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

[underfire222]

Hi, I just got the decision on my ILR application submitted on 4th June from Croydon. It was a super priority service.I hope this news will ease out the situation to some extent here. Looks like they are clearing out the backlogs now.All the best everyone.

Congrats and thank you for the update.

May I please ask...When did you submit your application online and were you asked to upload documents via email to HO prior to your Biometrics appointment on 4th june?

[gai3priya]

Hi, I just got the decision on my ILR application submitted on 4th June from Croydon. It was a super priority service.I hope this news will ease out the situation to some extent here. Looks like they are clearing out the backlogs now.All the best everyone.

Congrats and thank you for the update.

May I please ask...When did you submit your application online and were you asked to upload documents via email to HO prior to your Biometrics appointment on 4th june?

Hi, applied online application on the 23rd March. Had Biometric booked in for 31st Mar which got delayed and finally went in on the 4th June. Yes, i was asked to send the documents i guess on 23rd april.

[underfire222]

@ underfire
I have just received an attachment with the appointment for 16.06.2020!!

Hi t2momdu,

Have you received any email lately asking for documents to be sent directly to HO. I personally have not despite the majority of people receiving that email which seemed to have helped speed up their decision.

My appointment is on 16/6 too (super priority) and I hope I do not get significant delays....

[ps1234]

I have applied online for ILR today for me and my family (along with Life in the UK results that we took just last week after the centres opened).

I had considered waiting for the Priority service to open before submitting my application. However my visa expiry is on 17th June and the lawyers said there might be a chance to upgrade to Priority once they restart priorirty applicaitons. So went ahead and put the standard application today,

Has anyone else heard that we will be able to upgrade to Priority service from Standard service once this reopens? It'll be really difficult to not be able to travel for 6-odd months for work or family reasons if we get stuck in the Standard service times.

[ps1234]

@ underfire
I have just received an attachment with the appointment for 16.06.2020!!

Hi t2momdu,

Have you received any email lately asking for documents to be sent directly to HO. I personally have not despite the majority of people receiving that email which seemed to have helped speed up their decision.

My appointment is on 16/6 too (super priority) and I hope I do not get significant delays....

Hi, when did you apply online and book your appointment for 16/6? Was this before the lockdown?

Wondering how long it might take them to go through the current lot of appointments before opening up for new appointments.

[underfire222]

@ underfire
I have just received an attachment with the appointment for 16.06.2020!!

Hi t2momdu,

Have you received any email lately asking for documents to be sent directly to HO. I personally have not despite the majority of people receiving that email which seemed to have helped speed up their decision.

My appointment is on 16/6 too (super priority) and I hope I do not get significant delays....

Hi, when did you apply online and book your appointment for 16/6? Was this before the lockdown?

Wondering how long it might take them to go through the current lot of appointments before opening up for new appointments.

Ya I applied online on 20/3 before lockdown and my appointment on 26/3 was delayed 4 times to 16/6

[Xiongmao]

I have applied online for ILR today for me and my family (along with Life in the UK results that we took just last week after the centres opened).

I had considered waiting for the Priority service to open before submitting my application. However my visa expiry is on 17th June and the lawyers said there might be a chance to upgrade to Priority once they restart priorirty applicaitons. So went ahead and put the standard application today,

Has anyone else heard that we will be able to upgrade to Priority service from Standard service once this reopens? It'll be really difficult to not be able to travel for 6-odd months for work or family reasons if we get stuck in the Standard service times.

thanks for your information. I would go head with my application this Friday no matter there is super priority service or not.

It is said that there is maybe new policy from HO this Friday.

[AnILRApplicant]

It is said that there is maybe new policy from HO this Friday.

Hi, where have you seen this?

[debrancherenzym]

It is said that there is maybe new policy from HO this Friday.

Hi, where have you seen this?

Hope the below update helps anyone who had questions about Furloughs and English tests, I read it just now on the updates by Home office:

Changes to the minimum income and adequate maintenance requirement
If you have experienced a loss of income due to coronavirus, we will consider employment income for the period immediately before the loss of income due to coronavirus, provided the requirement was met for at least 6 months up to March 2020.

If your salary has reduced because you’re furloughed, we will take account of your income as though you’re earning 100% of your salary.

If you’re self-employed, a loss of annual income due to coronavirus between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2020 will generally be disregarded, along with the impact on employment income from the same period for future applications.

If you’re unable to provide specified documents
In some cases, we will be able to decide your application without seeing certain specified documents if you cannot get them due to coronavirus. Otherwise, you may be asked to submit the specified documents after the date of application.

Changes to the English language requirement
If you’re asked to take an English language test as part of your application, you can apply for an exemption if the test centre was closed or you couldn’t travel to it due to coronavirus when you applied.

[t2momodu]

@ underfire
I have just received an attachment with the appointment for 16.06.2020!!

Hi t2momdu,

Have you received any email lately asking for documents to be sent directly to HO. I personally have not despite the majority of people receiving that email which seemed to have helped speed up their decision.

My appointment is on 16/6 too (super priority) and I hope I do not get significant delays....

No mate, I think it's only Tier 2 applicants or those via the Entrepreneurial route 50k or so.

My appointment is also for 16.06 at Croydon 08.30, my route is set M, also paid £800 for super priority, so fingers crossed.

[underfire222]

@ underfire
I have just received an attachment with the appointment for 16.06.2020!!

Hi t2momdu,

Have you received any email lately asking for documents to be sent directly to HO. I personally have not despite the majority of people receiving that email which seemed to have helped speed up their decision.

My appointment is on 16/6 too (super priority) and I hope I do not get significant delays....

No mate, I think it's only Tier 2 applicants or those via the Entrepreneurial route 50k or so.

My appointment is also for 16.06 at Croydon 08.30, my route is set M, also paid £800 for super priority, so fingers crossed.

Thanks . I’m tier 2 set O and haven’t received an email too.
Fingers crossed too. It seems more applicants are getting decisions with in a week now so that’s a good sign.

[zimba]

Priority visa processing service is a VISA SERVICE offered by UKVI. You choose this during application submission.

This is NOT related to the appointment booking services offered by UKVCAS or their operations.

Priority visa processing services are NOT offered by UKVI for now, possibly due to a large existing backlog of applications. You should continue with your application using the Standard service for now

If you already applied and you're looking to book your appointment with UKVCAS, note the following:

The slots are not still open to applicants who applied after the closure of centres. So you must remain patient. They are prioritising people who booked their appointments before lockdown but could not attend due to closures

[repeatcell]

I had my appointment in Croydon last Saturday (6th June) and I have received approval this afternoon (10th June) by email. I had applied for a standard service before the lockdown. Seems like HO is trying to clear the backlog asap - hopefully, this will help ease out some anxiety.

[chakings22]

Hi Friends,

I submitted my ILR Set (O) (Tier 2 Gen) application by the end of April,2020. I got a mail from the Home Office to send my documents by mail after 3 weeks in May. I sent the documents as well. I haven't heard from them anything so far. I don't have any appointment for biometrics as well. I have the following questions:

1) Will the Home Office decide only after I have given my biometrics?
2) If my job is at risk later this year, will it affect their decision?
3) Will I be able to switch to priority service as I submitted via standard (no priority service was available in April)

Please share your valuable comments. Thank you.

[CR001]

Hi Friends,

I submitted my ILR Set (O) (Tier 2 Gen) application by the end of April,2020. I got a mail from the Home Office to send my documents by mail after 3 weeks in May. I sent the documents as well. I haven't heard from them anything so far. I don't have any appointment for biometrics as well. I have the following questions:

1) Will the Home Office decide only after I have given my biometrics?
2) If my job is at risk later this year, will it affect their decision?
3) Will I be able to switch to priority service as I submitted via standard (no priority service was available in April)

Please share your valuable comments. Thank you.

1. Yes, biometrics are mandatory.

3. Not if you have ilr already.

3. No, there is no upgrade option after you have applied and paid

[chakings22]

Thank you Char for your valuable comments.

[Nilang]

It is said that there is maybe new policy from HO this Friday.

Hi, where have you seen this?

Hope the below update helps anyone who had questions about Furloughs and English tests, I read it just now on the updates by Home office:

Changes to the minimum income and adequate maintenance requirement
If you have experienced a loss of income due to coronavirus, we will consider employment income for the period immediately before the loss of income due to coronavirus, provided the requirement was met for at least 6 months up to March 2020.

If your salary has reduced because you’re furloughed, we will take account of your income as though you’re earning 100% of your salary.

If you’re self-employed, a loss of annual income due to coronavirus between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2020 will generally be disregarded, along with the impact on employment income from the same period for future applications.

If you’re unable to provide specified documents
In some cases, we will be able to decide your application without seeing certain specified documents if you cannot get them due to coronavirus. Otherwise, you may be asked to submit the specified documents after the date of application.

Changes to the English language requirement
If you’re asked to take an English language test as part of your application, you can apply for an exemption if the test centre was closed or you couldn’t travel to it due to coronavirus when you applied.

This information is not for ILR applications . Because I think it is published under “”Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents””

[BlackFiresong]

Hi, I just got the decision on my ILR application submitted on 4th June from Croydon. It was a super priority service.I hope this news will ease out the situation to some extent here. Looks like they are clearing out the backlogs now.All the best everyone.

Congratulations! I'm a bit worried because I submitted my biometrics in Croydon on the 5th (Super Priority service), and I saw someone on the timeline thread who submitted their biometrics on the 6th (Standard service) in Croydon and received a decision yesterday. It's been absolute crickets from the Home Office - they haven't asked for any clarification or come back with anything at all - so I'm actually quite stressed out.

What was the date on which you lodged your application form? I'm wondering if they are processing things in chronological order based on that... Can't understand why they haven't given me a decision yet, especially given that I emailed them my documents about a month ago!

[CULLINAN]

Hi, I just got the decision on my ILR application submitted on 4th June from Croydon. It was a super priority service.I hope this news will ease out the situation to some extent here. Looks like they are clearing out the backlogs now.All the best everyone.

Congratulations! I'm a bit worried because I submitted my biometrics in Croydon on the 5th (Super Priority service), and I saw someone on the timeline thread who submitted their biometrics on the 6th (Standard service) in Croydon and received a decision yesterday. It's been absolute crickets from the Home Office - they haven't asked for any clarification or come back with anything at all - so I'm actually quite stressed out.

What was the date on which you lodged your application form? I'm wondering if they are processing things in chronological order based on that... Can't understand why they haven't given me a decision yet, especially given that I emailed them my documents about a month ago!

Every case is decided on its own merit. Super priority is not a guarantee even in normal circumstances. Stay positive and patient, you will hear soon.

[underfire222]

Hi, I just got the decision on my ILR application submitted on 4th June from Croydon. It was a super priority service.I hope this news will ease out the situation to some extent here. Looks like they are clearing out the backlogs now.All the best everyone.

Congratulations! I'm a bit worried because I submitted my biometrics in Croydon on the 5th (Super Priority service), and I saw someone on the timeline thread who submitted their biometrics on the 6th (Standard service) in Croydon and received a decision yesterday. It's been absolute crickets from the Home Office - they haven't asked for any clarification or come back with anything at all - so I'm actually quite stressed out.

What was the date on which you lodged your application form? I'm wondering if they are processing things in chronological order based on that... Can't understand why they haven't given me a decision yet, especially given that I emailed them my documents about a month ago!

Best of Luck. I know how stressful it can be.
Hopefully you will hear good news this week. Keep us updated and I would suggest you ask for a refund to your super priority fee when you get a decision

[BlackFiresong]

Every case is decided on its own merit. Super priority is not a guarantee even in normal circumstances. Stay positive and patient, you will hear soon.

Best of Luck. I know how stressful it can be.
Hopefully you will hear good news this week. Keep us updated and I would suggest you ask for a refund to your super priority fee when you get a decision

Thank you both. I really hope I hear soon. I do meet all the requirements, so there shouldn't be any reason (that I can think of) for delay or denial, but the waiting is awful. I will definitely be applying for a refund of my super priority fee at a later point, as they have not fulfilled that service for me. I've been trying to find out if they have been honouring priority and super priority turnaround times in general (so I can figure out whether they are generally delayed or it's just me).

I don't really understand what's going on with the HO at the moment - are they understaffed? Is there backlog? If there is backlog, how can there be backlog? They've had 2.5 months with zero new cases coming in during which they could have cleared all pending cases for which biometrics were lodged before the lockdown. And we're only on Phase 1 of the reopening of the Sopra Steria centres, so the volume of new biometrics coming in is a lot lower than what they normally deal with. So I just don't understand why they should be delayed...

After how long a delay do you think it would be reasonable to write to the HO and ask them what's going on with my application?

[CR001]

Every case is decided on its own merit. Super priority is not a guarantee even in normal circumstances. Stay positive and patient, you will hear soon.

Best of Luck. I know how stressful it can be.
Hopefully you will hear good news this week. Keep us updated and I would suggest you ask for a refund to your super priority fee when you get a decision

Thank you both. I really hope I hear soon. I do meet all the requirements, so there shouldn't be any reason (that I can think of) for delay or denial, but the waiting is awful. I will definitely be applying for a refund of my super priority fee at a later point, as they have not fulfilled that service for me. I've been trying to find out if they have been honouring priority and super priority turnaround times in general (so I can figure out whether they are generally delayed or it's just me).

I don't really understand what's going on with the HO at the moment - are they understaffed? Is there backlog? If there is backlog, how can there be backlog? They've had 2.5 months with zero new cases coming in during which they could have cleared all pending cases for which biometrics were lodged before the lockdown. And we're only on Phase 1 of the reopening of the Sopra Steria centres, so the volume of new biometrics coming in is a lot lower than what they normally deal with. So I just don't understand why they should be delayed...

After how long a delay do you think it would be reasonable to write to the HO and ask them what's going on with my application?

You assume an aweful lot that no new cases have been applying in the last 2.5 months. Of course there have been applications. Of course there is a backlog. It is not only ILR they are dealing with but a very large range of different applications. HO also had to prioritise migrants who have impending or expired visas who are unable to leave the UK due to travel restrictions and they have had to use resources for other HO divisions etc.

[BlackFiresong]

^^ You're right, and I apologise. I was just getting stressed out and trying to understand what the situation is.

My acceptance email just came through, so I officially have indefinite leave to remain!!!! So relieved. I was shaking for 10 minutes straight!!!

[ap1410]

Hello All :

Does anyone know if we can choose priority option for Tier 2 General applications if I were to apply next week ? I was wondering if that Option is available when you submit the form currently.

[CR001]

Hello All :

Does anyone know if we can choose priority option for Tier 2 General applications if I were to apply next week ? I was wondering if that Option is available when you submit the form currently.

Priority and super priority service is still suspended. So you won't get the option.