New Priority Service in New Zealand for UK settlement visas

[Thai Visa Express]

UKV& I are introducing a Priority Application service in New Zealand for settlement visas. For an extra fee of around 250 GBP you can have your settlement visa put at the front of the queue, and have a decision in ten days. So, yet again, those who can afford it will get priority over those who can't. Will this mean even longer waiting times for settlement visas for those who can't afford to use the Priority service ? The UKBA website says this :

Priority service

From 12 August 2013, anyone making a UK settlement visa application in New Zealand can choose to use our priority visa service. This service is only available to applicants based in New Zealand and is available for all settlement visa categories. There is currently no priority service for non-settlement categories.

Priority service applications will be placed at the front of the queue to be processed ahead of non-priority applications. The priority visa service fee is NZD$465.

If you have had any adverse immigration issues in the past, we do not recommend that you use this service. Use of the priority service does not imply or guarantee that your visa application will be successful. All visa applicants must meet the requirements of the UK Immigration Rules. The fee for the priority service and the visa application fee are not refundable if your visa application is refused.

Priority service processing times

Settlement applications: we aim to process all settlement priority visa applications within 10 working days from the date of arrival in Manila. Processing time does not include transit to and from Manila and this will vary, dependent on your postal address.

[theoldgit]

Another money making initiative dressed up as a service, I resisted the urge to call it a scam.

Whilst I can understand that people want their application considered as soon as possible, settlement is a long term plan and not something that would be done on the hoof, so I'm not sure how many people would need to avail themselves of this service.

[Tony M]

I feel like submitting an application which includes something along the lines of "I can no longer adequately maintain my wife as all my funds have gone on your visa fees ".

[Jay Sata]

It applies to Australia as well as New Zealand.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/july/57-pvs-australia

Both are part of the Commonwealth and I can see a demand for those in the oil industry wanting to relocate with

their family quickly.

Speaking as a former Australian resident I'd suggest if you can afford to live there then jumping through the UK settlement

hoops is simple.No need for language courses etc.

I can't see how this has any impact on applications from elsewhere in the world or indeed those in Oz and NZ as the normal waiting time is only 12 weeks.

Some may see it as unfair but that's like first class passengers being boarded first and having better seats and service because they pay more.

[DudleyPunt]

Another way to raise money. Self funded services, its the way of the future.

[Jay Sata]

Nothing wrong with that idea Dudley. If you want something and can pay for it that's OK. Why should the state fund it?

I don't suppose the Beckham's ever have to queue for anything.

As I said earlier it's probably mainly designed for business people.

The average punter will take more than the normal waiting time to sell his house and make arrangements for the move.