UK Visa application, tracking after submission

[thonglorjimmy]

After submitting a UK Visa application online and after you'd submitted the supporting documents at the VAC, you used to be able to track the progress of an application online, and whilst the online report did little more than say the application has been forwarded to the Embassy, or it's back, it was quite useful.

That option no longer seems to be available, or at least I can't find it, the receipt refers you to the £5.48 email service to check the progress, and of course we could have paid for the SMS service.

I would be interested to hear of any recent experiences with tracking applications, if indeed you can.

 

Thanks

[theoldgit]

As recall the UKVI sends out an automated email when the decision has been made, and you can pick it up a couple of days after that.

Looks to me like there engineering their service to increase the revenue stream, without actually offering anything meaningful, it's not as if the application process doesn't cost enough already.

[darren1971]

Seemed pointless to me, the courier service is very good though and reasonably priced.

[Jip99]

The SMS system simply relate to advice of a decision having been made....... same with the email advice.

 

 

The tracking system allows you to follow the EMS progress from Bangkok to your home town - that enables you to go to the post office to collect your passport/papers without waiting for the postman to turn up when it suits them.

 

As Old Git says, the passport is usually posted the day after notification of the decision having been made. I have seen one case where it was returned by the embassy to VfS and posted EMS the same day.

[thonglorjimmy]

14 minutes ago, darren1971 said:

Seemed pointless to me, the courier service is very good though and reasonably priced.

Yes having it sent by EMS is quite good value if you live in the far end of the country, but it seems unnecessary if you live in walking distance of Trendy.

The old system was pretty good, it's a shame they stopped it, l suppose by doing away with it they're pushing you into using their SMS service or delivery by EMS. OK VFS don't make a lot of profit from each applicant but it all adds up.

[rasg]

If I remember the SMS service was 40 baht and EMS was very cheap too. I found it well worth the little that it costs.

[theoldgit]

Yes the SMS isn't that expensive at 85 Baht, though it's worth noting that VFS do publish a "SMS Service Disclaimer" on their website, but there is a fair profit margin built in, not a lot but multiply that by the number of applicants and it's not a bad earner.

The EMS fee for a visit visa is 265 Baht.

I think the point the OP, not unreasonably, makes is that you were always able to check the progress online but that service seems to have been dropped in favour or directing applicants to the paid service, which might be convenient for those living away from Bangkok, not really necessary for those living locally.

The EMS and SMS have always been available, it's just that they've now dropped the online tracking, though I believe the UKVI still do send an email informing that a decision has been made.   

[darren1971]

On 22/09/2017 at 12:49 PM, theoldgit said:

Yes the SMS isn't that expensive at 85 Baht, though it's worth noting that VFS do publish a "SMS Service Disclaimer" on their website, but there is a fair profit margin built in, not a lot but multiply that by the number of applicants and it's not a bad earner.

The EMS fee for a visit visa is 265 Baht.

I think the point the OP, not unreasonably, makes is that you were always able to check the progress online but that service seems to have been dropped in favour or directing applicants to the paid service, which might be convenient for those living away from Bangkok, not really necessary for those living locally.

The EMS and SMS have always been available, it's just that they've now dropped the online tracking, though I believe the UKVI still do send an email informing that a decision has been made.   

yes you still get an email if you don't go for the sms service.

[rasg]

On 9/22/2017 at 10:54 AM, Jip99 said:

The tracking system allows you to follow the EMS progress from Bangkok to your home town - that enables you to go to the post office to collect your passport/papers without waiting for the postman to turn up when it suits them.

Yep. With my wife's second visit visa I was in Thailand at the time and we went to the post office on a Saturday and picked the package up along with her shiny new visa.

[thonglorjimmy]

My other halfs passport was returned today, with a brand new visa vingette firmly attached.

As I mentioned before the SMS service was declined but on Monday 2nd she got an automated email from the UKVI advising that a decsion had been made and this morning an email from VFS advising that the pack containing the passport had been delivered.

She picked it up this afternoon.

I did note that other visa sections, also served by our friends at VFS, do still offer online tracking so I assume it's a UKVI decision not to allow it for applicants for UK Visas.

[Jip99]

Just piggy-backing on this thread...

 

 

UKVI must be fairly quiet at the moment; the missus submitted her application at VfS last Wednesday, decision made today.

 

 

That is quick by any measure.

[darren1971]

32 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

Just piggy-backing on this thread...

 

 

UKVI must be fairly quiet at the moment; the missus submitted her application at VfS last Wednesday, decision made today.

 

 

That is quick by any measure.

We got a decision and documents returned by courier in 8 days in September... very happy with that.

[w94005m]

Did you get a tracking number from VFS that you could use with EMS? And if so, was that in any way based on the VFS application reference?

 

Thanks.

[Jip99]

54 minutes ago, w94005m said:

Did you get a tracking number from VFS that you could use with EMS? And if so, was that in any way based on the VFS application reference?

 

Thanks.

 

VfS write the EMS tracking number on the paper that they attach the receipt to. They usually highlight it with a pink marker pen.

 

The reference starts with 2 letters, then 9 numbers followed by TH.

 

ie.... EH123456789TH

 

 

Track here:-

 

http://track.thailandpost.com/tracking/default.aspx?lang=en

 

 

Edited May 22, 2018 by Jip99

[w94005m]

Awesome!! Thank you so much - I am now getting the information from my Laos partner. I never thought she was so stupid ?

[w94005m]

Just to note that 8 days after the original email that it was being couriered out, we eventually received the letter. Including 5 days to get from Vientiane Wattay to Vang Vieng Post Office. Done via EMS, then Laos Post.