing my husband's biometrics, the machine broke. They told us to sit and wait while they tried to fix it. Nearly an hour later they told us they had to call an engineer out, and it probably wouldn't be fixed that day. They also couldn't guarantee if it would be fixed the next day. It was so annoying!!! Had to wait till my next day off and drive to another post office much further away.
To be honest the few days extra won't make a difference in the whole 6-month scheme of things, but it was annoying nonetheless! |
So it isn't all that uncommon then! Like you say, it doesn't make much difference in the long run, it's just one more frustration in what is already a frustrating process. Thanks for posting though, it's lovely to have support as we go though this  |
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laurenb Newbie
Joined: 05 Aug 2012 Posts: 1
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Hey All,
I'm not sure if it helps because I know when I was looking at this board and seeing people who had applied after me receiving their BRP's and docs it was kind of frustrating but at the same time gave a little hope they were working on stuff.. so here's my timeline
Date Docs sent: 26/04/2012
Date Ack. Letter received: 14/05/2012
Date biometrics booking letter received: 16/05/2012
Date biometrics enrolled (at Canning Town post office): 17/05/12
Date BRP received: 1/08/2012
Date Docs received: 3/08/2012
Visa Type: FLR (M) spouse
From: Tier 5 Youth Mobility
I'm thinking its just luck of the draw depending on which case officer your application is assigned to and how quickly they are processing them..
Anyways I just wanted to say good luck to all those still waiting, I completely understand the frustration of the entire situation and am just hoping that this is sign that things are moving through the system.. |
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Dsin Junior Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2012 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| laurenb wrote: | Hey All,
I'm not sure if it helps because I know when I was looking at this board and seeing people who had applied after me receiving their BRP's and docs it was kind of frustrating but at the same time gave a little hope they were working on stuff.. so here's my timeline
Date Docs sent: 26/04/2012
Date Ack. Letter received: 14/05/2012
Date biometrics booking letter received: 16/05/2012
Date biometrics enrolled (at Canning Town post office): 17/05/12
Date BRP received: 1/08/2012
Date Docs received: 3/08/2012
Visa Type: FLR (M) spouse
From: Tier 5 Youth Mobility
I'm thinking its just luck of the draw depending on which case officer your application is assigned to and how quickly they are processing them..
Anyways I just wanted to say good luck to all those still waiting, I completely understand the frustration of the entire situation and am just hoping that this is sign that things are moving through the system.. |
Congrats Lauren, great to hear your good news. I'm sure it is luck of the draw - I'll take your case officer please  |
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highly skilled Junior Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 16
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:23 am Post subject: FLR (M) Waiting times |
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Hello everyone,
Joining You all in anxious waiting! My wife has submitted her application for FLR (M) based on my ILR on 26th June and we have received our aknowledgement letter on the 3rd of July (dated the 29th June). Nothing since then! Although we were told that biometrics letter arrives within 2-3 weeks of application (evident through some of the timelines in this forum as well!), we have not received anything to date.
I guess my question to everyone is - has anyone on this forum who has applied on or around 26th June received a biometrics letter? Have you had any further developments or tried to follow up on this? Any advice?
Thank you very much!
Our timeline would be:
Application submitted: 26 June 2012
Acknowledgement received: 3 July 2012 (dated 29 June 2012)
Biometrics letter: waiting
Documents: waiting
Biometric permit: waiting |
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Dsin Junior Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2012 Posts: 37
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:31 am Post subject: Re: FLR (M) Waiting times |
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| highly skilled wrote: | Hello everyone,
Joining You all in anxious waiting! My wife has submitted her application for FLR (M) based on my ILR on 26th June and we have received our aknowledgement letter on the 3rd of July (dated the 29th June). Nothing since then! Although we were told that biometrics letter arrives within 2-3 weeks of application (evident through some of the timelines in this forum as well!), we have not received anything to date.
I guess my question to everyone is - has anyone on this forum who has applied on or around 26th June received a biometrics letter? Have you had any further developments or tried to follow up on this? Any advice?
Thank you very much!
Our timeline would be:
Application submitted: 26 June 2012
Acknowledgement received: 3 July 2012 (dated 29 June 2012)
Biometrics letter: waiting
Documents: waiting
Biometric permit: waiting |
Hi there,
We applied on 10th June and received the biometrics letter on 4th August (dated 1st August). I guess that means they are now sending out letters for the June applications so hopefully your letter will be on its way soon.
Fingers crossed  |
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highly skilled Junior Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 16
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:51 am Post subject: Re: FLR (M) Waiting times |
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[quote="Dsin"][quote="highly skilled"]Hello everyone,
Joining You all in anxious waiting! My wife has submitted her application for FLR (M) based on my ILR on 26th June and we have received our aknowledgement letter on the 3rd of July (dated the 29th June). Nothing since then! Although we were told that biometrics letter arrives within 2-3 weeks of application (evident through some of the timelines in this forum as well!), we have not received anything to date.
I guess my question to everyone is - has anyone on this forum who has applied on or around 26th June received a biometrics letter? Have you had any further developments or tried to follow up on this? Any advice?
Thank you very much!
Our timeline would be:
Application submitted: 26 June 2012
Acknowledgement received: 3 July 2012 (dated 29 June 2012)
Biometrics letter: waiting
Documents: waiting
Biometric permit: waiting[/quote]
Hi there,
We applied on 10th June and received the biometrics letter on 4th August (dated 1st August). I guess that means they are now sending out letters for the June applications so hopefully your letter will be on its way soon.
Fingers crossed [/quote]
Hi Dsin - thank you for your update! Yes, indeed hopefully this means that ours is on its way. It seems however that the real wait can come after the biometrics are enrolled? Based on the posts in this thread they can go into months?!
We will need our passports by 4th of September, so seems like we may be in a bit of trouble?
Thanks! |
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mrsclc78 Junior Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 43
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:11 am Post subject: Re: FLR (M) Waiting times |
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| highly skilled wrote: |
Hi Dsin - thank you for your update! Yes, indeed hopefully this means that ours is on its way. It seems however that the real wait can come after the biometrics are enrolled? Based on the posts in this thread they can go into months?!
We will need our passports by 4th of September, so seems like we may be in a bit of trouble?
Thanks! |
I think the backlog is as thick as ever, unfortunately. They received my docs on 25 June, and I received my acknowledgement letter on 2 July, and I've still not had my biometrics letter. It's been 6 weeks for me as well, and I'm still not in their system.
My husband and I called them this morning and requested his (sponsor's) passport back as he has to go to Toulouse for work in September. I think the 2-3 weeks for the biometrics is now optimistic.
I'm afraid if you both need your passports back by the 4th of September, you might be in for a bit of a wait, as most folks seem to be waiting about 6 months to get their applications processed. Though I wish you good luck! |
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andyb123 Member of Standing
Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Posts: 117
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:35 am Post subject: |
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had all the letters, money taken, confirmations and done biometrics within 2 months of sending off
now been waiting another 4 so I'm a few days off the 6 month mark
very frustrating! |
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highly skilled Junior Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 16
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:17 pm Post subject: Re: FLR (M) Waiting times |
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[quote="mrsclc78"][quote="highly skilled"]
Hi Dsin - thank you for your update! Yes, indeed hopefully this means that ours is on its way. It seems however that the real wait can come after the biometrics are enrolled? Based on the posts in this thread they can go into months?!
We will need our passports by 4th of September, so seems like we may be in a bit of trouble?
Thanks![/quote]
I think the backlog is as thick as ever, unfortunately. They received my docs on 25 June, and I received my acknowledgement letter on 2 July, and I've still not had my biometrics letter. It's been 6 weeks for me as well, and I'm still not in their system.
My husband and I called them this morning and requested his (sponsor's) passport back as he has to go to Toulouse for work in September. I think the 2-3 weeks for the biometrics is now optimistic.
I'm afraid if you both need your passports back by the 4th of September, you might be in for a bit of a wait, as most folks seem to be waiting about 6 months to get their applications processed. Though I wish you good luck![/quote]
Hi mrsclc78,
Thank you for your reply. Can I ask which number you called to request the sponsor's passport back? Were you successful? We mailed two letters requesting my (sponsor) documents back asap as I needed to go to a business trip on 30 July. We received no response whatsoever and I had to miss my business trip.
Also some people mentioned that they called a number where they had an update on whether their biometrics letter was sent out - is this the number on the letter? Should it only be the main applicant that can call that number and inquire about status?
Thank you! |
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