**** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

[Ritchie12]

Kind request please. If anyone finds a free appointment slot in the Birmingham area or with 40miles, please post here. I'm happy to drive anywhere within 40miles for the biometrics appointment. Thank you

[Ritchie12]

I finally received approval today from nationalitycaseworkdecisionservice@homeoffice.gov.uk

Online Application : May 18th
Submitted IDV via App : Aug 26th
Free Appointment Lansdowne : Sep 17th
Decision approval by email : Sep 18th at 11:10am

I went to Lansdowne Croydon yesterday for Bio-metrics considering I didn't hear any news after 3 weeks submitting IDV. I received approval today AM. Now let's wait for ceremony which hopefully will be done less than 12 weeks ! Thank you so much for this forum. Good luck everyone !

does that mean booking an appointment even after an IDV submission was the right thing to do?

@soul_mickey, my personal conclusion is that it goes fast than the IDVapp. My personal opinion: i think the IDVapp has been a cover up to allow UKVCAS get back to normal person appointment service

[CULLINAN]

UKVCAS update 19th Sep

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message- ... geId=74833

[CULLINAN]

Seems like due to fear of second wave UKVCAS has reconsidered its decision to stick with IDV app.

We were planning to do this on 21 September 2020, but we are still working on final testing with UKVI. We’ll keep you posted about when this will happen, so keep checking this service status.

[CULLINAN]

If UKVCAS received your application on or before 11 September 2020 you should have received an email inviting you to either book a UKVCAS appointment or to download and use the IDV app.

If UKVCAS received your application on or after 12 September 2020, please continue to check this page for updates. We will refresh this page next week to let you know when you can book a UKVCAS appointment or use the IDV app.

[CULLINAN]

UKVI will send updates to customers with an application in progress over the next 2 weeks to let you know what’s happening with your application. Please be reassured that your immigration status is not affected while your application is in progress.

[Ritchie12]

UKVI will send updates to customers with an application in progress over the next 2 weeks to let you know what’s happening with your application. Please be reassured that your immigration status is not affected while your application is in progress.

@ CULLINAN, does this apply to all applications?

[CULLINAN]

UKVI will send updates to customers with an application in progress over the next 2 weeks to let you know what’s happening with your application. Please be reassured that your immigration status is not affected while your application is in progress.

@ CULLINAN, does this apply to all applications?

I am not sure. This is what the official update says. We will see how it goes.

[heyaheya]

just received an email got an approval. received an email at 11.51am. good luck everyone. many thanks,

@heyaheya, when did you apply?

4th may and idv biometric 26 august 2020.

[therock]

Got approval email.
Submitted application: 16/06/2020
IDV submitted: 02/09/2020
Approval: 18/09/2020

[Kamana]

Hi I submitted my application 2 days ago, after reading this thread I am confused about the new process for the biometric appointments.

My understanding is that I will get an email when I have to use the IDV app? Then I will have to upload my picture onto the app, (but documents are still uploaded onto the website)?

Does this mean that I will still have to book an appointment on the website and pay for the appointment? If we don't have to book an appoint why is everyone talking about free appointments?

Can someone please explain the new process for me?
Thanks

[Alisaa]

Hi I submitted my application 2 days ago, after reading this thread I am confused about the new process for the biometric appointments.

My understanding is that I will get an email when I have to use the IDV app? Then I will have to upload my picture onto the app, (but documents are still uploaded onto the website)?

Does this mean that I will still have to book an appointment on the website and pay for the appointment? If we don't have to book an appoint why is everyone talking about free appointments?

Can someone please explain the new process for me?
Thanks

Well you don’t need to , if you upload and submit your facial and supporting documents via app, then you are ok, However it is believed that the decision will be made quicker if you attend for the appointment (based on the user’s experience) .
So some people decided to book an appointment despite they have submitted their documents and facial through app.
It is totally up to you.

[skasyap]

Hi I submitted my application 2 days ago, after reading this thread I am confused about the new process for the biometric appointments.

My understanding is that I will get an email when I have to use the IDV app? Then I will have to upload my picture onto the app, (but documents are still uploaded onto the website)?

Does this mean that I will still have to book an appointment on the website and pay for the appointment? If we don't have to book an appoint why is everyone talking about free appointments?

Can someone please explain the new process for me?
Thanks

1) you will receive an email if your previous biometric can be reuse or not. If not you will be asked to book appointment at UKVCAS centre.
2) if yes then you will receive a second email asking you to use IDV App ( please read this thread to get an idea about IDV APP)
3) it is entirely up to you whether to use IDV App (which is free) or opt out to go at biometric centre to complete your biometric. Most of the time you will have to pay for biometric to be done at UKVCAS centre but if you are lucky then you can find free appointment as well.
4) you can use IDV app (only if you fall under biometric re use category) if you do not want to pay for biometric.
5) in my case I used IDV App as I did not want to pay but after waiting for three weeks as I did not hear about decision on my application, I did decide to book appointment at biometric centre. I was lucky to find free of cost appointment. So in theory I did two submission a)IDV App & b) biometric at UKVCAS CENTRE
6) if you used IDV App, UKVCAS will advise if you asked them directly that no need to attend biometric appointment unless UKVI asked for. But to be honest just looking at others I decided to be on a safe side and use the both method and neither UKVI or UKVCAS objected that.

So it is entirely up to you depending on your situation. My decision to use method was influenced by not any individual advice but the number of users received decisions quicker by doing biometric at UKVCAS centre than using IDV app. Anyway nothing guarantees that so it is your call.

Hope above will help to clear your some confusion or concerns. Good luck

[Royal_desire]

But once you do the appointment for biometrics you cant do facial image on idv app it want let you so its totally up to you,use the app first then boke appointment that will work i think

[Kamana]

Thanks for explaining it so well.

[uklondonn]

Hi, I guess we don't need to provide any photo on the UKVCAS appointment, isn't it?

By the way, are there anyone that submitted the application after the 11th, seen any available appointment? I'm wondering if UKVCAS open appointments on a daily basis or weekly? (For new people)


Thanks!

[CULLINAN]

Hi, I guess we don't need to provide any photo on the UKVCAS appointment, isn't it?

By the way, are there anyone that submitted the application after the 11th, seen any available appointment? I'm wondering if UKVCAS open appointments on a daily basis or weekly? (For new people)


Thanks!

No physical photo is needed. UKVCAS staff will take your digital photo.
You will have to wait till UKVCAS announces next steps for applicants who applied after 11th Sep. You will not be able to view or book any appointments for now if you are in that lot.

[CULLINAN]

For applicants who applied after 11th Sep

You will have to wait for UKVCAS to update the flash message. For now, the booking system is only open for applicants who applied up to 11th Sep.

Note, majority times the booking system opens up even before an official update comes up OR an email is received.

So you will have to keep checking UKVCAS flash message updates & this biometrics topic for recent developments. Members post their experience here and then everyone knows that the system is open. You have to be pro active as appointments are eaten up quickly.

You will only be able to book an appointment or use IDV app once the system opens up for you.

You will be notified by email if you are eligible for IDV app or not.

If you are eligible for IDV app, you will be able to provide biometrics from home via the app. However, you will have an option to book an appointment instead also. Choice is yours.

If you are not chosen for IDV app, then you will be given a chance to book an appointment only. The booking system will open up for you then and you will be able to view appointments.

[uklondonn]

For applicants who applied after 11th Sep

You will have to wait for UKVCAS to update the flash message. For now, the booking system is only open for applicants who applied up to 11th Sep.

Note, majority times the booking system opens up even before an official update comes up OR an email is received.

So you will have to keep checking UKVCAS flash message updates & this biometrics topic for recent developments. Members post their experience here and then everyone knows that the system is open. You have to be pro active as appointments are eaten up quickly.

You will only be able to book an appointment or use IDV app once the system opens up for you.

You will be notified by email if you are eligible for IDV app or not.

If you are eligible for IDV app, you will be able to provide biometrics from home via the app. However, you will have an option to book an appointment instead also. Choice is yours.

If you are not chosen for IDV app, then you will be given a chance to book an appointment only. The booking system will open up for you then and you will be able to view appointments.

Thanks for the clarification! Very useful.

[CULLINAN]

UKVCAS update 21 Sep

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message- ... geId=74833

Delayed return to our pre-COVID service
Following the changes to our service caused by Covid-19, we are planning to return to our normal ways of working soon. This will mean that customers will be able to book an appointment as soon as they register with UKVI/UKVCAS.

We were planning to do this on 21 September 2020, but we are still working on final testing with UKVI. We will let you know when this is completed and will confirm the date as soon as we can.

We understand that this is a very worrying time for some people but please DO NOT call the UKVCAS contact centre.

[it-consultant]

All, specially @CULLINAN as he was keen to collect data on IDV only based submissions

• Application submission UKVCAS 14th May

• IDV eligibilty email 1st Aug

• IDV invite 4th Sep

• Submission via IDV 6th Sep

• Approval for naturalisation 21 Sep ~ 10 AM

The email does mention upto 12 week wait for ceremony invite and not to contact them till that time. Now the wait for this (hopefully the last) step

[CULLINAN]

Anymore decisions for anyone who submitted via IDV app only between 17th Aug - 31st Aug? Seems like decisions have slowed down......

[ilrhell]

Anymore decisions for anyone who submitted via IDV app only between 17th Aug - 31st Aug? Seems like decisions have slowed down......

Submitted App on the 14th of April and sent Bio using IDV app on the 25th of Aug, got a decision today via email.

[finallyilrlr]

Just DM'd UKVCAS on twitter and they said that they're holding us (post-12 sep applicants) off because there are no appointments available anyway - so they're processing the backlog. Is this true? Any appointments still available? They've given some really unreliable responses tbh

[CULLINAN]

Just DM'd UKVCAS on twitter and they said that they're holding us (post-12 sep applicants) off because there are no appointments available anyway - so they're processing the backlog. Is this true? Any appointments still available? They've given some really unreliable responses tbh

Yes appointment availability has almost gone down to zero.