UK visit visa processing time update

[GroveHillWanderer]

Just an update in case anyone is interested.

 

The processing time for UK visit visas seems to have shortened considerably, at least as compared to last year.

 

This year it only took 11 days from my wife handing in her application, to it being approved. This was without paying any extra for expedited processing. See screen capture below.

 

[melonf]

I applied for a UK family settlement visa for my long time Thai wife (with straightforward evidence easily meeting the requirements) and paid for the priority service. The visa was returned by courier exactly 2 weeks after the biometrics appointment at Trendy. I was impressed, but maybe its quiet times in the visa decision centre.

 

[ipeterrobinson17]

we just got a 2-year UK tourist visa - passport received back (by courier) only 12 days after the biometrics appointment.

 

we didn't pay for any priority service (other than return of passport by courier).

[MyThai1]

12 minutes ago, ipeterrobinson17 said:

we just got a 2-year UK tourist visa - passport received back (by courier) only 12 days after the biometrics appointment.

 

we didn't pay for any priority service (other than return of passport by courier).

We did exactly the same in August, 9 days later courier delivers it to the house, well impressed. 

[sampson]

Took less than 2 weeks from the appointment to delivered to my condo for my Thai lady.  Mid August it was.

[hotandsticky]

On 9/25/2023 at 6:57 AM, sampson said:

Took less than 2 weeks from the appointment to delivered to my condo for my Thai lady.  Mid August it was.

 

My missus' was processed on 20th September, back at VfS today.

 

 

I make that 7 working days.

[hotandsticky]

Having praised UKVI, for their speedy processing time, it was disappointing to find that the visa sticker has been issued from 29th September for 6 months. I had specifically requested a start date of 14th December 2023.

 

We are permitted to apply 3 months before our travel date and the date of arrival was clearly stated as 14th December - this arrival date was also highlighted in my sponsor letter (in which I requested the start date).

 

I am aware that VfS Global insert the visa sticker once approved in India - I don't know who was 'at fault' for not picking up the requested start date. Trying to find contact phone numbers/email for VfS is like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

 

Does anyone have:-

 

(a) Contact details for the UK section at VfS.

(b) Does anyone have experience of getting their visa changed in these circumstances.

 

I guess my request is aimed at @oldgitfor obvious reasons and the likes of @sandyf (and others) who have had multiple UK visas.

[sandyf]

13 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Having praised UKVI, for their speedy processing time, it was disappointing to find that the visa sticker has been issued from 29th September for 6 months. I had specifically requested a start date of 14th December 2023.

 

We are permitted to apply 3 months before our travel date and the date of arrival was clearly stated as 14th December - this arrival date was also highlighted in my sponsor letter (in which I requested the start date).

 

I am aware that VfS Global insert the visa sticker once approved in India - I don't know who was 'at fault' for not picking up the requested start date. Trying to find contact phone numbers/email for VfS is like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

 

Does anyone have:-

 

(a) Contact details for the UK section at VfS.

(b) Does anyone have experience of getting their visa changed in these circumstances.

 

I guess my request is aimed at @oldgitfor obvious reasons and the likes of @sandyf (and others) who have had multiple UK visas.

Years ago they always issued the visa from application unless requested otherwise and then a few years ago it seemed to change to a few days before travel.

We have never requested any particular date as with only going for a month it wasn't ever a problem in a 6 month period. The last one we did in March was just issued to start 3 days before date of travel so bit strange yours should be different.

I do not think VFS have anything to do with what is on the visa. When we did one for Canada we dealt directly with Canadian immigration online and once we had been advised by the Canadians of approval we had to send/or take the passport to VFS office and they printed off the visa and stuck it in the passport. 

I would suggest your best bet is to contact the UK embassy. They do not deal vith visas but they should be able to give you a contact in India. I think the change would have to be made by the consular section in India before a new sticker could be printed.

Good luck

[hotandsticky]

11 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Years ago they always issued the visa from application unless requested otherwise and then a few years ago it seemed to change to a few days before travel.

We have never requested any particular date as with only going for a month it wasn't ever a problem in a 6 month period. The last one we did in March was just issued to start 3 days before date of travel so bit strange yours should be different.

I do not think VFS have anything to do with what is on the visa. When we did one for Canada we dealt directly with Canadian immigration online and once we had been advised by the Canadians of approval we had to send/or take the passport to VFS office and they printed off the visa and stuck it in the passport. 

I would suggest your best bet is to contact the UK embassy. They do not deal vith visas but they should be able to give you a contact in India. I think the change would have to be made by the consular section in India before a new sticker could be printed.

Good luck

Thank you.

 

In the past (we have had 12 or 13 UK visas) they have been very good at picking up on my requests. Only once in the early days did they miss it - but, like you, my trip was only for a month or so and it didn't matter. This time I was trying to cover 2 trips which just fit into 6 months if the start date is our first arrival date. It just saves my time, 100 Quid and a trip to Bangkok if they get it right.

 

Obviously, the passport does not leave Bangkok so VfS insert the visa sticker.  I don't know if that is something that is pre-completed online and VfS print off - or whether VfS produce the visa sticker themselves once India confirm approval.

 

I vaguely recall @oldgitchanging one of his wife's visas (or he knew of someone that managed to get theirs changed).

 

We shall see.