Slow Visa Process Time (uk Vfs - Aprmay 09)

[2long]

We applied for my wife's 6th visitor visa (the first 5 had no problems) on Apr 29th. So far we can't get through on the phone and tracking it online just says that it's been forwarded to the embassy.

Has anyone else experienced delays over the last two weeks?

I appreciate the banks holiays, but the embassy and VFS were only closed on Friday 8th.

Just wondering.....

[7by7]

There does seem to be a long delay in processing applications at the moment, probably due to a large demand.

See this thread. Although it's about settlement, obviously if the embassy are dealing with a high number of applications the processing time for visit visas will be affected too.

How long have you applied for? As this is your wife's 6th visit visa she may be eligible for a longer term, maybe up to 10 years. She would still only be allowed a maximum of 6 months per visit and a maximum of 6 months out of any 12 in the UK, but it would save you having to apply for a while.

[brizzle]

My wifes second tourist visa application went to the British Embassy on 1st April and we have only just received news that it's ready for collection today,one day short of a six week wait. Last year we got a reply within 3 days which was sucessful. We actually extended our stay at extra cost in Bangkok during April to two weeks thinking that her passport would be returned to the VFS any day but obviously that turned out to be a bad move. We now have the additional cost of a return flight to Bangkok in order to collect her passport which cannot be made for at least another week.These visa applications sure can be a long and costly experience,fingers crossed it all turns out ok!

[HarryHerb]

08 May 2009: Due to an IT problem, the UK Border Agency is experiencing delays processing some visa applications. We process around 200,000 visa applications per month and most applications have not been affected by the current problem. The UK Border Agency apologises for any inconvenience and is working hard to fix the problem. We continue to monitor the situation very closely. Should anyone require urgent travel to the UK they should contact their local visa application centre/ call centre/ UK Border Agency at a British mission.

From http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/

We applied on 27 April (Visit Visa as well) and haven't heard anything past the first SMS alert the same day saying it had been sent to the Embassy... a bit annoying as we can't book flights until we get it, but not much you can do.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

They are very busy now everything is taking far longer than it should.

[mickmac]

We had an 11 day wait for a transit visa, to get from Heathrow terminal 3 to terminal 1. Lots of people applying for the summer hols. by the looks of things.

[2long]

Thanks to everyone. My mind is somewhat put at rest. I'd like to say that I emailed VFS about this and had a reply within a few hours, so I appreciate that. I also read about that IT problem soon after starting this thread. It may be an idea to keep updating on this thread to help anyone else in similar postions. I promise to post our next news.

[brizzle]

Thanks to everyone. My mind is somewhat put at rest. I'd like to say that I emailed VFS about this and had a reply within a few hours, so I appreciate that. I also read about that IT problem soon after starting this thread. It may be an idea to keep updating on this thread to help anyone else in similar postions. I promise to post our next news.

I too emailed the VFS(after waiting 5 weeks) and got a reply within a couple of hours,something that was not expected and was very much appreciated after our long wait. They confirmed that my wifes application was being processed as normal but in view of our concerns would forward a copy of my email to the British Embassy. We then had her visa application returned within 4 working days.It seems nye on impossible to speak to anyone on the phone so I would recommend anyone with any concerns or anxieties to contact the VFS by this method. If nothing else it will put your mind at rest and in the remote chance that something has gone wrong,it will at least bring it to the Embassy's attention.

[2long]

The embassy called me yesterday (I had scanned and emailed my updated visa page in my passport) and said that they'll give me an answer mid-June! I THINK this is because we're travelling late June (22nd!).

Unfortunately, I didn't have the presence of mind to ask "What if...? We won't have much time to sort it out." Now I can't get back in touch because they don't accept phone calls.

Bugger!

[2long]

Got it after 5 weeks and 2 days.

Ok, so they've been busier than normal, had IT problems and posted the odd apology on their website, but we feel a bit let down that they took so long. (pushed us back in the queue just because we applied in plenty of time)

[SantiSuk]

UK Announces UK visa processing delays in Bangkok - 2nd June 2009

My Thai girlfriend and I went into the centre with an application today (8th June 2009). Here is an exact copy of the notice in the ante corridor

NOTICE

02 June 2009: Delay in application process

Please note that due to a surge in applications non-settlement applications are now taking between 4-6 weeks to process and settlement applications 12 weeks. Applications already submitted are being cleared on the basis of date due to travel. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused

Makes you proud to be English doesn't it??!!

Having checked the amazingly detailed UK Border processing delay time schedules 10 days ago and having seen that 80% of non-settlement visas were being cleared within 10 working days I am mightily peed off - looks like our travel plans (going to UK in 5 weeks) are on the edge and I'm in for further cost of flight changes. Yes I know they say you should not book your tickets until you have a visa, but they also say they want copy tickets/reservations. Anyone know where you can get a cheaper ticket reservation without paying (and what the hel_l is the worth of such a reservation to an immigration officer anyway).

Makes me so cross they cannot spot this further ahead of time or take on staff to clear bottlenecks. Also, would it have occured to them to publicise the delays to widely read media like Thaivisa.com?

[splendidfellow]

Mixed feeling on the end to end processing time of Visas. My wife's second settlement visa application for her two son's was submitted on 20th March and it's still 'sitting on somebody's desk'!! Luckily the appeal took place 3 weeks ago and the first visa failures were overturned. On the downside the second application was a complete and utter waste of our time and in excess of £1k.

The only amusing thing that has happened during the whole ordeal was when my wife's son's handed over the second application paperwork, prepared by an immigration specialist who himself used to work in the embassy, to a VFS representive at the desk. ...They were told by the representitive not to submit the paperwork because the folder was too thin and needed to be about an inch thick!

Anyway i have asked politely for a refund of the application fee failing this we will use legal means to retrieve it ...and don't believe the hype about these fees being non-refundable! watch this space!

[JASON THAI]

I got my wifes visit visa in 2 days in 2008, but now things have changed and it is taking about 4 - 6 to get an answer, due to a backlog, you should not worry just think of the people that are applying a settlement visa's they have to wait about 14 weeks

[7by7]

I'm in for further cost of flight changes. Yes I know they say you should not book your tickets until you have a visa, but they also say they want copy tickets/reservations.

Where do they say that?

The official advice is, and always has been, not to pay for any tickets etc. until you have the visa.

Makes me so cross they cannot spot this further ahead of time

So how do you suggest they do that? Your comments are made with the benefit of hindsight; they don't have this.

or take on staff to clear bottlenecks

So where do they get this extra staff? Are you seriously suggesting that visa applications should be judged by unqualified, inexperienced temps?

Also, would it have occured to them to publicise the delays to widely read media like Thaivisa.com?

Official websites, such as the VAC, have been warning of these delays for some time; as have posts on forums such as this.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

It takes as long as it takes frustrating however everyone must wait.

[botaknh]

Wife submitted application for family visit visa this morning and was told it would take about 2 weeks

If true, sounds like they've cleared a bit of the backlog

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Yes we experienced around 8/10 working days at the moment.