UKVI Digital Changes, No PEO/PSCs from October 2018?

[trueblue19]

As far as i'm aware, beta trial has been going on since July 2018, and is due to be rolled out soon. While the excerpt below says Sep 2018, I'm assuming there are some delays. Nevertheless, I think it'll be in place sooner than later.

Here's an excerpt from one of the companies who were invited for the beta trial.

On 16 July Tracy Evlogidis, with other senior immigration lawyers, attended a Business User Forum where the Home Office unveiled revolutionary planned changes for the in-country and overseas visa application processes.

It is intended that from September 2018 the Home Office will be rolling out a simpler, digitized application process. It is intended that applications for UK visas will be submitted online with individuals being invited to attend kiosks (for those submitted overseas) or enhanced service points (for those submitted in the UK) in order to upload their documents electronically for submission to the Home Office. Depending on the level of service chosen, individuals will then need to attend a Premium Service Centre or a local post office to enrol their biometric information. It will no longer be necessary to submit original documents (including original passports) to the Home Office for applications to be processed.

As part of this trial Withers LLP submitted a client's Tier 2 (work authorisation) extension application online paying all the required fees. Our client's documents were then scanned and sent to the Home Office electronically for processing. Once the application had been considered in principal and approve subject to their biometric data being provided, the Home Office sent an invite for our client to attend the Premium Service Centre in Croydon with their passports to have the required biometric information taken.

The entire process took just a few days and our client, an international businessman who needs to travel frequently, is delighted that it took so little time.

The idea is that the new application process will be more efficient and streamlined allowing UK visa applications to be decided within quicker time frames. This has certainly been our experience with the trial.

[michali]

That is useful information! Thank you for posting it. I guess only time will tell as to how well the new system works.

[seansilva]

Thanks for the information guys and girls.

I have tried to book an appointment couple of days earlier (NDRS + JCP) with my local registrar office. They were checking the diary and seem nothing can be booked from October onwards. I tried few other local councils before turning into this forum.

It seems like the new process is coming, but no updates have been found elsewhere. I can only imagine some IT guys work the buttocks off day/night to implement these changes.

Anyone got any intel on latest please?

[OxBristolia]

UKVI have published a document with new fees valid from 8 October 2018:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ised-table

Almost all of the fees remain the same, but the interesting point is that 8 October is probably the date that the new system will come into effect (given that the new fees come into effect then). So hopefully information on how the new system works will be published on 8 October at the latest.

[seansilva]

UKVI have published a document with new fees valid from 8 October 2018:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ised-table

Almost all of the fees remain the same, but the interesting point is that 8 October is probably the date that the new system will come into effect (given that the new fees come into effect then). So hopefully information on how the new system works will be published on 8 October at the latest.

That's very useful observation OxBristolia. Thanks, let's wait for the new process.

[michali]

It is interesting/reasssuring that fees from 8th October are still in place for PSC appointments when some reports said that PSC appointments would no longer be an option. I subscribe to uk.gov immigration communications and will post here if anything comes up on the new system.

[koconnor]

Thanks for the information guys and girls.

I have tried to book an appointment couple of days earlier (NDRS + JCP) with my local registrar office. They were checking the diary and seem nothing can be booked from October onwards. I tried few other local councils before turning into this forum.

It seems like the new process is coming, but no updates have been found elsewhere. I can only imagine some IT guys work the buttocks off day/night to implement these changes.

Anyone got any intel on latest please?

I checked today (1 October) with a council officer for my citizen application appointment who then checked with the registrar; apparently, the new service is not ready and the council have been given permission to continue appointments until 30 November 2018.

[michali]

I hope it is up and running and stable by the time we apply next year!

[OxBristolia]

Looks like I was wrong about the information about the new system coming out by today! They did publish a guide to how to request premium processing (link below), but this still refers to the existing PSCs:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... quest-form

I emailed my local council's National Document Return Service to ask if they know anything about when the new system will start, and they said that the NDRS will stop at the end of November. From what they said it sounded like this was always the date it would stop, but it's not clear if there's going to be any overlap or if the new system will start when the NDRS stops, or if there could be a delay between the NDRS stopping and the new system starting.

[michali]

We all thought it might start today as there was a new fees document dated 8th October with a few changes. However that same document has now reverted to current fees and no changes. It does appear that the system is not ready yet. The fees schedule still includes PSC payments, but mentions 'new arrangements' but what those are, we have no idea!

[OxBristolia]

So this was published yesterday:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... tent=daily

The "Explanatory memorandum" document has the following section:

Changes supporting the operation of the new application process in UK Visas and Immigration (other than for applications under the EU Settlement Scheme)
Application process 7.8 Changes to the Immigration Rules are required in order to permit UKVI’s transformed application process. The ambition is that most applicants will apply online, with assisted digital support where necessary. A process will also remain for receiving applications on paper for routes where there is no online application form. The Rules changes set out the requirements for making a valid application under the new application process in relation to the applicant making an appointment to attend in person to enrol their biometrics and submitting the required documents in support of their application.

However, in the document setting out the Rules changes I can't really see anything describing the new application process.

And then the article on the UKVI website talking generally about the changes says this:

The changes also include bringing forward a new application service for visas. The new service builds on UKVI’s digital application platform and will transfer all data, such as supporting evidence and biometric information, to UKVI digitally. This is a significant step towards UKVI’s ambition to become more digital and user friendly.
As announced in May 2018, the new front-end service will be operated by Sopra Steria and will begin to be rolled out from next month.
The UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services centres will be available across the country, with six core centres in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and Croydon as well as a premium lounge in London. These will be supported by an additional 50 enhanced service points providing coverage across the UK.
There will also be additional services which include being able to upload your evidence from home or arranging a mobile service to come to your business, university or home.

I guess we still just have to wait.....unless anyone else can figure anything else out from this info?

[michali]

Why can’t they just spell it out?! We still don’t know if there will be PSC appointments as we know them, do we?

[michali]

Oxbristolia, please could you send the link to the article you mention on the UKVI site? Many thanks!

[OxBristolia]

Hi, yeah it’s here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/immi ... -confirmed

[michali]

Thank you!

[milule]

Hello all,

can anybody please share your insights on this

statement of changes of valid application paragraph 34 says

(9) (a) Where the application is made:
(i) on a paper application form, it must be sent by pre-paid post or courier to the address on the application form or, where permitted, submitted in person at a Home Office premium service centre;

now only has this:
(8) Where the application is made on a paper application form, it must be sent by pre-paid post or courier to the address on the application form.

my question is, how will this affect premium bookings like settlement(lr) that was supposed to use the paper form but bookings made before the changes come in effect on november 1.

can anybody please advise

thanks

[OxBristolia]

Hi, the explanatory memorandum (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ssible.pdf) says that the changes only come into effect on 5 November 2018:

"6.6 The other Immigration Rules changes set out in this statement shall take effect on 5 November 2018"

So I guess that any application made before 5 November will be under the old rules. Obviously I am just guessing here, it's probably best to check with someone who actually knows (immigration lawyer?).

[milule]

Hi, the explanatory memorandum (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ssible.pdf) says that the changes only come into effect on 5 November 2018:

"6.6 The other Immigration Rules changes set out in this statement shall take effect on 5 November 2018"

So I guess that any application made before 5 November will be under the old rules. Obviously I am just guessing here, it's probably best to check with someone who actually knows (immigration lawyer?).

thanks for correcting the date. a booking is not essentially an application so i wonder if it applies. like you, im just guessing here but if the current website and booking form are still saying that its okay to use paper form, i hope that they’d clarify.

[michali]

Looking more and more that there will be no more PSC appointments.

[salsabeel]

Hi, the explanatory memorandum (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ssible.pdf) says that the changes only come into effect on 5 November 2018:

"6.6 The other Immigration Rules changes set out in this statement shall take effect on 5 November 2018"

So I guess that any application made before 5 November will be under the old rules. Obviously I am just guessing here, it's probably best to check with someone who actually knows (immigration lawyer?).

Here is another link that interprate and support above link and changes.
https://www.freemovement.org.uk/new-sta ... eb87666433

[OxBristolia]

I just wrote out a whole long post and then it got deleted . Anyway, my point was that I think the intention is for everyone to apply online and then submit copies of docs at a local service centre which will supposedly be a library. My guess is that you will then be able to pay for premium processing. If this is the case there may not be any more PSC appointments but you should be able to get the same effect by requesting and paying for premium processing. Just a guess of course ....

[michali]

Could be something like that! I cannot imagine that they would forego the opportunity to increase revenue from visa applications from those who want a quick decision. I do hope that with this new system coming on stream next month, the procedure is spelled out clearly before then.

[Marikistin]

Hi upon seeing this it got me a bit excited as i am preparing to apply for our citizenship application soon and wondering if it will finally have this kind of service offering in Belfast...please if you have any information and/or contact number or email so i could inquire about it will be greatly appreciated.many thanks.

[michali]

We really don’t know much at the moment and it is mostly speculation. However you can sign up for email alerts from this page. I have and receive mostly information irrelevant to my situation but hopefully we will be sent details of the new process soon.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisat ... mmigration

[Marikistin]

hi michali thanks for the link i am not sure if i can wait til November for the new service but it will surely be a big help for those who live in Northern Ireland to have one in Belfast as its handy and less worrying handing your original docs and getting them lost not to mention faster processing. so still a welcome news