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

[AnILRApplicant]

So far no news for July applicants . Hopefully they open it up next week .

I’ve seen some people say they got reuse email as soon as they applied in July. I didn’t get that but I applied in the 2nd, right before they announced reuse

Hi,Where did you see ,in this forum ?

No, on Twitter

[debrancherenzym]

I applied for ILR SET (M) on 22nd June and I have got the IDV email last night 23:18.

Same long email about contacting in next few weeks with an invite for using the IDV app.

My visa apparently was automatically extended for 6 months as per right to work checks done by my employer through UKVI, expired on 17th July and new expiry date 23/01/2021.

[SIyer]

I got this IDV email an hour back this morning. I applied on the 23rd of April. So those who haven’t received an email last night might receive one today.

[Desiro]

>> Rollout of the IDV app will take place in phases, beginning in August.

Good to see some update on Biometric reuse. However, the referenced "IDV app" will be software application that can be accessed and used by people from day one, not sure why they are going to rollout in phases. Another waiting game.

I also got idv e-mail last night, the whole situation makes me furious. I have been literally counting days since the first e-mail on eligibility for biometric data re-use and now, whichever option I choose, it will take another two weeks (at least) to get to the appointnent/photo stage. I really dont understand why the phase approach is necessary for photo submission, this ridiculous.

[usernameswan]

Really don't know what to do now...

opt out for an appointment may lead to further delay as we don't know how soon we can book the appointment; wait for photo app may even take longer as no one knows what does 'a few weeks' and 'in phase' mean!! Does that mean another month waiting or longer?

At least they need to clarify/address these issues to help people decide.

They seem to give us a choice but it's not, it makes them look like they've done something but just another poor decision again.

[jerrysk8]

This bit at the bottom of the email

“ If you urgently need a decision about your application, (for example because you need to travel outside of the UK), the option to book an appointment is still available.”

Leads you to believe that opting out gets you a quicker result.

How much are appointments if you opt out?

[Kumar11]

So far no news for July applicants . Hopefully they open it up next week .

I’ve seen some people say they got reuse email as soon as they applied in July. I didn’t get that but I applied in the 2nd, right before they announced reuse

Hi,Where did you see ,in this forum ?

No, on Twitter

I applied on July 10. I have not got any reuse mail . Just got a mail to submit my documents.

[Hadiyay]

Hi,
I have applied in early may and in biometric reuse pool.
I have not received any emails yet regarding app.

Anyone in May still waiting for emails or it is only me

My husband and I applied for his ILR in mid May, recieved an email before about not needing to attend an appointment, but have NOT received a new email regarding the photo submitting app.

Can anyone advise what we should do? What could be the reason why we have not have an email about the app? Should we call the ukvi?

[Toxic]

Hi guys,

I got an email regarding the app but it didnt mention anything about the documents submission. Any ideas on how to submit them?

[ap1410]

When did you receive the email .. today?

[tbp]

If I don't receive an email this week inviting me to use IDV app as a March applicant, I am thinking of opting out. Otherwise, based on their "few weeks" "phased" timeframe, I might end up waiting for another month.

[Toxic]

When did you receive the email .. today?

Yes today

[ap1410]

When did you receive the email .. today?

I haven’t received the IDV email today, hoping it will come in soon!

[ap1410]

If I don't receive an email this week inviting me to use IDV app as a March applicant, I am thinking of opting out. Otherwise, based on their "few weeks" "phased" timeframe, I might end up waiting for another month.

Can you opt out without having received the IDV email ?

[GondalUK]

>> The key advantage of the IDV app is you don’t have to attend an appointment at a UKVCAS Service Point.
>> If you urgently need a decision about your application, (for example because you need to travel outside of the UK), the option to book an appointment is still available. See next steps below.

Another non-sense, the IDV app is supposed to make things faster as compared to manual appointments when that app is rolled out and fully functional.

They seems to have added this text to encourage people to opt out and book an appointment where they may earn some money by offering premium high cost appointments. As according to my information so far, these appointments from UKVCAS are not helpful in having decision quickly, it's under UKVI control to make decision quickly.

And still unclear if you opt out and fall back in the queue

This all gives an impression that they only named "biometric reuse" as "IDV app" and sent an email to most people who were earlier selected for bio-metric reuse. The actual release of an app is possibly not very near otherwise why they bothered sending this email with just an introduction and that the actual invitations will be in few weeks? They could send it once after an app is ready.

[ILRGB]

I applied in July but yet to receive any communication from UKVCAS, exceptthe payment confirmation email.

Will all applicants receive an email from UKVCAS to submit documents?

[GondalUK]

I applied in July but yet to receive any communication from UKVCAS, exceptthe payment confirmation email.

Will all applicants receive an email from UKVCAS to submit documents?

There are high chances that people who applied in July will start getting bio-metrics appointment or reuse emails from Monday.

Only some people reported that they received an email for documents submission and most likely they are all who applied using SET (O). Between that email was directly from UKVI and not from UKVCAS.

I got this email 6 days after my application submission.

[Paul99]

I applied in July but yet to receive any communication from UKVCAS, exceptthe payment confirmation email.

Will all applicants receive an email from UKVCAS to submit documents?

There are high chances that people who applied in July will start getting bio-metrics appointment or reuse emails from Monday.

Only some people reported that they received an email for documents submission and most likely they are all who applied using SET (O). Between that email was directly from UKVI and not from UKVCAS.

I got this email 6 days after my application submission.

Yes doc sub is mostly for SET O as for my knowledge

[Paul99]

Any one got Bio metric-reuse who has done last bio-metric 5 years before ?or do we know how they are selecting peoples -any patterns /cretrica's to fulfill this category ?

[ap1410]

>> The key advantage of the IDV app is you don’t have to attend an appointment at a UKVCAS Service Point.
>> If you urgently need a decision about your application, (for example because you need to travel outside of the UK), the option to book an appointment is still available. See next steps below.

Another non-sense, the IDV app is supposed to make things faster as compared to manual appointments when that app is rolled out and fully functional.

They seems to have added this text to encourage people to opt out and book an appointment where they may earn some money by offering premium high cost appointments. As according to my information so far, these appointments from UKVCAS are not helpful in having decision quickly, it's under UKVI control to make decision quickly.

And still unclear if you opt out and fall back in the queue

This all gives an impression that they only named "biometric reuse" as "IDV app" and sent an email to most people who were earlier selected for bio-metric reuse. The actual release of an app is possibly not very near otherwise why they bothered sending this email with just an introduction and that the actual invitations will be in few weeks? They could send it once after an app is ready.

Not everyone has received the IDV app
email yet . I am waiting too , after the last biometric email a week ago.

Possibly the emails will now come only on Monday?

[abhardwaj1390]

My analysis
(01/08/2020-07/08/2020) - UKVCAS is basically stating come out from reuse pool, there are no freebies, its a grace period indirectly given by them to all applicants
(08/08/2020 – onwards) - Expect Reuse app email to enrol
Conclusion, they are hitting two targets with this email:
• 5 working days for their staff to settle as they are back to office on 3rd August
• Maximise on the revenue by encouraging applicants to come out of reuse pool
Capitalism at its best even in the time of Crisis

What are your thoughts other people in the same situation?

[tbp]

Agreed with the capitalism part of things.

But in my opinion, they wouldn't be able to send invitations for IDV app, before 10 August at least. As they need to wait for OPT OUT emails to come through until 7 August. Then they will need to sort out the database during weekend to be able to send appointment emails on Monday. And the rest of the applicants can wait or expect to receive invitations on or after 10 August. But nobody knows as they mentioned the roll out in phases in "few weeks" again.

Also, I don't think they will move onto July applicants until they know how many people will be opting-out from biometric reuse. There is a backlog of applicants for a period of 4 months who were on hold for a month now since biometric reuse was announced.

[CULLINAN]

My analysis
(01/08/2020-07/08/2020) - UKVCAS is basically stating come out from reuse pool, there are no freebies, its a grace period indirectly given by them to all applicants
(08/08/2020 – onwards) - Expect Reuse app email to enrol
Conclusion, they are hitting two targets with this email:
• 5 working days for their staff to settle as they are back to office on 3rd August
• Maximise on the revenue by encouraging applicants to come out of reuse pool
Capitalism at its best even in the time of Crisis

What are your thoughts other people in the same situation?

I think UKVI gave a fair option to opt out to help many applicants.

Note, not everyone is tech savvy or used to downloading apps etc. Many people (especially in the older generation) do not have those kind of phones which support apps or are not comfortable with such stuff.

I think, this grace period is for all those people who would want to opt out for any reason; either they are not comfortable to use the app OR do not have access to such phones etc.

The unclear bit is whether the people who opt-out will have advantage over who will stay put with the IDV app?

My understanding for those who opt out, they would still invite people to re-book appointments in phases, starting back from March.

Similarly, the IDV app will be rolled out in phases also.

So my own analysis is: The invitations will be sent out simultaneously from 10th August 2020 [for re-booking appointments for those who opt-out (previously in reuse category) and IDV app for those who opt in] in phases starting from pre-lockdown.

P.S But if the IDV app is not rolled out simultaneously from 10th August, then opt-out option may take advantage over the IDV app!

[abhardwaj1390]

My analysis
(01/08/2020-07/08/2020) - UKVCAS is basically stating come out from reuse pool, there are no freebies, its a grace period indirectly given by them to all applicants
(08/08/2020 – onwards) - Expect Reuse app email to enrol
Conclusion, they are hitting two targets with this email:
• 5 working days for their staff to settle as they are back to office on 3rd August
• Maximise on the revenue by encouraging applicants to come out of reuse pool
Capitalism at its best even in the time of Crisis

What are your thoughts other people in the same situation?

I think UKVI gave a fair option to opt out to help many applicants.

Note, not everyone is tech savvy or used to downloading apps etc. Many people (especially in the older generation) do not have those kind of phones which support apps or are not comfortable with such stuff.

I think, this grace period is for all those people who would want to opt out for any reason; either they are not comfortable to use the app OR do not have access to such phones etc.

The unclear bit is whether the people who opt-out will have advantage over who will stay put with the IDV app?

My understanding for those who opt out, they would still invite people to re-book appointments in phases, starting back from March.

Similarly, the IDV app will be rolled out in phases also.

So my own analysis is: The invitations will be sent out simultaneously from 10th August 2020 [for re-booking appointments for those who opt-out (previously in reuse category) and IDV app for those who opt in] in phases starting from pre-lockdown.

P.S But if the IDV app is not rolled out simultaneously from 10th August, then opt-out option may take advantage over the IDV app!

So are you opting out?

[AnILRApplicant]

Agreed with the capitalism part of things.

But in my opinion, they wouldn't be able to send invitations for IDV app, before 10 August at least. As they need to wait for OPT OUT emails to come through until 7 August. Then they will need to sort out the database during weekend to be able to send appointment emails on Monday. And the rest of the applicants can wait or expect to receive invitations on or after 10 August. But nobody knows as they mentioned the roll out in phases in "few weeks" again.

Also, I don't think they will move onto July applicants until they know how many people will be opting-out from biometric reuse. There is a backlog of applicants for a period of 4 months who were on hold for a month now since biometric reuse was announced.

As a July applicant, I certainly hope they’ll invite people next week. I think it would be weird to have people prior to that given the chance to accelerate due to emergencies but not July applicants. I also hope they’ll prioritise those from July who have to get a biometrics appt vs those who have the option of re use.