So I did spend my hour with Eine Kleine Nachtsmusik and had a response that our biometric request letter was sent out on 3rd of August! One step in the positive direction! The person I spoke to also said that 75% of applications are decided within 4 weeks after biometrics are enrolled - hopefully this is truly the case (although obviously it is not in all cases)!!Dsin wrote:mrsclc78 wrote:Hi Highly Skilled,highly skilled wrote:
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!
Yes, I called the number on the acknowledgement letter (08706067766). I've called about 6 times or so, usually on hold from 10-40 minutes. It's not cheap though (I've been using Skype).
I'm so sorry you missed your business trip! When I dialled that number, I pressed 2 (I think), whichever number corresponds with requesting the return of documents. The woman asked us for our HO reference number, and a few other personal details, and then asked for the mailing address we wanted the passport sent back to. She then gave us her name and said to write down the time and day in case we needed to reference it. She also said she noted that we needed the passport urgently, but that it may take up to 20 working days (which we already knew).
From what others have said here, it sounds like a combination of calling and requesting, and faxing (though where the fax number comes from, I'm not certain as I've not faxed a letter in yet) gets the document returned.
As for calling about the biometrics letter, I've done that, too. It's the same number, and I press the number that corresponds to biometrics enquiries (forget which one but they list them off on the phone). One person told me it takes 4-5 weeks, full stop, to receive the biometric letter from the date they received the documents. Another person said for me to call back the next day if I hadn't received it. When I did, that third person told me that I simply wasn't in their computer system so there was nothing I could do. A fourth person a week later told me the same - keep waiting, they're backlogged. So they're not hugely helpful, but I imagine that if I WAS in their system and a letter had been sent, they'd be able to tell me that.
For the return of documents for the sponsor, it needs to be the sponsor calling. For checking on a biometrics letter, it can be the applicant. Just have your HO reference number ready and be prepared to wait on hold for awhile listening to eine kleine nachtmusik...
Good luck!
Hi there,
Just caught up with a few posts and yes - it does seem like the main delay comes after submitting biometrics although of course, not everyone's case is the same. Someone posted over the weekend - their application had taken 4 months in total but they had received acknowledgement and biometrics letters very quickly, with most of the waiting being post-biometrics.
As mrsclc78 said, 2-3 weeks for biometric letters seems to be on the optimistic side. We waited nine weeks for our letter. I did wonder if they might be delaying biometrics letters in order to control the flow of applications to the case workers? From what I understand, an application is only given to a specific case worker once biometrics have been enrolled (could be wrong there) so by controlling when they send out the letters they have some control over how many cases are landed on each case worker per month. Just a thought.....
Keep updating on here as your experiences might help someone else in the same boat!
They also said that it was sent by second class post and should be with us within 10 days - is this really how long it took some of those who received the letter?
Thanks to all!
