My timeline: Settlement application for wife

Application Category: Spouse Settlement (non-priority)
Application Submitted Online: 21 April 2018
Biometrics & Passport Submission (Location): Beijing
Biometrics & Passport Submission (Date): 25 April 2018
Supporting Documents Sent To Sheffield On : 3 May 2018

She had a spouse visa before which is expired as we moved to the US for nearly 3 years and I am back in March.
Hope everything goes OK

(08/06/2018, 33rd working day of submitting online application)

received an email:

Regarding Visa Application: GWF--------
For: xxxx

Your online application has been received at the UK Decision Making Centre. Your application is currently being prepared for consideration by an Entry Clearance Officer.

If you have made a Settlement application (except for applications lodged in USA and Canada): you must ensure that your UK sponsor has sent all relevant supporting documentation to the UK Decision Making Centre in Sheffield. The documents should be arranged in this order: application form and relevant Appendix* (See below); English language evidence; relationship documents; maintenance documents; accommodation documents. If documents are not received a decision will be taken on the basis on the information that has been provided.

If you have already had your supporting documents scanned in at the Visa Application Centre, or if you have already sent them in to us, please ignore the request for documents.

Please note that UKVI aims to complete all Visit Visa applications within 15 working days and all Settlement Visa applications within 12 weeks of the application date. If it is not possible to complete your application within this timeframe a member of our team will contact you to explain why.

If you have paid for Priority Service, your application will be placed in front of the queue and assessed ahead of other non-priority visa applications others but may still take 12 weeks to conclude if we require further time to consider the application. As indicated in the terms of service, the amount paid for the priority service, as well as the visa fees, is not refundable if the visa application is refused or if the decision is delayed.

We regret that we are unable to respond to enquiries asking about the status of any application. Any status enquiry should be made to the international enquiry service, details of which are on the GOV.UK website. Staff at Embassies, visa processing centres and visa application centres cannot assist with visa enquiries. You may also wish to view the current processing times for applications made in your country.

A further email will be sent to you to confirm when your application has been assessed and dispatched. If your application was made in a Visa Application Centre, the staff there will contact you when your documents are ready – please do not attend the Centre until you are requested to do so.

Please note that you are advised not to purchase flight tickets until you have secured a visa for travel to the UK.

*List of Appendices:
Appendix 1 - Children / Other Dependants
Appendix 2 - Spouse / Partner
Appendix 4 - Pre-flight family members of Refugees
Appendix 5 - Access Rights to Child

Further information is also available on the UK visas and immigration website.

Kind regards,

UK DMC ............This is an automated message - ..............

Application Category: Spouse Settlement (non-priority)
Application Submitted Online: 21 April 2018
Biometrics & Passport Submission (Location): Beijing
Biometrics & Passport Submission (Date): 25 April 2018
Supporting Documents Sent To Sheffield On : 03 May 2018
Email received: 08 June 2018
Supporting Documents Received Back From Sheffield: 28 June 2018
Employer Contacted By UKVI (if applicable):
Sponsor Contacted By UKVI (if applicable):
Decision Made:

--- Silent approval (without receiving further emails) ---
* Passport post to Beijing home on 21 July 2018 (granted)
* (they are really sticking to 12 weeks as they said )
* Valid from 24 July 2018 - 23 August 2018
(Note this is different from the previous visa which stated the 33 months validity period on the sticker)
---------------------------
Application Category: Spouse Settlement (non-priority)
Application Submitted Online: - 21 April 2018
Biometrics & Passport Submission (Location): - Beijing
Biometrics & Passport Submission (Date): - 25 April 2018
Supporting Documents Sent To Sheffield On : - 03 May 2018
Email received: - 08 June 2018
Supporting Documents Received Back From Sheffield: - 28 June 2018
Employer Contacted By UKVI (if applicable): (never)
Sponsor Contacted By UKVI (if applicable): (never)
Decision Made: (unknown date)

Country: USA (Seattle)
Visa: Settlement - Spouse (Wife)
Priority Service: Yes
Visa processing office: Sheffield, UK
Projected timeline: up to 12 weeks for settlement visas (according to 1st email from Sheffield on 27 June)

Date application submitted (online at visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/User/Home): 31 May 2018
Date biometrics taken (at USCIS ASC Seattle Application Support Center): 15 June 2018
Documents received at Sheffield (ParcelForce tracking): 20 June 2018 11:38am GMT

Email "application being prepared for consideration by an ECO": 27 June 2018 10:33am GMT
Email "visa application does not include airway bill": 27 June 2018 11:31am GMT

Email "ECO assigned": WAITING...

Call to escalate at over 30 working days: N/A

Documents returned (to UK address): WAITING...

Email "decision made": WAITING...

Passport received (by UPS courier, prepaid label from via VFS Global): WAITING...

Status on Sun 29 July 2018:
41 working days since online application submitted
30 working days since biometrics
27 working days since documents arrived at Sheffield
22 working days since first email from Sheffield

STATUS: WAITING...