Is a fast decision a good or bad thing? I’m nervous

[Wbarwise]

Hi,
We applied for my wife’s settlement visa on 20th March and posted paperwork from uk on 24th march.
I called up today to confirm if paperwork had been received and was told that “case file has been closed as decision has been made. No information to be given by email or telephone. Wait for contact from visa application centre in shanghai.”

Does anybody have any experience of a decision being made this quickly? Only been 20 days since application.
I have looked on timelines and could find no other decisions that have been made this quickly.
I’m nervous now and worried that this could be a bad sign but we do meet all criteria easily.

[Wbarwise]

Also, if there is a problem do they usually contact the applicant to ask for more information?
Or just reject application and appeal is required?

[seagul]

whats country of application?? Mostly documents need to be submitted by the sponsor to shieffield after applicant's biometrics.

[Wbarwise]

My wife applied in shanghai China.
I posted all docs to Sheffield.

[Katie_France]

Quick decisions are most of the times a good sign, but you never know with UKVI. Also, I would wait for their official "decision made" email, as in the call center they can make a mistake.

[rv2010]

We applied for my wife's settlement visa from Shanghai,too - back in 2016. Our first application was rejected (missing supporting docs) but the second application 3 months later was successful. Both took around 3 weeks. Visa processing times in China are quite quick - according to this, 79% of settlement visa applications in February in Beijing were processed within 10 days (I couldn't find figures for Shanghai).

With our rejected application, I knew straight away that it hadn't been successful because they refunded the IHS fee back to my credit card the day after they informed us that a decision had been made. So you could check your bank/credit card account for the refund, though this isn't a reliable indicator since it could take up to six weeks for them to refund the IHS fee [source].

[Wbarwise]

Thanks for the help.
I’m starting to think it is a mistake on the system. They told my wife today that the file was closed on 27th of March. But I didn’t post documents until 24th March which was a Saturday afternoon. So they probably didn’t receive documents until 27th anyway. All seems too quick.

[GreenWells]

All seems too quick.

Do you have an update wbarwise? My partner applied in Shanghai recently and I sent the documents to Sheffield today. I wonder how long it takes. Thanks

[Wbarwise]

Still not heard anything. Phoned help line and they wouldn’t give any information other than decision has been made. My wife phoned help line in China and they said it does look like a mistake has been made on file as Decision made on same day as paperwork received. but they won’t escalate/investigate until 8th May.
So going to call back again next week.

When did you apply?

[GreenWells]

My wife submitted her passport in Shanghai China on 17th April and I sent the documents to sheffield on April 30th.

fingers crossed.

Very strange they made some error with yours. Please update when you know more

[GreenWells]

HI Wbarwise

Did you get the visa yet? Please update

[Wbarwise]

Not yet. They have escalated now due to file saying decision made so quickly but still no answer. They have said they will respond within 15 days from 18/5. Hopefully hear soon.

[GreenWells]

Hi wbarwise

Any update, I see you are nearly at the 60 working day mark

When did you receive back your supporting documents?

my time line is like this for comparison:

Applying from : Shanghai China
Type of visa applied for : Settlement Spouse Non Priority
Date documents received by Sheffield: 2 May 2018
Received "application being prepared for ECO" email: 11th June 2018
Date supporting Documents returned: 9th June 2018
Decision: none yet still waiting 31 working days so far

[Wbarwise]

60 working days today and still no news. Got my docs back end of may (don’t know exact date) and the standard email to say file is being considered.

Going to give it until end of the week and then call up to see what they say.

[Wbarwise]

My wife got her passport back yesterday with her visa in. I’m so happy and relieved now. Looks like they made decision right on 60th day.

[arfinkhan128]

My wife got her passport back yesterday with her visa in. I’m so happy and relieved now. Looks like they made decision right on 60th day.

Congratulations!

what date did you submit your Bio-metrics?
and was priority or non priority?

[GreenWells]

Congrats wbarwise, and thanks for updating, it helps releive my own uncertianty/nerves

[Wbarwise]

Thanks,
Bio was 23rd March. Not priority as this isn’t an option in china