Spouse Settlement Visa - the Nightmare Goes On

[Andy1970]

Hi members,

I am requesting some advice, please, regarding our ongoing visa nightmare.

My wife is from Cuba, and the application was made on 5 November 2017 at the British Embassy. This was the standard route, as unfortunately, no Priority Service is available in Cuba. My wife's passport has been retained at the embassy ever since.

The process has been awful all the way through for several reasons, but the current situation is as follows:

A "decision" was made on 24 January 2018 - according to the information "on the system",as advised during one of my many calls to the Call Centre. Another 3.5 weeks have now passed, and we have heard nothing, other than me receiving the supporting documents back in the UK on 31 January 2018, all mixed up, with no covering letter.

I have been given conflicting information from the Call Centre, but apparently the next step will be for the British Embassy in Havana to receive a simple e-mail from UKVI, advising "approved" or "rejected". Once the decision is received, the embassy will then either insert the vignette and return the passport, or just return the passport - a simple process. In either case, my wife will be contacted by telephone to collect the passport.

UKVI has failed us in several areas, but primarily due to the fact that no decision has been communicated within 60 working days (we are now up to 73, even allowing for Bank Holidays), and it now appears there is no intention to ever communicate a decision. In addition, the Call Centre have told me on more than one occasion that there are 10 working days allowed to communicate the decision from when it is made (we currently stand at 18 working days and counting).

As well as elevating the case via the Call Centre several times, I have also contacted my MP who has written to UKVI, whereupon I have been advised that UKVI's standard reply time to MPs is 20 working days!

Anyway, in summary, I would like advice, please, on the following matters:

1) Is the current delay from the date of "decision" normal? If so, is there a typical period for conclusion? (not withstanding UKVI are already well in violation of the Charter)

2) Is the current delay likely to be the processing of the BRP? (I can only attribute the delay to this, even though this is not required for my wife to receive her passport back, and for her to enter the UK, as the collection point is the UK)

3) Is there any other avenue recommended to try and speed things along, other than the Call Centre and my MP?

The biggest problem we have is our two young British girls, aged 5 & 6, who have been deprived the basic Human Right of being with their mother for 103 days and counting, which is having a devastating effect on them, let alone the emotional and financial strain it is putting on my wife and myself.

Thank you for reading.

Andrew

[LadyMoroccan93]

Yes I've had same situation they made the decision and they didnt email me or call me, was waiting for 2 months and i've paid the priority service was waiting for their email but nothing from their side... until the 2 months past then i emailed them and my husband called them..and they told me that they made decision on the end of november and i emailed them on juanary so what you need to do is take appointement with the MP and then they will cheeck your information and they will call the immigration officer

[Andy1970]

Yes I've had same situation they made the decision and they didnt email me or call me, was waiting for 2 months and i've paid the priority service was waiting for their email but nothing from their side... until the 2 months past then i emailed them and my husband called them..and they told me that they made decision on the end of november and i emailed them on juanary so what you need to do is take appointement with the MP and then they will cheeck your information and they will call the immigration officer

Thanks for your reply. To hear of your situation is very worrying. I hope everything got resolved for you.