Do all applications go to Sheffield now?

[someguyIguess]

I can't find the answer to this online. We have finally managed to get our application for a Spousal VISA submitted, my Zambian wife attending a biometric with all the documentation in the TLSContact centre in Lusaka. I.E. we did not have to send any documentation to Sheffield, we handed it all over to TLSContact.

What I can't tell is whether the application processing itself is likely to happen in Sheffield or some other place (Pretoria maybe?) and if so how we can find out where it is and get an indication of likely processing times (everything I read about Sheffield itself is bad news!). We have paid for the premium service.

[seagul]

Now almost in case of all countries the applicant only has to enroll their biometrics in home country while UK sponsor has to send all supporting documents to UKVI Sheffield. But still you should double check with your local TLS/VFS centre whether the same procedure applies from Zambia too or they have some sort of scanning system where they scan then send electronically the supporting documents to UKVI.

[someguyIguess]

Well they literally took all the documents (several files full) so I hope they don't need a resend as then we're really stuffed, will take another week or two to get copies again of some things. From what I heard all they did at the centre was to change the ordering a bit to put the TB certificate at the front or something.

Absolutely nothing I saw during process said anything about sending anything to Sheffield, would it have been obvious?

Original question was about whether it was to be processed in Sheffield, but I'm starting to get concerned now...

[Edwardo]

You do need to be sure they have scanned and sent the documents for you as Sheffield will ask you for these soon if not and while that is not the end of the world, it will somewhat negate the premium service you paid for.

I cannot see why they would take the files and not scan them. (And also why would they keep them?)

Give them a call and check, it may also be the process is very different in your area but I doubt it as the idea with Sheffield was to make it all centralized.

[someguyIguess]

Will do so on Monday.

Still, them email instructions as I read them are fairly clear that the supporting documents were to be taken to the biometric appointment:

The cost of your application is : R‎31,907.00

Supporting Documents – A guide to the documents required to support your visa application can be found by selecting your visa type at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration and following the link to documents you must provide.

Next Steps–- You must now take your printed application, appointment confirmation, supporting documents and the appropriate fee (unless already paid online) to the address shown below on the date and time of your appointment.

TLScontact Lusaka Visa Application Centre
Fedex
Stand No. 20849
Alick Nkhata Road
Lusaka

If you are in the United States of America, you must send these documents to the visa issuing office as detailed in the information provided at the Application Support Centre and on your Appointment Confirmation email/letter. No personal callers will be admitted to the visa office location and your application will not be accepted at any other location. Failure to submit the required documents will result in a delay and/or lead to the refusal of your application.

Non-settlement, EEA and Returning Resident Applications - UK Visas and Immigration, British Consulate General, 845 Third Avenue, New York, 10022

Settlement (Family Migration) Applications - International Operations and Visas, 6 Millsands, Vulcan House, Sheffield, United Kingdom, S3 8NU

IMPORTANT – Please ensure that you submit a full printed copy of your online application which must be signed and dated and contain a bar code on the first page - if no bar code is present you will need to change the security settings on your computer.

[someguyIguess]

I also found https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... 045712.pdf- at the time of writing it looks like about half the countries you post to Sheffield yourself, the other half you don't but this will evolve over the course of 2018/2019?

The majority of the "don't post" countries are ones you wouldn't expect many visa applications from, being either (like Zambia) small, EEA, or not having any real ties to UK, with the exception of South Africa, as I read it...

Nothing about this is straightforward, is it?

[Edwardo]

Nothing about this is straightforward, is it?

No, it is not - you need to hang in there and take breaks from it all at regular intervals, to keep sane

My gut feeling is you are fine, that the documents have been sent and all is well. But yes, give them a call to confirm.

We did not use priority so I am not sure what the difference is re service levels apart from it should not take as long to get a decision, although I would expect them to update you sooner and more regularly. (Including letting you know very quickly if they did not get documents)

Your call should be a positive one and then the waiting begins.

[Londoner007]

If they scanned the docs and sent it to UKVi they would have given you a receipt which says how many pages scanned etc. Did you receive like that.

[someguyIguess]

Nope. Only some piece of paper which mentions the passport only (not even application form or whatever).

My wife saw everything being bagged up apparently which I take as a good sign - but that doesn't necessarily mean to have been sent off. And if it does mean they've been sent off, whether they've been sent to Sheffield, Pretoria, or somewhere else (the original focus of this question before you lot started worrying me )

There's no way of phoning them and the high commission have tried to palm me off to home office, so since I'm in UK I've sent wifey down there today to go make inquiries in person...

[Londoner007]

Looks like they have posted everything off, did they give a tracking number for the parcel?

Was the bundle complete when she submitted it. I.e contained all your support documents and all of hers too?

[someguyIguess]

No tracking number, but I can see on TLSContact that it's received by UKVI (which given it was so quickly and it happened pretty early this morning, around 8am UK time, is a sign it is going to be processed in Pretoria rather than Sheffield, right? I hope)

Yes, everything was in that bundle.

I did email the UK high commision in Zambia as well as TLSContact to see if they knew where they were processed, but reply was essentially "nothing to do with us guv"...

[Londoner007]

Yes it has nothing to do with them coz it goes to Sheffield UK not the embassy. Looks like all your docs have been scanned and sent to UKVI properly.

Just wait around the 60 working day mark to hear from them - All the best for a positive decision.

[someguyIguess]

Just had an email from UKVI in Pretoria saying that a decision has been made, go collect it in a few days...

So I think this means that visas in Southern Africa region are still processed in Pretoria.

[inwarddoor1]

Just had an email from UKVI in Pretoria saying that a decision has been made, go collect it in a few days...

So I think this means that visas in Southern Africa region are still processed in Pretoria.

You are right not all applications are processed in sheffield. I've recently submitted an application in Uganda, we took all the supporting documents to Tls contact centre, they put it in DHL bag and told us they would send it to Pretoria to be proccessed. The UKVI recieved them a day later. we are waiting for decision.

What was the timeline for your application?

[someguyIguess]

Just had an email from UKVI in Pretoria saying that a decision has been made, go collect it in a few days...

So I think this means that visas in Southern Africa region are still processed in Pretoria.

You are right not all applications are processed in sheffield. I've recently submitted an application in Uganda, we took all the supporting documents to Tls contact centre, they put it in DHL bag and told us they would send it to Pretoria to be proccessed. The UKVI recieved them a day later. we are waiting for decision.

What was the timeline for your application?

Application was made 22 October and biometrics done 26 October. We received no other contact. Will let you know when passport ready to collect and result.

[someguyIguess]

Just had an email from UKVI in Pretoria saying that a decision has been made, go collect it in a few days...

So I think this means that visas in Southern Africa region are still processed in Pretoria.

You are right not all applications are processed in sheffield. I've recently submitted an application in Uganda, we took all the supporting documents to Tls contact centre, they put it in DHL bag and told us they would send it to Pretoria to be proccessed. The UKVI recieved them a day later. we are waiting for decision.

What was the timeline for your application?

Application was made 22 October and biometrics done 26 October. We received no other contact. Will let you know when passport ready to collect and result.

Visa granted

I would have more smiles but the forum filters it out lol

[Londoner007]

Nice! Enjoy the feeling

[someguyIguess]

Nice! Enjoy the feeling

Thank you! Appreciate you and others taking time out to advise!

[Londoner007]

No probs. All the best for the future and now you can finally settle down with your spouse joining you in UK. very happy for you.

[inwarddoor1]

Visa granted

I would have more smiles but the forum filters it out lol

Congratulations ... glad to hear you don't need to go through all that stress again.

Application was made 22 October and biometrics done 26 October. We received no other contact. Will let you know when passport ready to collect and result.

Did you pay for priority service?

[someguyIguess]

Visa granted

I would have more smiles but the forum filters it out lol

Congratulations ... glad to hear you don't need to go through all that stress again.

Application was made 22 October and biometrics done 26 October. We received no other contact. Will let you know when passport ready to collect and result.

Did you pay for priority service?

Yes

[nsxx]

Just had an email from UKVI in Pretoria saying that a decision has been made, go collect it in a few days...

So I think this means that visas in Southern Africa region are still processed in Pretoria.

UKVi in Pretoria processes visa applications for at least 17 countries within the Africa region, so more than likely you will not submit to Sheffield, with the exception of a few countries. You'll always be told in the online process.