BRP(RC) applications

[plantagenetgirlchild]

Hi,
Just another update. On Thursday, 14 June I got a "we tried to deliver, but you were out" letter (sent through the post, not slipped through the mailbox by delivery guy) from DX. I rearranged delivery for Monday, 15 June (they won't let you go to the depot to pick up, luckily I can work from home) and they delivered it (late) at 17:30 on Monday.

Anyway, I finally have my passport and docs back and my new biometric residence permit (and all the details are correct).

Submitted on 2 February, biometrics on 14 March, passport back on 1 June, new BRP received on 18 June.

Good Luck to everyone else!

[apple0]

As an update, I received an acknowledgment letter after about 3 weeks, but it has now been about a week since the date on that letter and my account has still not be debited. I assume that means they have not even started on whatever they need to start on to send out the biometrics letter. Has anyone else not had their payment debited?

[simona78]

There should be a small delay between the day they sent out the acknowledgement letter and when the account is debited. For me I think it was two days. And I think each step is handled by different team so hence the delay. No updates from my side, no letter to register for biometrics yet. This is starting to impact my job and I am unlikely to be able to travel to my best friend's wedding.

[kannit]

Application submitted with dependent: 19-Apr-12
Date of Biometrics at post-office: 09-May-12
Date passport and documents received: waiting
Date BRP card received: waiting

Regards

[la]

Application type : BRP card lost in India
Application submitted first time: 24-April-12
All documents returned as Invalid application ( because payment page is missed) on May 16nth 2012

Application submitted again with postal order payment: 18-May-12
Date of Biometrics at post-office: 11-June-12
Date passport and documents received: waiting
Date BRP card received: waiting

I lost card in India In January 2012.In India, to come back to UK, applied for short term single entry BRP visa in India.I got single entry brp visa but with no work rights.I came back to London with this Visa.I am unable to work in this country based on this Visa. But as per my lost boimetric card, I have full work rights.I am not sure whether to work in this country or not.Did any one loose their card in country other than UK and able to work based on given short term validity Visa after expiry at least. I am not sure what to do in this. Could you please clarify at the earliest. It is difficult to survive in London with out Job.

[simona78]

Has anyone who submitted for BRP (RC) for a lost/stolen card in the past month received letter from the home office to register for biometrics again? I submitted my application 18 May and has not heard anything since apart from an acknowledgement letter.

[apple0]

I submitted my application 4 weeks ago and have only received the acknowledgment letter.

I am not sure why they send out acknowledgment letters that say we'll hear further within 10 business days when we won't. And why do they have in person applications for leave to remain and not to replace a card when replacing a card should be far easier.

[simona78]

I have emailed my MP and also called his office to speak to one of the staff working there. He said they've had several of similar cases already and they can take up to 14 weeks to process. He said he will look into it but can't guarantee anything.

I can just keep waiting now but knowing I have tried all avenues. I don't understand this process as well, I think there are multiple hand-off points within the department. Similar with a lot of other bureaucracies in government departments, we can't understand it but can only accept it.

[brownskin]

I posted my application for change of surname on the 27 April 2012 by post.
I believe there must have been a mix up of letter delivery.

I recieved the 1st letter asking to take the biometric enrolment dated 11/05/12 which i did at the local post office on the 15/05/12 then a week later i received a 2nd letter dated 09/05/12 notifying me that a case worker is dealing with my application i should receive a letter within 10 days to tell me what is the next step which i had already recieved???? very confusing

since then i havent heard anything...i was hoping for something last week(5weeks after biometrics) like some of us here...still waiting.

[LeavingNice]

Just wondering if the processing times differ between each office. My case is being handled by the Sheffield office. And heard back in 19 days for biometrics enrolment.

[apple0]

Has anyone had any results from emailing the complaints email address? I received an acknowledgment letter to a complaint saying I'd hear in 20 days.

[simona78]

No I am planning to write a complaint letter this week as well. Have you tired to write to your MP and ask for help?

[apple0]

Yes. The first time they just confirmed that my application was received. I am going to write again to see what they can do about the biometric letter.

[simona78]

I spoke to someone from the UKBA today and my application is still not in the system.

[apple0]

And they would give you no indication as to when that might happen? That is absurdly slow. Maybe your MP can do something. The complaints process seems to be too long to do anything.

[simona78]

I did press on that and they said they don't know because they are the call center staff and not the ones who are responsible for putting the applications onto the system. I think it will happen when someone has actually bothered to look at my application. But you have your case reference from your acknowledgement letter so give UKBA a call and they will be able to tell you if your application is in the system yet. I am not sure how much the MP can do to help in this case, but I emailed them again quoting the processing lead time on the UKBA website/documentation etc. I agree this is ridiculous and slow and I am running out of patience for this. It's been almost two months since I submitted my application and haven't even got to the biometric stage yet, it's very frustrating.

[apple0]

I am now pretty sure mine has been returned for payment problems. I thought they were supposed to call or write now instead of returning an application if the payment does not go through? This is ridiculous. I can now add on five weeks to the already absurdly slow application process. How could it take them so long to figure out there was a payment problem and then put the application in the post! They have delayed at least three weeks since the time they would have put the payment through.

[simona78]

How do you know they are returning your application? I was searching online and there was someone who waited for 4 weeks between the acknowledgement letter and when the payment was taken out of their account. I don't think they will call for payment problems, I think they will only call or follow-up when they need more documents etc. Don't lose hope yet. At least its the summer and Olympics that we are stranded here for, could be worst! (gloomy, cold and dark winter!)

[JulieB]

Hey everyone. I've been waiting 2 months for my BRP (RC) card. I reported it stolen after my wallet was stolen in January, but I couldn't get through to anyone on their line until finally in FEBRUARY I got their recording saying to email them. I waited to apply because I had just started a new job and I was moving house at the time, and I did not want to risk a change of address letting some stranger get my docs. My last experience with them was so fast, I assumed this would be as well, so I thought I should wait until we had settled into a new place.

Applied: 07 April
Acknowledgment letter: 20 April
Took fee from my account: 24 April
Rejection letter: 08 May (photo problem, a whole MONTH??)
Reapplied: 12 May
Refunded for rejected app: 15 May
Received letter threatening to kick me out (as I was nearing application deadline of 3 months) if I did not immediately do biometrics: 17 May
Acknowledgment letter: 24 May
Took fee from my account: 24 May
Biometrics: 28 May (I was told there that I have a valid application on file, but that's it)
(I never received a biometrics invitation letter, btw)
Received approval letter: TBA
Received docs back: TBA
Received new BRP card: TBA

In this time, I was working through a temp agency with an NHS office, and the NHS office took me on full-time. Before this, I let them know that while I had all my docs, I was waiting on a replacement BRP card. They said it was fine, to not worry about it. They hired me, I started working directly with them on Monday 12 May, and Friday 18 May, they fired me for not being able to produce my BRP card (and a copy was not accepted, nor all of my docs around it like the letter issued with the initial BRP card, the acknowledgment letter, etc). They would not let me return as a temp worker either because they were unsure of my work eligibility even though I would have been employed through the temp agency who knew my employment eligibility. The temp agency got me another temp job, but today, after a month of working there and training, they fired me because in order to grant me access to their systems, I they required my BRP card (my duplicate US passport was not enough, nor was a copy of the original card). I am at my wits end with the UKBA. I've gone through employers, solicitors, and my MP to get them to move things along, but nothing. I've called, wrote letters, and wrote emails to every contact point I could find. It's a REPLACEMENT card, not even a new application or a name change!

I am disgusted with how they handle things, and I'm not even sure where to go next. There was no same-day option for BRP (RC) like other applications, and this shouldn't be an issue. Re-issuing a card should not be so freaking difficult. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, it's well appreciated.

[simona78]

It's terrible you had to go through all this. Everyone's having a terrible experience with the BRP RC process and no one understands how they can take so long to re-issue something we already had. Regarding your job, I don't understand why they can fire you on the basis of what because employers can call UKBA and check your eligibility in the country. And also how did you manage to register for biometrics without an invitation letter? They need to scan your barcode in the post office don't they?

[JulieB]

My first employer called the UKBA right after they had rejected my application but before I knew it was rejected. Because I didn't have a valid application on file, the HR rep decided it meant I was not eligible for employment. She would not accept any of the documents I have (I've kept everything), which was super cool of her. I called/wrote/emailed every contact I could find, but no one offered me any help. I even asked for help at the UKBA office where I did my biometrics, and they told me to try writing again.

As for the biometrics, I was nearing the 3 months deadline for reapplication, so they sent me a letter demanding I send an application (I already had reapplied, so I sent them a letter explaining this) and do biometrics in the next 17 days (a bit arbitrary of a number, but okay). I assumed this meant to skip the part about waiting for a biometrics invitation because it would take longer than 17 days to send an app, get acknowledgment, get a letter for biometrics invite, book appt, and attend appt. I went to one of the UKBA locations rather than post office because that's what was closest to me, and I didn't need a barcode this time or last - just a confirmation number from when I booked my appointment.

[simona78]

I really feel for you and I think we are all suffering silently here because the UKBA does not respond to any of our emails and complaints. Unlike the problem of long queuing time at Heathrow, our problem is almost invisible because no one writes about it. I don't know of another developed country that has more appalling processing time to re-issue something. Granted some are stricter for applications of new visas but come on, this is re-issuance of an existing visa. I think this problem needs some media attention to get better.

[JulieB]

Thank you. It's terrible for everyone involved with everyone on this board. It's ridiculous. I think the people at the UKBA disassociate any humanity from the case files, which is probably why we don't get any news, why we aren't updated on important things, and why we'll sit on hold for ages on their phones just to get no information (if we can talk to a human at all).

They could at least email us when their ENTIRE SYSTEM goes down.

[apple0]

So mine was returned after 5+ weeks for payment problems (I only knew it was being returned because I had a missed recorded delivery notice). I reapplied the same day and am now waiting again.

JulieB, how did they know you were nearing the three month deadline? In my case, they returned the application after the one month deadline, so I'm not sure what happens there, other than that there is really no way to comply with their deadlines when they have none of their own.

[kannit]

Hi,

I applied for BRP (RC) on 15-Apr and gave biometrics after 20 days but after that there has been no update. I called them but they refused to give update if application is less than 6 months old. However they told me that for BRP (RC) typical ETA is 4 to 14 weeks which is unbelievable and it can make anybody hysterical who is going through this! Having said that there is no other option but to wait.

Regards