Post dated UK settlement visa

[nottarf]

Post dated UK settlement visa

From ukba site:

You can apply for your visa within three months of your intended date of travel. We are only able to post-date visas by a maximum of three months from the date of the decision on your visa application.

We are applying for a Uk settlement visa but the earliest date we can go back to the UK is 1 August 2014.

Visa processing times could be 12 weeks or even a few days.

So to play safe would I have to submit the application on or around 1 May 2014 in case they take 12 weeks?

These timescales could be very tight, I think it would be difficult booking a flight at such short notice.

Would it be worth trying to book a flight well in advance but ensure the tickets dates could be changed.

Thank you

[ThaiVisaExpress]

I would check the processing times before submission.

[sometimewoodworker]

From ukba site:

You can apply for your visa within three months of your intended date of travel. We are only able to post-date visas by a maximum of three months from the date of the decision on your visa application.

The key words in that statement are "intended date of travel" the visa will be valid for at least 24 months from the date you state of your intended date of travel.

And "intended dates" can change due to changing circumstances. And circumstances can easily change after an application. For example airline tickets at reasonable prices.

The important point is that the date you ask for the visa to start can not be more than 3 months from the date you apply. However you do not HAVE to travel within 3 months of your application date.

In September 93 % of settlement visas were processed within 60 days and 72 applications were made.

[robhufton]

I'm not sure if this is the new policy, but they are taking the full 12 weeks for settlement visa application now. My wife finally got hers last month after waiting 12 weeks for application.

[sometimewoodworker]

I'm not sure if this is the new policy, but they are taking the full 12 weeks for settlement visa application now. My wife finally got hers last month after waiting 12 weeks for application.

If UKBA are telling the truth it looks as if your wife was the unlucky one

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/thailand/processing-times/?langname=null

[7by7]

From ukba site:

You can apply for your visa within three months of your intended date of travel. We are only able to post-date visas by a maximum of three months from the date of the decision on your visa application.

The key words in that statement are "intended date of travel" the visa will be valid for at least 24 months from the date you state of your intended date of travel.

The visa will be valid from the requested date or the date of issue; whichever is the later.

It will be valid for 33 months, and to meet the residential qualification for the next application the holder will need to have been living in the UK for at least 30 months.

UKV&I (formally the UKBA) realise that people may not be able to travel immediately the visa is issued, hence the extra 3 months.

robhufton, processing times are not policy dependant; they are merely dependant upon the number of applications received at any given time. The more applications they have to process, the longer each will take.

Sometimewoodworker, the 60 days in the table you link to is working days. 60 working days equals 12 weeks.

[nottarf]

Sorry for the delay can this be clarified?

Two posts state different ‘visa will be valid for…..'

• The key words in that statement are "intended date of travel" the visa will be valid for at least 24 months from the date you state of your intended date of travel.
• It will be valid for 33 months, and to meet the residential qualification for the next application the holder will need to have been living in the UK for at least 30 months.

If my definite date to travel to the UK is 1 August 2014 then I should submit the settlement visa application on or around 1 March 2014

Assume 3 months to process the application and add 3 months for a post dated visa.

[7by7]

Sometimewoodworker's information is out of date.

Prior to 9th July 2012 a settlement visa for a spouse/partner was valid for 27 months and the holder had to be resident in the UK for at least 24 months to be residentially qualified for ILR.

That all changed for applications submitted after that date. Now the initial visa will be valid for 33 months and to be residentially qualified for the next stage the holder must have been living in the UK for at least 30 months.

See UK Settlement visa basics.

When submitting the application the applicant can ask for a start date up to three months ahead. Therefore, if you want the visa to start 1/8/14, the earliest the application can be submitted is 1/5/14.

If you want to be sure, then you could submit the visa before this with a requested start date three months ahead as you would still have up to three months from it's start date in which to travel.

So, for example, if the visa starts on 1/6/14 you could first enter the UK any time before 1/9/14 and still meet the 30 month residential qualifying period for the next stage.

The official advice is to not purchase tickets until the visa has been issued, in case the issue is delayed or even refused; but if you want to do so beforehand that is your choice.

[nottarf]

All clear now.

Thank you for your time.