I submitted my wife and step-daughters ILR application with a dated receipt from the UKBA on 17th January, still waiting now 3 months. Is anyone else going through with the same experience or does anyone know roughly what the current waiting times are for postal applications. Unfortunately i was not flushed with money so could not go for the premium service. Seems like excessive time nonetheless considering i paid out close to 1500 pounds for this.

i was told yesterday that a friend of a friend of a friend if you know what i mean lol, did his postal app early in jan and just got his back last friday, so roughly 14 weeks he waited

thanks for the feedback re. waiting time, hopefully we will hear very soon. I was under the impression you had to submit within 28 days from the end of the 27 months, but if you have spoken to the UKBA fair enough, good luck

Unless things have improved in the last few weeks (and I bet they haven't!) the wait is likely to be between three and six months for a postal application to be processed. There seems to little rhyme and reason as to how long an application takes. The UKBA seem to be using the 95% figure processed within six months as a target, not a worst case scenario!

The visa is also likely to be dated two or three weeks earlier than the date the passport drops through your letter box.

You cannot apply (well may lose your money) until 28 days before the two year probationary period is up! You do not need to wait until the 27 month period!

If you can afford it and get to a Public Enquiry Office I would suggest you apply in person despite the extra costs to save weeks of uncertainty!

My wife and daughter got their ILR a few days under six months wait despite it being about the most straight forward application possible.