UK settlement - process changed again !!!

[darren1971]

It seems the process for settlement applications has changed again. We applied in Bangkok last week and were offered an opportunity to scan supporting documents or send them ourselves to Sheffield, I was waiting for some documents to be delivered in the UK so said I would send them myself and the lady at the counter informed me that they needed to be sent to Sheffield within 2 weeks. When I returned to the UK I sent all the documents to Sheffield and they were delivered and signed for. Last night I received an email saying that I should go to a UK drop in centre and scan the documents at a charge of £75, or scan an upload myself at a charge of £75.

 

As far as I can tell this is all new, I have called the helpline which was no help at all and I'm now left wondering if I have made a mistake. The process of supplying supporting documents has managed to get even more confusing than it already was.

 

Here is a copy of the email I was sent:

 

Dear  S......  P.......... 

 

Regarding Visa Application:  G.......         

 

Thank you for your online application which has been received at the UK Decision Making Centre.  Your application is currently being prepared for consideration by an Entry Clearance Officer.

 

PLEASE NOTE: This email is to acknowledge receipt of your Settlement application, if you or your UK sponsor have not already submitted your supporting documentation please ensure you follow the process listed below: UKVI is unable to consider your application without these documents. 

 

*VFS locations

Your sponsor or an agent can submit supporting documents in the UK at various locations in person for a fee of £75 per application, payable in cash or with a debit card. For these locations please refer to:

 

https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/pk/en/news/new-address-for-documentation-when-applying-for-a-uk-settlement-visa

[OneEyedPie]

Maybe I'm missing something but I'm reading that you've already submitted your docs, if not, then they're going to gouge you for 75 quid by submitting them at one of the aforementioned locations.  Personally, I think you're okay.

[darren1971]

2 minutes ago, OneEyedPie said:

Maybe I'm missing something but I'm reading that you've already submitted your docs, if not, then they're going to gouge you for 75 quid by submitting them at one of the aforementioned locations.  Personally, I think you're okay.

Yes I have sent docs to Sheffield and tracking says they have been received but I have had no official confirmation of that. The concern is the email I received which has no mention of sending documents and only a system of scanning in the UK.

 

If you are applying for a settlement visa, below options are available for submission of supporting documents: 

If you applied on Visa4uK
 

1. You can opt for Document Scanning Assistance Service at the Visa Application Centre without an additional charge 

2. Your sponsor or an agent can submit supporting documents in the UK in person for a fee of £75 per application payable in cash or with a debit card. All supporting documents can be submitted in person by your sponsor or an agent at any of the following locations in the UK. This is a walk-in service and documents cannot be received by courier.
 

1. London: VF Services (UK) LTD, 66 Wilson Street, London, EC2A 2BT. Working Hours: 09:00 - 16:00
2. Birmingham: VF Services (UK), LTD 5 -14 South Road, Smethwick, Birmingham, B67 7BN. Working Hours: 09:00 - 16:00 
3. Belfast: VF Services (UK) LTD, Merrion Business Centre, First Floor 58, Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6PJ. Working Hours: 09:00 – 14:00 
4. Leicester: VF Services (UK) LTD, C/O Peepul's Centre, Orchardson Avenue, Leicester, L E4 6DP. Working Hours: 09:00 - 16:00 
5. Cardiff: VF Services (UK) LTD, Temple Court – 13A Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9H. Working Hours: 09:00 - 14:00 
6. Manchester: VF Services (UK) LTD, 50 Devonshire Street North, Manchester, M12 6JH, Working Hours: 09:00 - 16:00 
7. Edinburgh: VF Services (UK) LTD, 1 Rennie’s Isle, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6QT. Working Hours: 09:00 - 16:00 
8. Liverpool: VF Services (UK) LTD, SUITE NO 207, Second Floor, Graeme House, Derby Square, Liverpool, L2 7ZH. Working Hours: 09:00 - 14:00 
9. Bradford: VF Services (UK) LTD, Skipton Chamber 16-18 North Parade, Bradford, BD13HT. Working Hours: 09:00 - 14:00
 

Your sponsor should bring a copy of your passport, along with your document checklist if you have applied via Access UK, or the first page of your visa application form if you have applied via visa4uk. Your sponsor should also provide all supporting documents; these will be scanned and handed back at the time of their visit. 
 

Your sponsor should also provide clear and legible photocopy of all supporting documents, these will be scanned and handed back at the time of their visit. All photocopies should be A4 size. Any documents which are smaller or larger than A4 size be photocopied onto A4 sized paper. Torn, crumpled or heavily creased documents cannot be scanned and therefore should be photocopied onto A4 sized paper before they are submitted. Documents should not be laminated.

 

[darren1971]

Confirmed now... documents will no longer be accepted at Sheffield

[cube789]

ah. Ok

Thanks for confirming this.

Would you mind sharing how you confirmed pls ? 

What will you do now ? will they return the documents to you from Sheffield ? 

[darren1971]

1 minute ago, cube789 said:

ah. Ok

Thanks for confirming this.

Would you mind sharing how you confirmed pls ? 

What will you do now ? will they return the documents to you from Sheffield ? 

Helpline confirmed it and they are trying to get my documents back from Sheffield....gutted

[Tony M]

The application system was changed on Friday 29th March. Unfortunately VFS didn't tell anyone. Up until that date documents could be sent to Sheffield. From that date the PO Box in Sheffield was closed, and no documents en route to Sheffield were accepted by UKVI. I am aware of four applications that were not accepted at UKVI Sheffield, and were either sent back to the applicant or on to the sponsor in the UK. I believe that VFS then hoped that the sponsor would use the newly introduced pay service in UK to scan the documents at a cost of 75 GBP. 

 

The alternative to being forced to use the VFS 75 GBP service was, and now is, to either upload the documents yourself (either the applicant or sponsor, or whoever), and then make an appointment to give biometrics. Or, make the appointment to give biometrics and, at the same time, purchase the VFS document scanning service, and VFS will scan your documents when you attend to give biometrics. By pure coincidence, VFS raised the cost of the scanning service from 150 THB to 460 THB on that same day. From experience the self-uploading system that VFS has in place at the moment is rubbish, very slow, and possibly deliberately so in order to get applicants to pay up for the VFS scanning service.

 

VFS are aware that they messed this whole new process up, and if you approach them direct, they may well try to assist in getting your application submitted as quickly, and as efficiently as they can.   

[darren1971]

2 hours ago, Tony M said:

The application system was changed on Friday 29th March. Unfortunately VFS didn't tell anyone. Up until that date documents could be sent to Sheffield. From that date the PO Box in Sheffield was closed, and no documents en route to Sheffield were accepted by UKVI. I am aware of four applications that were not accepted at UKVI Sheffield, and were either sent back to the applicant or on to the sponsor in the UK. I believe that VFS then hoped that the sponsor would use the newly introduced pay service in UK to scan the documents at a cost of 75 GBP. 

 

The alternative to being forced to use the VFS 75 GBP service was, and now is, to either upload the documents yourself (either the applicant or sponsor, or whoever), and then make an appointment to give biometrics. Or, make the appointment to give biometrics and, at the same time, purchase the VFS document scanning service, and VFS will scan your documents when you attend to give biometrics. By pure coincidence, VFS raised the cost of the scanning service from 150 THB to 460 THB on that same day. From experience the self-uploading system that VFS has in place at the moment is rubbish, very slow, and possibly deliberately so in order to get applicants to pay up for the VFS scanning service.

 

VFS are aware that they messed this whole new process up, and if you approach them direct, they may well try to assist in getting your application submitted as quickly, and as efficiently as they can.   

Staff at VFS in Bangkok are also unaware, I asked twice to confirm I needed to send everything to Sheffield and they said yes. This was on 24th April.

[theoldgit]

Staff at VFS in Bangkok are also unaware, I asked twice to confirm I needed to send everything to Sheffield and they said yes. This was on 24th April.

As Tony M said the new system came in after that, I suspect VFS staff weren’t given advance notice.

[darren1971]

15 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

As Tony M said the new system came in after that, I suspect VFS staff weren’t given advance notice.

Pretty poor show, hopefully it will just result in a delay for my application but it may turn out worse