Fiancé Settlement Visa - Financial docs dated +1 day after online application

[PandaBossUK]

Hello everyone,

I’ve created this account purely for this post; and I’m hoping that someone can offer some piece of mind regarding me and my Fiancée’s application.

She’s a Filipino national, and recently VFS has decided to alter their procedure by no longer offering document scanning; which meant that my Fiancée shipped all her documents to me, I bundled them up along with my Sponsor supporting information and sent it all directly to Sheffield.

To make sure we weren’t going to wait too long I paid the additional fee for the Priority Service. This wasn’t paid online however and instead was paid physically in the Philippines.

The timeline of our application is as follows:
14/June - online application
18/June - money taken for visa payment
19/June - biometric taken
22/June - sent docs to Sheffield
10/July - email from UKVI
10/July - docs returned

We’re now on our 29th working day with no decision. Doubt has begun to creep in and we’re now doubtful of being accepted. Last Saturday I raised my concerns with my local MP who confirmed that his office contacted Home Office and said we should hear by next week, and if not to call UKVI.

The main criticism I think we’ll face is that the financial documentation was dated the day AFTER online application submission (15th). Now this isn’t against the 28-day rule, but equally we’ve heard that no documents sent after application submission will be considered. Why would this be?

Bear in mind though the application was made on the 14th, but the supporting documents and applicant’s originals (birth cert, tb, cenomar) weren’t sent until the 22nd.

Neither of us can find any official UK Gov channel that mentions that specifically if the date of the financials is after the online application that they won’t accept it; only anecdotal evidence on social media.

My payslips are officially dated the end of each month; however, I get paid two weeks in advance on the 16th of each month (or 15th for June as 16 was a weekend.) Our fear is that for the month of the application the ECO will see the 30th of June on the payslip, discount it, move back to May then conclude it is more than 28 days before online submission.

It’s worth noting that the bank statements and payslips (both 12 months) & p60 are officially printed & stamped the 15th and I was paid on the same day, which shows on the bank statements.

Logic would dictate that the 28-day rule is there for proof the Sponsor is still in active employment. Surely then by showing I have an income dating one day after the application was submitted online, that I am certainly still employed and earning above the financial requirement.

I appreciate that most people will get their ducks lined up before the application online was submitted, but the way I interpreted the rule was that they wanted as fresh and up to date financials as possible. I honestly thought I had done a good job there. Should we be concerned? Do you think we will be declined for having 1 day above the online application?

Thanks for your time, and sorry for the lengthy post!

[seagul]

Maybe a caseworker in good mood might overlook it.

[asingh42]

This has somewhat alarmed me as well and I am really hoping they won't refuse just based on this as I too have lot of financial documents dated well after online application date.

Date of online Application - 17/04/2018
Date of Biometrics- 09/05/2018
Documents dated - 30/04/2018 to 07/05/2018

My employer's letter is dated on 07/05/2018 and I was contacted about my employment and my employer has been contacted. So if they didn't accept this why would we be contacted?

The rule states ' no earlier than 28 days' but does not say 'no later than' so I don't think there is any written law as per say.

I have also read that if it is clear from the documents that a visa could be granted should the document was in the right format or correct then ECO can request such documentation.

Mind you all my documents were checked by my solicitor and she has been dealing with Spouse Visa for quite a while.

[vinny]

Hopefully, you will be okay.