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**** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

A section for posts relating to applications for Naturalisation or Registration as a British Citizen. Naturalisation

Moderators: Casa, push, JAJ, ca.funke, Amber, zimba, vinny, Obie, EUsmileWEallsmile, batleykhan, meself2, geriatrix, John, ChetanOjha, archigabe

wasifabbas
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by wasifabbas » Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:16 am

Hi,

I have a question on the age of the supporting documents submitted at the Sopra Steria biometric appointment. I have booked a standard appointment with document scanning service.

I have been told that the supporting documents should not be 28days older than the application date and I am unsure which date is considered my application date.

My Sopra Steria biometric appointment is a month after I paid for my application on-line at UKVCAS, which means all my supporting documents will be more than 28days old at the time they are uploaded as evidence for application.

Does someone know if my evidence of application needs to be 28days from the time I paid for my application submission at UKVCAS or from the time of Sopra Steria biometric appointment?

Thank you in advance.

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CR001
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by CR001 » Sun Jun 06, 2021 12:09 pm

wasifabbas wrote:
Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:16 am
Hi,

I have a question on the age of the supporting documents submitted at the Sopra Steria biometric appointment. I have booked a standard appointment with document scanning service.

I have been told that the supporting documents should not be 28days older than the application date and I am unsure which date is considered my application date.

My Sopra Steria biometric appointment is a month after I paid for my application on-line at UKVCAS, which means all my supporting documents will be more than 28days old at the time they are uploaded as evidence for application.

Does someone know if my evidence of application needs to be 28days from the time I paid for my application submission at UKVCAS or from the time of Sopra Steria biometric appointment?

Thank you in advance.
Date of application is the date you submit and pay online and not your biomyricappointnent date.
Char (CR001 not Casa)
In life you cannot press the Backspace button!!
Please DO NOT send me a PM for immigration advice. I reserve the right to ignore the PM and not respond.

iceman809
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by iceman809 » Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:20 pm

I have a question, can UKVCAS affect the speed of your post-biometric approval process? :?: :?:

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alterhase58
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by alterhase58 » Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:07 pm

iceman809 wrote:
Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:20 pm
I have a question, can UKVCAS affect the speed of your post-biometric approval process? :?: :?:
No - UKVCAS are a 3rd party private contractor to UKVI and have no role in processing, reviewing or approving your application.
This is just my opinion as a member of this forum and does not constitute immigration advice.
Please do not send me private messages asking for advice.

ukmogulday
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by ukmogulday » Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:48 am

A couple questions on biometrics:

(1) For an AN citizenship application (myself and my spouse), how long after electronic submission do you get invite to book a biometric appointment?

(2) If you are willing to pay any price and go to any center in the UK, how quickly after submitting the application electronically can you get a biometric appointment for?

ukvisat2
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by ukvisat2 » Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:37 pm

ukmogulday wrote:
Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:48 am
A couple questions on biometrics:

(1) For an AN citizenship application (myself and my spouse), how long after electronic submission do you get invite to book a biometric appointment?

(2) If you are willing to pay any price and go to any center in the UK, how quickly after submitting the application electronically can you get a biometric appointment for?

1) straight after submitting the application online and you will have 45 working days to attend the biometric appointment.

2) New appointments released each day 28 days in advance: Currently, free appointments are released into our booking system at 9am, 28 days in advance. Free appointments do get booked up very quickly so you may need to book a few weeks ahead to find the right appointment for you.
https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message- ... geId=56249

wootme
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by wootme » Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:36 pm

Hi all,

Got a tip from my experience this month in the London area. I went through Spouse of BC ILR application (submitted 3/Jun) and I couldn't find any appointments below £112. The earliest appointment I managed to find was on the 22nd. ILR came through the same day and BRP was received on the 25th.

I submitted the AN application the same day and decided to check the Guildford office of biometrics and found appointments as early as next week for £71. A London-Guildford train ride is about 45 min and £21. So all combined still lower than booking in London and also sooner.

Good luck!

Fatimajafri
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by Fatimajafri » Fri Jul 02, 2021 11:23 am

After waiting for few days I couldn't find any early appointments. The only way to book was to login exactly at 9 am and book for 29th July. I'm applying for my 3 kids so paid ones were above £300! Such a rip off honestly.

illseeyoutomorrow
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by illseeyoutomorrow » Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:57 am

I've had my UKVCAS biometric appointment in London, Mark Lane location last week. Less than 28 days from submitting the application at £140.

Enhanced service

The uploaded document check service seems to have been delivered ok, I've received an email with relevant advice and I've also received the SMS reminders and notifications I've paid for.

Attending the appointment

At the time of the appointment I've found a queue of around 10 people in front on the building. The person who was coordinating the queue was trying to get people to stand closer to each other which I did not appreciate in the current circumstances.
The appointment times are not set per person but are general 30 min time slots during which around 15 applicants are processed.
I've entered the building around 5 min past the stated appointment time. Hand sanitiser was offered at the entry and I was directed to a small room with scanners and a camera where I waited for another 5 min.
As someone mentioned before, it's better to have the appointment QR code printed as you have to hand it over for scanning (you can't hold the phone yourself while the code is being scanned) and there are no mirrors in the photo area. As I've uploaded all my documents via the UKVCAS website, there was no need to bring any documents other than my ID.
The person handling the photo, fingerprints, signature and scanning was very professional, communication was clear and friendly. The fingerprint scanner and signature pad appeared to have been cleaned before I entered the room.
The space was fairly clean and with modern fixings and furnishings. The appointment time was about 20 min.
As I left the building I've received an email confirming the submission of documents and biometrics to UKVI and around midnight I've received an SMS stating UKVI have received my information.

Points of concern

1. Other staff in the space were noisy and not so professional, chatting and laughing so loud it was hard to hear the person I was dealing with through the thick perspex glass.

2. COVID safety measures were disappointing to say the least. This one is important to me and I would not recommend this location for anyone who's very worried about exposure.
I've read Google reviews prior to the visit and the opinions were positive, but based on my experience, the measures were lax. I do not consider just having masks and hand sanitiser to be sufficient.
The attention to social distancing was close to none and what I found most concerning, was the absolute lack of ventilation. The space has openable windows that were all shut. The air was thick and saturated with air freshener. There was a can of air freshener standing by the window in the little office and staff walking through the corridors spraying the space generously.
After 15 min of sitting there my eyes were burning and I left the building with a serious Febreze cough.
Quite concerning for both the visitors and the staff that spends hours in these conditions, breathing in the accumulated air with addition of Febreze and whatever all the applicants are breathing out.

I've expected more from a City location with a £140 price tag.

Simulacra
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by Simulacra » Thu Jul 08, 2021 5:38 am

user5877 wrote:
Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:07 pm
In my experience, the best and probably only way to snatch up a FREE appointment with Sopra Steria is to login just before 9:00am every day, scroll one month ahead and wait for them at one of the core centers at precisely 9:00am by refreshing the page. You have to be quick as they get booked in a minute or two. The ones they roll out at midnights aren't free.
I managed to make a booking in Belfast after 9 am. I kept trying from 6 am and caught a free slot for the end of the month between 9 and 10 am (9.40 approximately).

castorp
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by castorp » Thu Jan 06, 2022 6:45 pm

Does anyone know how much time these appointments take these days? We have one booked soon in Gloucester, where we will need to drive (and so need to hire a car and wondering how much time is needed).

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alterhase58
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by alterhase58 » Thu Jan 06, 2022 10:41 pm

castorp wrote:
Thu Jan 06, 2022 6:45 pm
Does anyone know how much time these appointments take these days? We have one booked soon in Gloucester, where we will need to drive (and so need to hire a car and wondering how much time is needed).
From previous postings I understand the appointment itself may take half an hour.
This is just my opinion as a member of this forum and does not constitute immigration advice.
Please do not send me private messages asking for advice.

Sunsetsetc
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by Sunsetsetc » Sat Feb 12, 2022 5:00 am

Hi, I just tried booking an appointment and managed to get one in two weeks time. I am thinking should I cancel and check at midnight or is two weeks away is not too bad?

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gag285
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by gag285 » Sat Feb 12, 2022 9:39 am

Has anyone received any reminders from Nationality UKVCAS reminders to enroll biometrics. My wife enrolled her biometrics on 7th Jan after submitting the nationality application on 10th Dec. We also have a confirmation from UKVCAS that our supporting docs were submitted to UKVI (7th Jan). Is it usual ?

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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by Jackie1991 » Sat Apr 23, 2022 8:53 pm

Hi. I'm just looking for a bit of advice. I applied for naturalisation on the 1st Oct 2021, and attended my biometrics on the 25/10/2021. However, I did not receive any notification from UKVCAS to say my documents had been submitted, and until now, there's an option to cancel my appointment on their website. Does anyone have experience with this. Could it be an indication that my application was actually not submitted and something is wrong?

yowniz
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by yowniz » Sun May 08, 2022 9:40 pm

I completed IDV app and submitted docs in the app. It is greyed out and I am under the impression I don't need to book an appointment. However I received an email to book an appointment, there's no slots at all. I cannot get thru ukvi, ukvcas said to contact ukvi. I don't know what to do please help

Email from Ukvi below

Reminder to enrol your Biometric information
When you made your application online, you were advised that you had up to 63 days from the date of your application to make an appointment to enrol your biometric information at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services centre (UKVCAS).

You have not yet booked or attended an appointment.

You now have 14 days from the date of this notification in which to book an appointment to enrol your biometric information.

expertbuddy
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by expertbuddy » Wed May 11, 2022 6:11 am

yowniz wrote:
Sun May 08, 2022 9:40 pm
I completed IDV app and submitted docs in the app. It is greyed out and I am under the impression I don't need to book an appointment. However I received an email to book an appointment, there's no slots at all. I cannot get thru ukvi, ukvcas said to contact ukvi. I don't know what to do please help

Email from Ukvi below

Reminder to enrol your Biometric information
When you made your application online, you were advised that you had up to 63 days from the date of your application to make an appointment to enrol your biometric information at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services centre (UKVCAS).

You have not yet booked or attended an appointment.

You now have 14 days from the date of this notification in which to book an appointment to enrol your biometric information.
I also received this today. Any idea ?

CaterinaH
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by CaterinaH » Sun Jun 19, 2022 3:10 pm

Hi everyone!
I've applied for naturalisation in March 22 but still haven't heard from the Biometrics team so couldn't book my appointment. I've emailed them a couple of times with no result. It's been 3 months waiting for the email to book the bimoterics! Can I book them without their email? Or do I need some kind of guidance from them...
Just at my wits end with all this mess...
Thanks :)

moorish
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by moorish » Tue Jul 05, 2022 3:00 pm

same problem here I've been waiting for the letter/email for over 3 months (Applied on the 7th April). Any one can help here with what to do next? TIA

moorish
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Re: **** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

Post by moorish » Mon Sep 26, 2022 10:44 am

5 months still no biometric email/appointment has been made. I called sopra steria and provided them with the UAN and they said that the application is not with them, and suggested that some of the applications are not all applications are required to provide biometrics? is this true.
I'm really frustrated as it's been almost 6 months now and no concise answer is provided so far :cry:

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