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5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 12:13 pm
by a12345678
Hi,
Brief immigration history:
Vignette on my passport as T2G dependant valid from end of July 2020
Arrived in UK - Oct 2020
First BRP expiry date - Feb 2022
My partner got ILR in 2022
Made SKW Dependant application in Jan 2022
Expiry of this visa is Jan 2025
Made in time SKW dependant application in Jan 2025
My query is that I have been given until April 2025 to do my biometrics at UKVCAS. Can I instead vary my application (to Set O) before doing the biometrics?
If yes, I will need do my biometrics again, which will take me to June 2025. Once I do my biometrics I will be close enough to when I intended to apply for ILR anyway. With standard application timelines and the caseworker using the date of decision to calculate my 5 year continuous residence period, I should be able to get ILR.
Can anyone see any issues or can share their experience please to having to buy some time before becoming eligible to apply for ILR?
Thanks in advance
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 12:17 pm
by zimba
This is possible however I am not sure that you have time till April 2025. The limit has been 45 working days to enrol your biometrics. How did you get the April timeframe?
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 1:14 pm
by a12345678
Thank you for your reply
After submitting, on the application`s further actions section it said:
Attend an appointment to provide your documents and biometrics by ## April 2025
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 2:19 pm
by zimba
They may have extended this. The 'Biometric enrolment: policy guidance' still refers to the 45 days
Individuals who make in-country applications must, in most circumstances, book an
appointment to enrol their biometric information within a specified period unless an
exemption or exception applies or they have used the UK Immigration: ID Check
app. Individuals will be informed to:
• make an appointment at a Service and Support Centre (SSC) within 15 working days
• make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) location within 45 working days
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... olment.pdf
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 3:23 pm
by a12345678
Thank you Zimba
It has not been extended yet. However, I am hopeful that if I don`t do the biometrics by the current deadline in April, they will give me some more time to complete the biometrics (via their reminder)?
That way the gap between my ILR`s biometric completion and the date when I become eligible (after 5 years continuous residence) becomes smaller. Hence less chance of my visa application being decided in this gap period.
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:22 am
by zimba
Taking this risk is all up to you
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:20 pm
by a12345678
Thank you Zimba for your reply. I have seen some good information provided by you to so many applicants like me. Appreciate it
Honestly I didn’t really think it was possible to plug this big a gap initially. Only when I started reading posts on this forum and the links provided, did I feel there is a good chance.
I don’t have to wait until they send the reminder in April (if that is the only risk referred to in your last message). I was thinking of doing so to reduce the chances of UKVI deciding the standard set o application in 1 month.
Instead I can just hope that when I do the ILR biometrics in June, UKVI don’t decide the application in 1 month.
Looking at the set o timelines added by applicants on the forum that seems plausible. However, if I am unlucky then they could decide and refuse within that 1 month!
Just wanted to double check if I correctly understood the risk mentioned in your last message or have I missed anything please?
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2025 12:48 am
by zimba
The risk is the application being decided before you qualify. The advice given on the forum is based on the guide I shared before. You can try your chances by delaying until April and using a standard visa service
UKVI contact details
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 1:28 pm
by a12345678
Hi, does anyone have an email address for the biometrics team?
The standard UKVI call center - 0300 790 6268 are not able to provide me the details.
I would like to inform UKVI of delay in submitting biometrics due to an injury and that I am not able to meet the deadline for submitting biometrics.
Thanks in advance
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 2:56 pm
by zimba
Probably there is no biometrics team in the home office as they are collected by TLScontact. The caseworkers simply have access to the biometrics submitted. I suggest having a chat with TLScontact
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 7:06 pm
by a12345678
Thank you Zimba
How to direct message on this forum
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2025 11:17 am
by a12345678
Hi,
I wanted to message @rubyracer2 directly but could not. So I posted the below as a reply to their post in the timelines thread, however, it has been deleted:
"
@rubyracer2 Can you please confirm that you applied Standard rather than Priority / Super-Priority?
Just asking as SET(O) standard applications were at least taking one month to decide. So wanted to understand if the decision timeline has drastically reduced?
Thanks in advance
"
Is there a way to raise the question directly? Or can other users confirm if the timelines for deciding standard Set(O) applications is currently just 3 days from biometrics submission?
Thanks
Re: How to direct message on this forum
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2025 7:37 pm
by zimba
Newly registered users are not allowed to send private messages to other members.
As it has been discussed many many times, timeline of another application has no bearing on your application. SET(O) covers many visa routes that may have different timelines and depends heavily on the specific visa application
I applied for a priority visa service and I am still waiting for a response. What is happening ?
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:58 pm
by a12345678
Thank you Zimba for your reply. I was just surprised that standard service can really be done in 3 days! i.e. Could the user @rubyracer2 accidentally entered Standard instead of Priority.
Can you also please advise what happens if I ask UKVI to also consider my application on the basis of Article 8 Human Rights (in the cover letter)?
This is because my spouse is settled and my children have British nationality. Whereas, I had an application rejected in the past.
So mainly want to understand if UKVI contact you and ask if you want to get your application considered on the basis of Private Life OR ILR (based on SKW dependent)?
I remember reading something similar but cannot find it anywhere on the forum now
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 4:34 pm
by CR001
You don't hold a visa category to ask for ilr based on private life. This is a completely different visa route.
You need to apply for ilr based on rhe visa you hold using form SET O and meet all the standard requirements.
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 7:50 pm
by a12345678
Thanks CR001 for your reply
I am not expecting ILR based on my current visa. However, I was asking the caseworker to also consider my application on Article 8 Human Rights basis, if they are minded on refusing the SET(o) form.
Again I read it on a document - which may not be the latest one - where it said, You don`t need to fill a specific form / pay application fees to be considered for visa on the basis of Article 8 ECHR.
So I am just expecting them to put me on that route rather than grant me ILR straight away.
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 10:19 am
by a12345678
Hi all,
Is there any way to add more time to the processing of SET(O) application?
The post about SET(O) standard application being processed within 3 days has caused a lot of stress for me.
Thanks in advance
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 11:12 am
by zimba
No. Every application is different and has a different timeline

Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 4:30 pm
by a12345678
Thanks Zimba for your reply
I was only asking because that person also made a Standard SET(O) application via Tier 2 Dependant route. Which is the same as me and I guess from their post, the time taken to process these applications has gone down to 3 days.
This is something I didn`t expect and in my previous message was asking for suggestions in case someone has also had to do something to increase the processing time.
Re: 5 years on SKW dependant visa
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 4:56 pm
by CR001
the time taken to process these applications has gone down to 3 days.
this is NOT the norm for standard route applications. The user was likely just lucky.
This is stated almost daily on the forum. What other members experience is not the same as the next person.