Submitting documents in two places

[magic-music]

Hi,

My fiancee is Vietnamese, and we are currently getting together our documents and application for her fiancee visa. My question is: Is it okay for her to take her documents for scanning at the Visa Application Centre in Vietnam, and simultaneously for my to send my supporting documents (payslips, passport etc. ) to Sheffield? Or do they all have to be submitted at the same time to the same location?

It would seem a bit ridiculous for me to have to send my passport etc. to Vietnam for scanning! And equally, as my fiance lives close to the Visa Application Centre it would seem silly for her to have to courier her documents halfway around the world and back.

The information at http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/vietnam/pdf/Annex-B.pdf does not make it clear if it is allowed to submit in two places.

Please can anybody clarify the situation?!

Thanks!

[magic-music]

Spent a whole day searching for this, and can't get through on the phone to UKVI. I guess this information is not available?? Can anyone help at all?!

[taffet87]

You submit documents in one place. As the sponsor, if you are British, they don't need your original passport to scan. A copy is sufficient. If you only have ILR then they need a certified copy.

You do need to send all your supporting documents to her if you are using the scanning service or get her to send all her documents (except her passport which will be submitted in the local centre at the time of bio-metrics).

there is no established procedure for sending documents in two different places. It would be very ill advised in any case given UKVI's incompetence and history. You need to make things as easy and straightforward for them as possible - not yourself.

[magic-music]

Many thanks for that - I thought this might be the case! At least I can get everything together to send on now!

Thanks again, much appreciated!

[ssbib]

Hi everyone. I've been wondering this myself. My wife is in the Philippines and she has her appointment on 1st June. I didn't know at the time of sending them to Sheffield and so we were going to take advantage of the scanning service and send them all in one place. However some of the language on the website made me wonder if they would reject my documents (payslips etc) and only send hers. But you say this is not the case, can you confirm that you were able to send all yours via the scanning service in one go?

Lastly, is there any penalty using the scanning service as opposed to sending them directly to Sheffield?

[SimonS]

Hi ssbib,

your post was a little confusing. Sounds like you sent your documents to Sheffield already and now your wife will scan hers and have them sent from the Phillipines. Or is it you have sent yours to the Phillipines and she will have them all scanned and sent?

I don't know the particulars of the Phillipines VAC and application process and it does differ slightly by jurisdiction. However, I know in Russia and other places, for settlement visas they do not scan the documents anymore because UKV&I want originals sent by post with copies and perhaps would not trust a scanned copy from the Phillipines.

Whichever it is I see two issues, first they should all go together in one pack. Second, they want original documents. At the VAC in Russia the only document they took from my wife was her alien passport which is now held in Moscow until the decision is made. Everything else had to go to Sheffield, one original stack, one copy stack sent in same package. I took everything home with me from Russia after marriage and submitted to Shefield in one package ~ £37 (3.1 kg) Royal Mail special delivery including returning by special delivery of originals (1.5 kg).

I'm not an expert and it may well be that this will be acceptable but if you have not submitted anything yet then perhaps a rethink would be well advised.

Good luck
Simon

[ssbib]

Hi Simon. Sorry, you're right that the language in my post is a little confusing. What I meant is my wife already has all my documents and all of hers, originals and copies. Her appointment is on 1st June. VFS in the Philippines do still offer to scan your documents to UKVI (for an additional fee obviously ) but some of the language in there is confusing. Also I heard someone say it is better to send your documents in person. But I would think if they are offering this service then UKVI must be happy with it, especially if the documents were scanned in the old procedure also. We have decided to take advantage of this scanning system as it's less hassle for us and about the same price as arranging a courier from the Philippines to the UK. Here is a link to information about the new service:

https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/philippines/
https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/philippines ... center.pdf

[SimonS]

Hi ssbib,

in that case sounds fine to me. As I mentioned, there are differences between the way applications are handled depending upon jurisdiction and this would appear to be a case in point. I had a look at the links you sent and seems everything can be done there.

Good Luck
Simon

[ssbib]

Hi SImon,

Thanks for checking the links and saying you have the same understanding as me. I think some of the language they use there plus my natural pessimistic nature has made me worry about it a little. Knowing you (and everyone else I've asked) has the same understanding as me also makes me feel better.

How did everything go for your application? Is your wife here with you now?

[SimonS]

Hi ssbib,

Glad to be of help. Sadly my wife is not with me yet. We only applied mid-April (but on priority). Have not heard anything back yet. Getting a little anxious over timing, especially with all the commentary on here recently about the delays in processing applications at Sheffield. As the days turn into weeks it does get frustrating, I never imagined how stressful it would be to endure the wait. Anyway, thanks for asking. Good luck with yours.

Cheers
Simon

[ssbib]

What is the supposed turnaround time with the priority service? I thought it was supposed to be 5-10 days? If that's the case then I'd be complaining whenever the visa comes through and see if you can get some of that back. Are people saying that the new process is actually slowing things down then? I hope not but I suppose it's always the case with new systems, although with something like this it is going to cause you stress and worry. I have noticed that the expected wait time for applications submitted from Manila (on standard priority) have changed from 30 days to 60 so I am assuming that this is due to the new system.

What date did you put down as her "intended date of travel" on the form? I am sure you will hear back any day now and you and your wife will be reunited soon.

[SimonS]

The priority service for Russian applications is within 15 days. We're currently at day 21 since application, day 19 since Biometrics and day 11 since they received the documents in Sheffield. Don't honestly know which day to take as number 1 but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and considering it as when they received my documents so on day11 today.

I also noticed they pushed out all processing timetables by 30-60 days. When I was checking it for Russian applications at beginning of April it was 100% in 30 days. Check it now and its 100% in 90 days!! It could well be that the new system is causing teething difficulties. What I find intriguing is that if you check the timetables for India or Chinese applications they are 100% in 60 days whereas for Pakistan it's 100% in 120 days! Since we all have to meet the same requirement under law and we all pay the same fee, I find it interesting that an applicant can receive a different level of service.

We put 20th May on the form as intended date of travel. Guess that isn't going to work anymore lol Least we didn't buy the tickets yet anyway.

Cheers
Simon

[ssbib]

Yeah I would imagine it would be day 1 from the day they received the documents in Sheffield. If you check the visa application times website again it says those figures are from February 2017 and this system has only just come in to place hasn't it? That will probably be the reason for the increase.

What is all this information about people's visas being out on hold? Have you had an email about that or been told that when you submitted your documents?? I hope this doesn't apply to me and you but some people seem to think that ALL settlement visas are on hold.

[SimonS]

I absolutely hope that it will not impact you or I, this is what is causing me some some coonsternation also though.

From reading the threads it's still a little unclear to me. Another contributor tried to start a new thread this morning addressing this matter which I responded to but the moderators decided it was spam and locked it out.

The one I've been following is Spouse Visa - Nearly 12 weeks - what's the next step?

Reading between the lines it appears some are delayed due to financial maintenance irregularity as a result of the February ruling which is available at the top of the page in the Topics section - Supreme Court to Hand Down Judgement in MM Case. Some did not apply with priority so I guess unfortunately they just have to wait. Others may also be related to the February ruling because even though it upheld the minimum income threshold requirement of £18,600, it also made provisions which undermined decisions about when children are involved.

For me, I exceed by some distance the minimum income threshold through salaried (Cat A) employment (just being honest). So I'm not concerned about that affecting the application and we've not applied for any dependant children. My worry is that one or two also claim to exceed the income threshold but are still having difficulties although they don't state whether it is by Cat A which is by far the easiest decision to conclude.

I'm trying to remain optimistic and beleive that "some" rather than "all" are on hold for a marginally valid reason, otherwise we're all up the creek. I genuinely do wish everyone the best but I think one must also be a little pragmatic and consider that not everybody who applies will be aware of this board and contribute. Also, some may be aware of the board and thread but not wish to distress others by revealing their good news or positive experience.

[ssbib]

what are the new rules that have been introduced as a result of the Supreme Court ruling in February? I am going for a CAT A application also and I earned 22,000 last year so I don't see why anything to do with finances would hold me up. If there is ban on all applications I would've thought there would be something else about it on the internet but I can't see anything except on this forum...it's strange. Another thing worth noting is not everyone is mentioning the country in which they have been applying. Maybe that is deciding factor on whether there is a hold in place or not.

Plus I have just read the conservative manifesto and they say that they will increase the amount of financial requirements. It doesn't say what to but I also read on this forum that it was Theresa May who apparently wanted to set it at 40,000 when it was introduced and it was only the coalition government that stopped that from happening. I hope to god that it doesn't go up that much. If that happens I don't know how I could ever be together with my wife...unless I moved to the Philippines.

[SimonS]

It wasn't so much that new rules about the income threshold were introduced. It was that somebody challenged the new level at which it had been set...and failed.

I can't comment on the additional ruling in the case about dependant children because it doesn't apply to me so I didn't study it. That said, I gather it is being used in certain cases - those involving children - as a reason for putting an application on hold while HO decides what to do.

I agree entirely that if there were a blanket hold on all settlement visas the government would have to announce it publicly and to be honest, why wouldn't they? It would silence all of the anti-immigration crew in one fell swoop. Conclusion, I agree with you and do not beleive it is "all". I also agree with your comment on the country of application being a factor.

Your last comment is what worries me greatly. Whilst that level of threshold still would not affect me (again, not being arrogant, just honest), I had no idea that such a ridiculous target would even be considered let alone proposed. Especially given the average salary in the country is around £22-£23k? It's basically the government dictating that unless you're coming very close to the point whereby you can't even apply for child benefit or tax credits if you have a child with your spouse, you can't freely choose who on this earth you fall in love with and want to spend your life with in your own country. The country where you work your socks off to pay taxes and get little in return anyway. Completely immoral and unethical.

My greatest concern is that everything is potentially on hold while waiting to see if the conservatives win a landslide as expected and actually implement such a merciless requirement. In theory, without recourse to the state could easily be redefined as >£60k the point at which one is no longer entitled to child benefit.

[ssbib]

There isn't much we can do I suppose but wait and see. I hope we are right. I am sure you are right in saying that if there was a blanket hold then they would announce it and I am sure they wouldn't even accept new applications. In our confirmation email for the appointment it says that applications should be completed within 60 days and so I would imagine it would say something there if all are still on hold.

I had the same thought about them all being on hold until the outcome of the election was announced but some of these pele have been on hold from February, March and April and the election wasn't even announced then and it was a huge shock to everyone when it was so I don't think that would be the case.

As for the 60k level...the applicants have no recourse to public funds at all while financial limits are in place so I can't imagine that being a deciding factor. I have evidence of the 40k limit either apart from one post on this forum...let's hope that's just tall tales. Regardless it would be safe to assume it will go up after June. I just hope that it doesn't go up too much. With the outcry at the 18,600 limit we can only hope they wouldn't dare to raise it much more.

[ssbib]

Actually after doing some more reading I think the post about 40k limit is confusing the story from last year where Theresa May wanted to set a limit for foreign workers at 35k. It was slammed as it would deprive us of many nurses and teachers etc. I am assuming that didn't apply to spouse visa applicants anyway.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 14841.html

[ssbib]

Also, I see that VFS Global is in the process of updating there pages. This information wasn't present yesterday:

NON-EEA NATIONAL FAMILY APPLICATIONS

Following a Supreme Court judgment, the Home Office has paused decision-making on some applications – in particular, those failing to meet the minimum income threshold for British citizens sponsoring a non-EEA partner and non-EEA children. The reason for this pause is to enable the Home Office to consider the implications of the judgment. All other applications will continue to be processed and decided as normal.

However I am also drawn to the wording they used: a non-EEA partner AND non-EEA children. I think this means that only those applicants who have children are being effected by this. If it was a blanket ban against all people then i assume it would just say non-EEA applications. Maybe I'm grasping at straws but it's all I've got right now.

[SimonS]

Apologies for the late reply to our discussion ssbib, had to call the wife Friday night and busy weekend. Then I lost the post..doh

I agree.

Cheers
Simon