UK visa application delay experiences

[Zed178]

Hi everyone, I have been following this thread for some time as well. it helped a lot!

Here's my timeline:
Applied for priority service from Istanbul, Turkey
Bios: 23rd August
Reached UKVI (got acknowledgment email): 24th August
my CAS has been used since beginning of September (not sure of exact date)
Haven't heard anything after that

My school finally agreed to email UKVI on Wednesday. Got THE email on friday saying "..I have made the ECO aware of the relevant travel date and asked them to make a decision as a priority.."

Today Sept 16th: got a non straightforward email. (Which might only act as an apology for the delay)

Here's my advice to everyone: when I saw my CAS has been "used" I thought they were about to make a decision or they had already done, I thought the delay was from the consulate in my area.
It seems they need a push to review cases, so if you have been waiting like this, I suggest letting your school contact them at least once. Otherwise it seems like our applications are getting lost in a pile somewhere.

Good luck everyone!

[iqra Aziz]

anyone who applied b/w 6-9 august???

@Iqra, My application date was 04 August and my visa case is decided today. It means your turn in coming up next. You should have a news in coming week hopefully. In case you do not hear anything by the Wednesday, directly call UKVI contact number and ask your vis status by giving the GWF number. They will instantly update you with the current status of your application.

where did u applied from?

[qxporya]

I received the same "Not Straightforward" email and I'm losing hope...

[Chischis12]

I received the same "Not Straightforward" email and I'm losing hope...

WHEn did you get it? And pls tell me if you have further email afterwards? Did they interview you for the 2nd time?? I'm on the same situatuon I got non straightforward email on 15 sept

[khozam]

I got an update regarding my CAS status this Thursday. Oh, and I applied from Lahore, Pakistan. I've only had one interview, that is, the one taken on the day of the biometrics. That's about it.

@Sensei, I have also applied via Lahore on 04th August and my CAS has been used + UKVI has taken decision on my application yesterday so I am hopeful to get a call from FexEd to collect my passport in the coming week.

Like you I was also frustrated. I will advise you strongly to engage your university's immigration personnel/department and ask them to contact UKVI for escalation of your application. Also tell them to share your course dates. UKVI takes escalation emails very seriously. Once your CAS status is used then call UKVI the next day to know the status if your application. Once your application is decided then within 2-4 working days you will get a call from VFS to collect yor pasport.

This is the route that I followed and got results within a couple of days.

Dont lose hope brother - you will get a via decision soon.

[Chischis12]

Hi everyone, I have been following this thread for some time as well. it helped a lot!

Here's my timeline:
Applied for priority service from Istanbul, Turkey
Bios: 23rd August
Reached UKVI (got acknowledgment email): 24th August
my CAS has been used since beginning of September (not sure of exact date)
Haven't heard anything after that

My school finally agreed to email UKVI on Wednesday. Got THE email on friday saying "..I have made the ECO aware of the relevant travel date and asked them to make a decision as a priority.."

Today Sept 16th: got a non straightforward email. (Which might only act as an apology for the delay)

Here's my advice to everyone: when I saw my CAS has been "used" I thought they were about to make a decision or they had already done, I thought the delay was from the consulate in my area.
It seems they need a push to review cases, so if you have been waiting like this, I suggest letting your school contact them at least once. Otherwise it seems like our applications are getting lost in a pile somewhere.

Good luck everyone!

Is it the one "unfortunately your case is not straightforward so we're unable to..." email? Or which one you got?? Pls keep update here cos I got that too and HAVE NO IDEA cos tomorrow my course will start

[khozam]

anyone who applied b/w 6-9 august???

@Iqra, My application date was 04 August and my visa case is decided today. It means your turn in coming up next. You should have a news in coming week hopefully. In case you do not hear anything by the Wednesday, directly call UKVI contact number and ask your vis status by giving the GWF number. They will instantly update you with the current status of your application.

where did u applied from?

I applied from Lahore.

[sensei]

I've already tried that route. It didn't help at all. My university told me to stay put and wait. I'll call UKVI again on Monday, I suppose.

[Zed178]

Is it the one "unfortunately your case is not straightforward so we're unable to..." email? Or which one you got?? Pls keep update here cos I got that too and HAVE NO IDEA cos tomorrow my course will start

Yes this one:
"Thank you for applying for a UK visa. Your visa application has been received and is under consideration. We aim to process non settlement applications within 15 working days (unless you have opted for the Priority Visa service), and settlement applications within 60 working days.

Unfortunately, the processing of your application has not been straightforward and we will be unable to decide your application within our customer service targets. We are continuing to work on your application and aim to make a decision as soon as possible."

I am not sure what will happen afterwards, I wasn't expecting to receive this after 3 weeks. It might mean they are just apologizing for being late and silent (someone on this thread mentioned some people got their decision 2 days after this email). It might also mean I have to wait for 15 more days or more.

My course has already started, and classes start this Monday. Let's wait and see!

[khozam]

I've already tried that route. It didn't help at all. My university told me to stay put and wait. I'll call UKVI again on Monday, I suppose.

Which university you are going to?
Call UKVI but their case escalation is useless. Do anything but engage your university. Tell them that your course is starting and you have applied since many weeks. You have to pay tuition fees and manage plenty of pre-departure tasks here that need time. Means, use any logical reason to convince them for contacting UKVI.

BTW universities are mostly very polite and supportive to contact UKVI but I do not know about your university.

[Chischis12]

Is it the one "unfortunately your case is not straightforward so we're unable to..." email? Or which one you got?? Pls keep update here cos I got that too and HAVE NO IDEA cos tomorrow my course will start

Yes this one:
"Thank you for applying for a UK visa. Your visa application has been received and is under consideration. We aim to process non settlement applications within 15 working days (unless you have opted for the Priority Visa service), and settlement applications within 60 working days.

Unfortunately, the processing of your application has not been straightforward and we will be unable to decide your application within our customer service targets. We are continuing to work on your application and aim to make a decision as soon as possible."

I am not sure what will happen afterwards, I wasn't expecting to receive this after 3 weeks. It might mean they are just apologizing for being late and silent (someone on this thread mentioned some people got their decision 2 days after this email). It might also mean I have to wait for 15 more days or more.

My course has already started, and classes start this Monday. Let's wait and see!

Whens your course date? Mine is tomorrow but the latest enrollment is on 2nd October. Pls keep update here if you have any news next week as I'm exactly in the same situation with you. I got the non straightforward email on friday and it scared me a lot...

[Chischis12]

I've already tried that route. It didn't help at all. My university told me to stay put and wait. I'll call UKVI again on Monday, I suppose.

Hope we all get our visa next week, I lost hope too tbh since tomorrow's the first day of the course. Even if the latest enrollment is on 2nd October, it feels terrible to skip any part of the programme. Please keep us update next week

[slimayor123]

I've already tried that route. It didn't help at all. My university told me to stay put and wait. I'll call UKVI again on Monday, I suppose.

Which university you are going to?
Call UKVI but their case escalation is useless. Do anything but engage your university. Tell them that your course is starting and you have applied since many weeks. You have to pay tuition fees and manage plenty of pre-departure tasks here that need time. Means, use any logical reason to convince them for contacting UKVI.

BTW universities are mostly very polite and supportive to contact UKVI but I do not know about your university.

Did ur University asked for GWF number wen u called dem or wat do dey requested from u to contact ukvi with?

[sensei]

The London School of Economics and Political Science. They only asked for my LSE ID when I contacted them
via email. According to them, there are countless students waiting to hear from UKVI so it is important to just wait it out. They also mentioned how my CAS status is not a valid indicator as to whether my application has been processed or not since case workers have been marking applications as 'used' to simply show that they've taken up the case.

[AMS9324]

I've already tried that route. It didn't help at all. My university told me to stay put and wait. I'll call UKVI again on Monday, I suppose.

Hope we all get our visa next week, I lost hope too tbh since tomorrow's the first day of the course. Even if the latest enrollment is on 2nd October, it feels terrible to skip any part of the programme. Please keep us update next week

Are you gonna go to Northumbria by any chance?

[qxporya]

The UK embassy doesn't issue any visa in my own country. they only do the " emergency" stuff in there. so I had to travel to dubai in order to reach VFS.
The thing is, after 3 weeks of waiting and missing two flights I'm out of money. I can't stay in my hotel anymore. I booked the third flight with all the money I had left.
If I don't receive answer by wednesday I have to check out of hotel and stay in Parks and streets (((((
WORST DAYS OF MY LIFE

[qxporya]

I received the same "Not Straightforward" email and I'm losing hope...

WHEn did you get it? And pls tell me if you have further email afterwards? Did they interview you for the 2nd time?? I'm on the same situatuon I got non straightforward email on 15 sept

I received it in september 16th. no request for 2nd interview or anything else. I haven't seen anyone with such email that has been granted the visa ((

post removed by moderator

[slimayor123]

I've already tried that route. It didn't help at all. My university told me to stay put and wait. I'll call UKVI again on Monday, I suppose.

Hope we all get our visa next week, I lost hope too tbh since tomorrow's the first day of the course. Even if the latest enrollment is on 2nd October, it feels terrible to skip any part of the programme. Please keep us update next week

Are you gonna go to Northumbria by any chance?

I am going to Northumbria and I've not received my Visa. I've done my biometric since July 18. The worst part is that my course has started on Sept 11. A week missed already. I just hope for the best ds week

[AMS9324]

I've already tried that route. It didn't help at all. My university told me to stay put and wait. I'll call UKVI again on Monday, I suppose.

Hope we all get our visa next week, I lost hope too tbh since tomorrow's the first day of the course. Even if the latest enrollment is on 2nd October, it feels terrible to skip any part of the programme. Please keep us update next week

Are you gonna go to Northumbria by any chance?

I am going to Northumbria and I've not received my Visa. I've done my biometric since July 18. The worst part is that my course has started on Sept 11. A week missed already. I just hope for the best ds week

Me too. Well mine starts tomorrow. The uni told me that my CAS has been used and I got an apology email from Sheffield for the delay and that they have informed the team to process is as soon as possible. So I hope I get a decision soon. Also don't worry they've pushed late enrolment date till the 9th of October because of the delay. Just be patient

[qxporya]

anyone with the " Non straightforward" email ever received a Visa? please answer.

[Chischis12]

I received the same "Not Straightforward" email and I'm losing hope...

WHEn did you get it? And pls tell me if you have further email afterwards? Did they interview you for the 2nd time?? I'm on the same situatuon I got non straightforward email on 15 sept

I received it in september 16th. no request for 2nd interview or anything else. I haven't seen anyone with such email that has been granted the visa ((

jesus christ, muhammad, Moses, Satan, please Help me ((

Pls share your timeline. I applied 31 july got nothing since except non straightforward email. Do you know if there's anyone who got refused after non straightforward email?

[qxporya]

I received the same "Not Straightforward" email and I'm losing hope...

WHEn did you get it? And pls tell me if you have further email afterwards? Did they interview you for the 2nd time?? I'm on the same situatuon I got non straightforward email on 15 sept

I received it in september 16th. no request for 2nd interview or anything else. I haven't seen anyone with such email that has been granted the visa ((

jesus christ, muhammad, Moses, Satan, please Help me ((

Pls share your timeline. I applied 31 july got nothing since except non straightforward email. Do you know if there's anyone who got refused after non straightforward email?

same thing here. applied since august and nothing but that damn email.
I have seen some people requesting tier 5 or visit visa who received "not straightforward" and got rejected a few days later.
also I rarely have seen anyone who received that email, getting back with any update on their visa status. they all just disappeared forever which I think is a sign of failure

[Chischis12]

WHEn did you get it? And pls tell me if you have further email afterwards? Did they interview you for the 2nd time?? I'm on the same situatuon I got non straightforward email on 15 sept

I received it in september 16th. no request for 2nd interview or anything else. I haven't seen anyone with such email that has been granted the visa ((

jesus christ, muhammad, Moses, Satan, please Help me ((

Pls share your timeline. I applied 31 july got nothing since except non straightforward email. Do you know if there's anyone who got refused after non straightforward email?

same thing here. applied since august and nothing but that damn email.
I have seen some people requesting tier 5 or visit visa who received "not straightforward" and got rejected a few days later.
also I rarely have seen anyone who received that email, getting back with any update on their visa status. they all just disappeared forever which I think is a sign of failure

Now I'm done and hopeless to death... srsly if they want to refuse us just refuse rather than sending us the confusing and scary email like that. Why dont they even give us a gap of time to reapply even if we're refused? what did university tell you? Did you hear anything from them? How about your CAS?

[nadiaslsbl]

I received the not straightforward email on 13th sept. A friend of mine told me that this email means that they're reviewing your case. Suddenly on 15th of september i received a telephonic call from the home office. They interviewed me for 20-30 minutes. Asked loads of questions (funds, why choose this course/uni, father's job, why was i refused in 2016, also asked what i've been doing during the visa delay) they also asked me how am i doing. Of course i told them i'm depressed. i've been waiting for 7 weeks. They told me that they're sorry&going to decide my application as soon as the interview has finished.

[qxporya]

I received it in september 16th. no request for 2nd interview or anything else. I haven't seen anyone with such email that has been granted the visa ((

jesus christ, muhammad, Moses, Satan, please Help me ((

Pls share your timeline. I applied 31 july got nothing since except non straightforward email. Do you know if there's anyone who got refused after non straightforward email?

same thing here. applied since august and nothing but that damn email.
I have seen some people requesting tier 5 or visit visa who received "not straightforward" and got rejected a few days later.
also I rarely have seen anyone who received that email, getting back with any update on their visa status. they all just disappeared forever which I think is a sign of failure

Now I'm done and hopeless to death... srsly if they want to refuse us just refuse rather than sending us the confusing and scary email like that. Why dont they even give us a gap of time to reapply even if we're refused? what did university tell you? Did you hear anything from them? How about your CAS?

my Uni is set to start by tomorrow
october 2nd is the last date I can enter and I'm not sure if they are going to answer until then.
I'm not sure about the status of my CAS (not possible to check) but I will call the Uni tomorrow