**** COVID19 and UKVCAS Appointments **** (ONLY discuss here)

I'd scheduled my biometrics appointment for 23rd April given the current situation with Covid-19. However, I've received an email from UKVCAS today stating all activities at UKVCAS/Sopra Steria are suspended and my appointment will have to be rescehduled and no action needed that the appointment will be automatically rescheduled upto 6 weeks ahead of the original appointment date and to keep logging in and checking the website for rescheduled appointment or look for when appointments are activated and re-book.

I logged in and saw my current appointment for 23rd April is still intact but if activities are suspended, then have to reschedule.

Long delay indeed.

Spikky.

Lets see what happens in the coming weeks but apparently this situation will cause massive backlogs and delays in applications being processed. I hope not though. God save us all from coronavirus. Keep us posted.

Here’s the email that we just received. This is the second cancellation for 3 people and they still have both sets of fees 2 x£330 and the Home Office still have our fees for super priority which they can’t deliver. Challenging times. Stay safe.
______________________________________
UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services

The worldwide response to COVID-19 continues to affect the UK’s Visa and Immigration Service. As a result, the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS), led by Sopra Steria on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), has suspended all services to help protect the health and wellbeing of our customers and staff. This will remain under review with UKVI as the situation evolves.

Your appointment will therefore need to be rescheduled. You do not have to do anything. UKVCAS will automatically reschedule your appointment.

Initially appointments will be rescheduled for around 6 weeks ahead of your original appointment. Please monitor your UKVCAS account to find out when your new appointment has been scheduled for.

Use the following link to log on to your account at any time Log in to UKVCAS account.

If you can’t make the rescheduled appointment, you can cancel this online and receive a full refund. However, you will not be able to rebook until the online booking system reopens.

Alternatively, you can wait until the online booking system reopens when you will be able to see all available appointments.

UKVI has now issued guidance that all foreign nationals whose permission to stay in the UK expired from 24th January 2020 may access a visa extension until 31st May 2020 therefore you will not be disadvantaged in any way due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Please refer to UKVI’s Immigration Guidance at GOV.UK for more information on accessing this extension.

The health and safety of our customers, staff and the public remain UKVI’s and Sopra Steria’s priority at this time.

UKVCAS Customer Services

I can see date change in my UKVACS login. My appointment at Birmingham was postpone from 2nd April 7.30 AM to same time on 15 May. Hope they don't postpone it further. Premium payment timeline is still 5 days after my May appointment - i guess.

We also need to update our documents in for our next appointment (bank statements, letter from office etc etc) ??

bmnikhil wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:51 pm

I can see date change in my UKVACS login. My appointment at Birmingham was postpone from 2nd April 7.30 AM to same time on 15 May. Hope they don't postpone it further. Premium payment timeline is still 5 days after my May appointment - i guess.

We also need to update our documents in for our next appointment (bank statements, letter from office etc etc) ??

Date of application is the date you submit and pay online and not your biometric appointment. Your documents must be dated on or before the date of application and not the biometric appointment.

They will postpone it further: your documents are based on the date you submitted SET(M) so no need to update.

I was supposed to have my appointment tomorrow, but UKVCAS rescheduled to 12 May.

I paid for super priority, does this still apply so when I go on the 12th I should get a response within few days...?

singma33 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2020 5:53 pm

I was supposed to have my appointment tomorrow, but UKVCAS rescheduled to 12 May.

I paid for super priority, does this still apply so when I go on the 12th I should get a response within few days...?

You should still get a decision within a few days otherwise you should be refunded though given current circumstances it might be a day or so longer - that would be my assumption.

I have my appointment re-scheduled from 2nd April to 14th May - there will, of course, be a backlog in processing applications and everything will take longer due to Covid-19 in the coming months.

I was wondering if anyone knows anything regarding the following: since all the documents are uploaded in advance anyways on UKVCAS website, does any know why the Home Office cannot start processing them before the appointment at UKVCAS?

I haven't yet uploaded my documents yet - would it make sense to upload them now and would that help to make the process quicker? Any thoughts, please?

repeatcell wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:38 pm

I have my appointment re-scheduled from 2nd April to 14th May - there will, of course, be a backlog in processing applications and everything will take longer due to Covid-19 in the coming months.

I was wondering if anyone knows anything regarding the following: since all the documents are uploaded in advance anyways on UKVCAS website, does any know why the Home Office cannot start processing them before the appointment at UKVCAS?

I haven't yet uploaded my documents yet - would it make sense to upload them now and would that help to make the process quicker? Any thoughts, please?

Because your biometrics haven't been enrolled and you have not bee identity checked. Only once this is done does ukcvas send your application/supporting documents to HO electronically as a completed submitted application!!

CR001 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:46 pm

repeatcell wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:38 pm

I have my appointment re-scheduled from 2nd April to 14th May - there will, of course, be a backlog in processing applications and everything will take longer due to Covid-19 in the coming months.

I was wondering if anyone knows anything regarding the following: since all the documents are uploaded in advance anyways on UKVCAS website, does any know why the Home Office cannot start processing them before the appointment at UKVCAS?

I haven't yet uploaded my documents yet - would it make sense to upload them now and would that help to make the process quicker? Any thoughts, please?

Because your biometrics haven't been enrolled and you have not bee identity checked. Only once this is done does ukcvas send your application/supporting documents to HO electronically as a completed submitted application!!

I understand - though feel that UKVCAS/HO should innovate on existing processes which are not currently possible. Thanks anyhow for your quick response!

UKVCAS Service Status

The UKVCAS service is currently suspended
The worldwide response to COVID-19 continues to affect the UK’s Visa and Immigration Service. As a result, the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS), led by Sopra Steria on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), has suspended all services to help protect the health and wellbeing of our customers and staff.

This will remain under review with UKVI as the situation evolves.

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message- ... sageId=950

My ILR biometrics appointment was initially scheduled 31st March, but now re-scheduled on May 12. Home office say that this does not effect my immigration status, which is fine in my case, but there is no clarity on dependants (family) immigration status.

If am correct, can not apply the dependent ILR and/or kids citizenship unless Home Office makes a decision on my application, but our visa is about to expire soon (17.04-2020).

In normal situation, I was expecting my ILR by 10th April under supper priority service, and then applying my dependent wife ILR and Kids citizenship (under standard service) before visa expire i.e 17-04-2020.

Would home office count as overstay and reject if I apply my family ILR and citizenship in May ?

We are extremely worried and panic about our current situation. Please could you advice us on this.

biradarsk01 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:13 pm

My ILR biometrics appointment was initially scheduled 31st March, but now re-scheduled on May 12. Home office say that this does not effect my immigration status, which is fine in my case, but there is no clarity on dependants (family) immigration status.

If am correct, can not apply the dependent ILR and/or kids citizenship unless Home Office makes a decision on my application, but our visa is about to expire soon (17.04-2020).

In normal situation, I was expecting my ILR by 10th April under supper priority service, and then applying my dependent wife ILR and Kids citizenship (under standard service) before visa expire i.e 17-04-2020.

Would home office count as overstay and reject if I apply my family ILR and citizenship in May ?

We are extremely worried and panic about our current situation. Please could you advice us on this.

If you already applied, your leave will be extended under Section 3C. If your dependants visa is about to expire, they must also apply online for ILR before their visa expiry. If your kid was born in the UK, the kids does not need a visa

Thanks Zimba for quick response.

My question is.... Is it possible to apply the dependent ILR while main applicant ILR is under process?

biradarsk01 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:02 pm

Thanks Zimba for quick response.

My question is.... Is it possible to apply the dependent ILR while main applicant ILR is under process?

Yes

Thanks for letting me know.

Now, I have another issue because just received an email that says your (my dependent wife) life in UK test has been cancelled.

Any advice on this, please?

Kind regards
Biradarsk01

biradarsk01 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:43 pm

Thanks for letting me know.

Now, I have another issue because just received an email that says your (my dependent wife) life in UK test has been cancelled.

Any advice on this, please?

Kind regards
Biradarsk01

indefinite-leave-to-remain/covid-19-lif ... l#p1891908

Hi,

Greetings. My wife's ILR is due and she will complete her 5 years by this April 11, 2020. I have already started filling up SET(M) online, i have the following questions though

1. Biometrics appointment cannot be booked as UKVCAS website is closed
2. I have not uploaded any documents yet (assuming this should be done in UKVCAS), can I upload some documents and ask some of the documents to be scanned and uploaded during Identity verification? (I have problems with my printer and scanner unfortunately)
3. When UKVCAS website reopens for appointments, Will we have the options to choose Super Priority or Priority Service?
4. What will happen to my wife's VISA status, her current VISA is valid until May 4, 2020.

Can someone please help me in clarifying the above questions?

Regards,
Srinivas

Hi Srinivas

Once you have submitted Form SET(M) on line and paid the fees to UKVI, you're given a link to register with UKVCAS where you can upload your docs but you cannot book an appointment (all appointments are cancelled). When you manage to book an appointment, you are given the option of adding scanning where they will scan any docs that you can't. The super priority fees are paid to UKVI as a part of filing the Form SET(M) and not to UKVCAS: the only money you pay them is for the Biometric appointment and any extras like scanning.

The link below confirms that your wife's visa is extended to 31 May 2020 but you need to email them with the info given.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... -residents

Nobody will be negatively affected by the current situation.

HTH

thecomptroller wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:49 pm

Hi Srinivas

Once you have submitted Form SET(M) on line and paid the fees to UKVI, you're given a link to register with UKVCAS where you can upload your docs but you cannot book an appointment (all appointments are cancelled). When you manage to book an appointment, you are given the option of adding scanning where they will scan any docs that you can't. The super priority fees are paid to UKVI as a part of filing the Form SET(M) and not to UKVCAS: the only money you pay them is for the Biometric appointment and any extras like scanning.

The link below confirms that your wife's visa is extended to 31 May 2020 but you need to email them with the info given.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... -residents

Nobody will be negatively affected by the current situation.

HTH

Thank you, I have already emailed CIH with my wife's details but i have not received any response yet. On the Super Priority appointment, are these suspended and only option is a Standard appointment?

Regards,
Srinivas

Hello,

My biometrics appointment for ILR was delayed from 26/3 to 8/4 (due to staff shortages) then to 20/5 due to the global closure courtesy of COVID19.

I noticed on the GOV website that The ‘priority service’ and ‘super priority service’ are currently suspended for applications made in the UK.

I submitted my application on 30/3 before this decision and paid for a super priority service. Will UKVI still honour that? I presume the above decision should apply only on new applications right?

It's really stressful because standard service for processing ILR can take up to 6 months!!

Srinivas84 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:55 pm

thecomptroller wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:49 pm

Hi Srinivas

Once you have submitted Form SET(M) on line and paid the fees to UKVI, you're given a link to register with UKVCAS where you can upload your docs but you cannot book an appointment (all appointments are cancelled). When you manage to book an appointment, you are given the option of adding scanning where they will scan any docs that you can't. The super priority fees are paid to UKVI as a part of filing the Form SET(M) and not to UKVCAS: the only money you pay them is for the Biometric appointment and any extras like scanning.

The link below confirms that your wife's visa is extended to 31 May 2020 but you need to email them with the info given.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... -residents

Nobody will be negatively affected by the current situation.

HTH

Thank you, I have already emailed CIH with my wife's details but i have not received any response yet. On the Super Priority appointment, are these suspended and only option is a Standard appointment?

Regards,
Srinivas

Can someone please let me know if the Priority or Super Priority Service will be open for ILR, as per GOV.UK, they mentioned not to select these services because of COVID-19.

Regards,
Srinivas

As already posted a number of times, super priority and priority service is currently suspended. Biometric centres are also all closed.

CR001 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 7:18 pm

As already posted a number of times, super priority and priority service is currently suspended. Biometric centres are also all closed.

Thank you.

Regards,
Srinivas