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

[Aksrava]

For the LR applications, is the backlog/decision time improving or getting worse now since covid? From my research it seems to have gone from 5 months (first lockdown) to 3-4 months now (only know this by looking at the threads). I’m wondering whether Christmas would’ve put a dent in catching up with the backlog. What are people’s takes? I noticed that for LR standard service is usually around 3-4 months anyway, so does this mean they’re close to catching up?

[srsw]

Hi All,
We received the decision email today.
We really appreciate all the help provided by the members of this forum through several threads. And all the replies to my questions.

Special thansks to Cullinan & srsw

Congratulations .
That's reasonably quick turnaround from ukvi.

[123elizabeth2020]

Hi All,
We received the decision email today.
We really appreciate all the help provided by the members of this forum through several threads. And all the replies to my questions.

Special thansks to Cullinan & srsw

Congratulations .
That's reasonably quick turnaround from ukvi.

Thanks srsw. We were expecting 1 month to process it.

[camil]

the below is from UKVCAS, is the next day appointment always an option or subject to availability? do you know the cost? our solicitor applied for us, I don't have the user and pass, that`s why I cant check it myself, but if possible, don't wanna wait 28 days for bio appointment... thanks

-------
Appointment date and time
If you want to visit a service point, you can book an appointment:

up to 28 days in advance
the same day
the next day
outside of standard office hours, such as early morning, evenings and at weekends
-------

[CULLINAN]

the below is from UKVCAS, is the next day appointment always an option or subject to availability? do you know the cost? our solicitor applied for us, I don't have the user and pass, that`s why I cant check it myself, but if possible, don't wanna wait 28 days for bio appointment... thanks

-------
Appointment date and time
If you want to visit a service point, you can book an appointment:

up to 28 days in advance
the same day
the next day
outside of standard office hours, such as early morning, evenings and at weekends
-------

This appointment has nothing to do with super priority. SP is a UKVI service. The biometrics appointments are run by UKVCAS. These days biometrics appointments are running at a 28 day lag. One minute you want to cancel your application and now you want to book an early biometrics appointment?

[camil]

the below is from UKVCAS, is the next day appointment always an option or subject to availability? do you know the cost? our solicitor applied for us, I don't have the user and pass, that`s why I cant check it myself, but if possible, don't wanna wait 28 days for bio appointment... thanks

-------
Appointment date and time
If you want to visit a service point, you can book an appointment:

up to 28 days in advance
the same day
the next day
outside of standard office hours, such as early morning, evenings and at weekends
-------

This appointment has nothing to do with super-priority. SP is a UKVI service. The biometrics appointments are run by UKVCAS. These days biometrics appointments are running at a 28 day lag. One minute you want to cancel your application and now you want to book an early biometrics appointment?

yes, I am aware that biometrics has nothing to do with super/priority service.
yes after we re-apply, if available would like to use the earliest slot.

[CULLINAN]

It is based on availability. These days its rare to get an earlier slot than the 28th day unless you keep checking the system continuously through out the day for 3/4 days to look for cancellations which your solicitor will never invest his time on.

[poper]

For the LR applications, is the backlog/decision time improving or getting worse now since covid? From my research it seems to have gone from 5 months (first lockdown) to 3-4 months now (only know this by looking at the threads). I’m wondering whether Christmas would’ve put a dent in catching up with the backlog. What are people’s takes? I noticed that for LR standard service is usually around 3-4 months anyway, so does this mean they’re close to catching up?

By end of October, HO were dealing 85-90 day old applications. From November with lockdown, there has been a slowdown.
The average wait times are about 125-130 days now atleast(as an outlier I am still waiting at 145 days)

[JeffWebb]

@poper - haha, I know! August and September (together) Set LR summary below. These are only the ones that have been reported. As we know and have seen, some people only post timelines after their application has been approved, so there may be more to come.

Total number of applicants = 142
Number of applications decided = 130
Number of outstanding applications = 12

August:
Total number of applicants = 101
Number of applications decided = 97
Number of outstanding applications = 4 (@mm1990 - 9th August, Fb user - 21st August, @Jubilatedeo and @poper - 29th August)

September:
Total number of applicants = 41
Number of applications decided = 33
Number of outstanding applications = 8
Latest (non-escalated) approval = 11th September
NOTE: September is currently heavily skewed towards the start of the month as only those people have posted timelines on the forum. 1st-15th September has 37 datapoints/applicants whereas 16th-30th September only has 4 datapoints/applicants at the moment

Hi ajitu92 does this list include SET(M)? is there any stats about the status of SET(M)s? Applied for my wife's SET(M) on 19/08/20 but still no news, just wanted to see how many more SET(M)s are waiting for a decision.

Nope, sorry. That is for Set LR only. Apologies but I don't have stats for Set (M). @Ameline did have Set (M) stats but not sure whether s/he is still keeping them updated.

I still have the approved ones statistics but got fed up with the Home Office as they are just useless and unfair.

They have been steady - more or less - focusing on June Set(M) applications from 5th to 30th Nov (3.5 weeks) having approved 24 applications DAILY, then they were focusing on July Set(M) applications from 30th Nov to 6th Jan (5.5 weeks) having approved 26 applications DAILY. July took them longer than June applications due to Xmas and New Year and also staff who have obviously left their annual leave till December due to pandemic).

They are currently processing Set(M) August applications daily since 7th Jan with one September (24th) approved today (we dont know yet if this is just an exception).

There are at least 20 applicants waiting from Aug and at least 20 waiting from September. These are just the data I got from this forum and fb, which is a very small fraction of the real number of the pending applications who are not posting their timeline anywhere.

So they might spend January assessing the remaining from August applications and February processing most of September applications, or they might mix them as there was an approval today for 24th September applicant. Don't be surprised as well if you see few October/November/December approvals shortly as they like making big jumps from time to time.

Hope this helps.

This is information is very helpful. Many thanks Ameline.

[swissman20]

For the LR applications, is the backlog/decision time improving or getting worse now since covid? From my research it seems to have gone from 5 months (first lockdown) to 3-4 months now (only know this by looking at the threads). I’m wondering whether Christmas would’ve put a dent in catching up with the backlog. What are people’s takes? I noticed that for LR standard service is usually around 3-4 months anyway, so does this mean they’re close to catching up?

Feel like pre christmas the processing times were around the 80-95 day mark but this has definitely increased now (going by approval posts on timeline thread) to about 120-135 day mark. Definitely seems like the Christmas break has had an impact on backlog.

Another point that was mentioned previously is the large number of applicatoins in August 2020 and that perhaps September onwards the case load may be lesser and could have an impact on processing times. I've applied on 25th of October and hope to get approval by 1st of March.

[Amy_R88]

Received ILR BRP at last.
Has anybody noticed that they have changed the design of ilr brp. I.e. color theme, no yellow chip in back as well as there's no signatures of ours in the corner??

[durga]

I don't know if it is relavent to discuss here, to my surprise today my wife have received FLR m approval email before getting my ILR(LR) decision, is this normal?? Does this mean my ILR is also approved ??

This is my timeline
Application (SET (LR)) submitted on - 13/10/2020
Biometrics on - 03/11/2020
decision - still waiting ( The timelines suggests that approval up to 14/09/2020)

My wife time line
Application (FLR (M)) submitted on - 14/10/2020
Biometrics on - 07/11/2020
decision - Approved ( 21/1/2021, valid for 30 months)

[ajitu92]

@swissman20, @poper and @Aksrava - Correct, currently running at around 125-130 days for Set LR. It is possible that the case load post August is lower and decision times may start reducing steadily. August end had the highest number of Set LR applications since last March (at least from what was reported).

@Amy_R88 - yes, this is the new "post brexit" design. Previous BRP's conformed to the EU residence permit requirements/design.

@durga - That is weird and interesting. Then again, it's the Home Office. They have their own weird and (un)wonderful ways of doing things.

[swissman20]

@swissman20, @poper and @Aksrava - Correct, currently running at around 125-130 days for Set LR. It is possible that the case load post August is lower and decision times may start reducing steadily. August end had the highest number of Set LR applications since last March (at least from what was reported).

@Amy_R88 - yes, this is the new "post brexit" design. Previous BRP's conformed to the EU residence permit requirements/design.

@durga - That is weird and interesting. Then again, it's the Home Office. They have their own weird and (un)wonderful ways of doing things.

@ajitu92 - feeling positive today after seeing the latest LR timeline post - 20/9 submission. As you rightly point out, the forum posts are but a miniscule portion of the entire set of applications so it is quite likely we are not getting the complete picture which if anything has to be better than what we are estimating, i.e. there being people beyond 20/9 who've got approvals.

[mesn]

This might rub salt on wounds for SET(M) and SET(LR) applicants.

Appears super priority service has been opened for SET(O) applicants:
https://www.gov.uk/faster-decision-visa ... ide-the-uk

Wow. Would have made more sense for them to put some people on Set LR and Set M processing. And also, don't see any sense in 1-day processing while there is a 4 week wait time on bio.

[bearbearwing212]

This might rub salt on wounds for SET(M) and SET(LR) applicants.

Appears super priority service has been opened for SET(O) applicants:
https://www.gov.uk/faster-decision-visa ... ide-the-uk

do you think they will extend the super priority to SET (LR).. if yes, when do you think that will happen? your thought will be appreciated. thanks

[poper]

This might rub salt on wounds for SET(M) and SET(LR) applicants.

Appears super priority service has been opened for SET(O) applicants:
https://www.gov.uk/faster-decision-visa ... ide-the-uk

do you think they will extend the super priority to SET (LR).. if yes, when do you think that will happen? your thought will be appreciated. thanks

No idea mate

[noisyneighbour]

Hello,

what category would this be?
Applying to settle as the dependent child or partner if you work, establish a business or invest in the UK

What does partner if you work mean? Set(M) partner who works maybe?

Thanks,

[ajitu92]

@swissman20, @poper and @Aksrava - Correct, currently running at around 125-130 days for Set LR. It is possible that the case load post August is lower and decision times may start reducing steadily. August end had the highest number of Set LR applications since last March (at least from what was reported).

@Amy_R88 - yes, this is the new "post brexit" design. Previous BRP's conformed to the EU residence permit requirements/design.

@durga - That is weird and interesting. Then again, it's the Home Office. They have their own weird and (un)wonderful ways of doing things.

@ajitu92 - feeling positive today after seeing the latest LR timeline post - 20/9 submission. As you rightly point out, the forum posts are but a miniscule portion of the entire set of applications so it is quite likely we are not getting the complete picture which if anything has to be better than what we are estimating, i.e. there being people beyond 20/9 who've got approvals.

Aye, they seem to be moving ever so slightly quicker now. Maybe, but I would assume that even with a miniscule proportion, the trend would remain similar...and that assumption has stood the test of time over the last year.

[ajitu92]

Hello,

what category would this be?
Applying to settle as the dependent child or partner if you work, establish a business or invest in the UK

What does partner if you work mean? Set(M) partner who works maybe?

Thanks,

Tier 2 dependants i.e. Set (O)

[jonser]

Hi All,
Could someone please give me the website to check right to work? I saw it on this site some weeks ago but can't find it anymore for some reason. I applied for ILR and I am trying to use my details to check if my right to work is now unlimited as a way to see if my application has been approved. Sincere apologies if this is the wrong place to post this.

[CULLINAN]

Hi All,
Could someone please give me the website to check right to work? I saw it on this site some weeks ago but can't find it anymore for some reason. I applied for ILR and I am trying to use my details to check if my right to work is now unlimited as a way to see if my application has been approved. Sincere apologies if this is the wrong place to post this.

Why not google?

https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work

[jonser]

Hi All,
Could someone please give me the website to check right to work? I saw it on this site some weeks ago but can't find it anymore for some reason. I applied for ILR and I am trying to use my details to check if my right to work is now unlimited as a way to see if my application has been approved. Sincere apologies if this is the wrong place to post this.

Why not google?

https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work

I did google (surely nobody can be lazy enough not to try google before posting on the forum) and the result I got stated that the response will be obtained in 5 days time. This was why I posted the question in the first place.

[CULLINAN]

Hi All,
Could someone please give me the website to check right to work? I saw it on this site some weeks ago but can't find it anymore for some reason. I applied for ILR and I am trying to use my details to check if my right to work is now unlimited as a way to see if my application has been approved. Sincere apologies if this is the wrong place to post this.

Why not google?

https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work

I did google (surely nobody can be lazy enough not to try google before posting on the forum) and the result I got stated that the response will be obtained in 5 days time. This was why I posted the question in the first place.

Click on I have a BRP?

[jonser]

Thanks a lot...I appreciate it.