New process for submitting supporting docs from India/SL

[bbear2017]

Hello friends,

My wife just went to vfs Colombo to drop all our documents and get biometrics (Family visa). They kept her passport and told her that she/I must send documents to Sheffield. I didn't know this beforehand and thought this was just for people applying from Pakistan. Ok so another step to go.

Exact wording: All customers applying for UK settlement including priority visa applicants will now need to send supporting documentation directly to UKVI in Sheffield by post. Supporting documents will now not be accepted in Visa application centers in India/Sri Lanka for any settlement applications.

So wife is now going to post everything to me, then i'll send everything to Sheffield. In the meantime I have a few questions.
(1) Do i need to send photocopies with the originals, I read somewhere that they don't send the originals back unless there are photocopies of them.
(2) I am a naturalised citizen, do I need to send my UK passport or would a copy suffice.
(3) Any ideas on how long it will take to have the documents returned.

Thanks in advance guys.

[smarter1]

This isn't new and was introduced a while ago.

1. Yes, include photocopies
2. A copy is fine
3. Roughly about a few weeks. Make sure to include a pre-paid special delivery envelope with your address written on it.

[bbear2017]

Thank mate, I don't somehow I missed this. I read on VFS colombo webiste that there is a scanning service for settlement visas. I guess they have changed this and haven't updated the website.


I did find this link now which i missed initially.
https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/srilanka/pdf/Annex-A.pdf