Current wait times for Settlement visa processing?

[Grindting]

I know this is a Thai forum but there is no equivilant for Indonesia (my wife is Indonesian). however the requirements for Thai/Indonesian citizens is almost identical, with 1 or 2 extras added into the Indonesian one.

When i was married to a Thai 8 years ago and we did the application then and it took about 3 weeks. I was hoping the Indonesian embassy would be quicker considering they must get a lot less Spouse settlement applications than Thai (my indonesian wife and I have yet to meet any Indonesians in our situation other and we live in London!). but my assumption could be wrong

I am interested in knowing what the current wait times for the Thais are, as i'm sure it will not be too dissimilar as they are suppose to be consistent ..

thanks guys

Edited February 7, 2015 by Grindting

[7by7]

You are correct that processing times may very well vary from post to post, and time of year, as they depend very much on demand; not just for a particular type of visa, but for all types.

You can use this tool to find the latest published processing times for any post and any type of visa.

It is currently showing the processing times for decisions made in December 2014.

Settlement applications processed in December:

• For Jakarta, 77% within 30 days, 100% within 60 days.
• For Bangkok, 51% within 30 days, 100% within 60 days.

Note;

1. These are working days.
2. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

[Tony M]

Just for information, applications for Indonesia are currently processed in Bangkok. The Jakarta visa section was closed a couple of years ago.

[Grindting]

Thanks again 7by7. What brilliant news. My mrs was in turmoil that she'd have to wait it out for up to 3 months when she heads back to make it. We recieved some poor information elsewhere

Tony; is that still the case? Her first general visit stamp from 2012 says processed by Manila. Her 2nd general visit stamp from 2013 says processed in Bangkok. But her 2014 general visit stamp from this time last year 2014 says issued by Jakarta. The new embassy in Jakarta was opened in August 2013 I believe which does have its own UKVI section. I know the old colonial embassy in the centre of town would have not been fit for purpose to process all of the applications in indonesias growing economy and booming middle class, which is why the new one was built. However settlement visas could still be sent to BKK? The BKK compound is enormous compared with even the new embassy in Jakarta nevertheless

Edited February 8, 2015 by Grindting

[Tony M]

Thanks again 7by7. What brilliant news. My mrs was in turmoil that she'd have to wait it out for up to 3 months when she heads back to make it. We recieved some poor information elsewhere

Tony; is that still the case? Her first general visit stamp from 2012 says processed by Manila. Her 2nd general visit stamp from 2013 says processed in Bangkok. But her 2014 general visit stamp from this time last year 2014 says issued by Jakarta. The new embassy in Jakarta was opened in August 2013 I believe which does have its own UKVI section. I know the old colonial embassy in the centre of town would have not been fit for purpose to process all of the applications in indonesias growing economy and booming middle class, which is why the new one was built. However settlement visas could still be sent to BKK? The BKK compound is enormous compared with even the new embassy in Jakarta nevertheless

It seems we are both out of date ! last week they moved the visa operation from Bangkok to Manila ( again) :

Changes to UK visa processing in Indonesia: From 30 January 2015, decision making on UK visa applications received in Indonesia will move from Bangkok to our decision making hub in Manila, The Philippines. The change will not affect the way customers in Indonesia apply for visas, nor will it impact on our customer service standards. We will continue to process non-settlement visa applications within 15 working days and settlement applications within 60 working days.

[7by7]

Thanks again 7by7. What brilliant news. My mrs was in turmoil that she'd have to wait it out for up to 3 months when she heads back to make it. We recieved some poor information elsewhere

Sorry to rain on your parade, Grindting, but 60 working days is 12 weeks, which is about three months!

Her application may be processed in less time, as the figures for December show; but she and you should plan on it taking that long.

[Grindting]

working days oh sh1t haha. or dear i'll break the bad news to her

however it says 77% of applications done within 30 days, and as our case is easy should hopefully be within that bracket

[7by7]

It all depends on how busy they are.

One ray of hope, between 30 working days and 60 working days could be anything from 31 working days to 60 working days.

But I would still plan on three months; better, IMHO, to get it earlier than hoped than later!.

Remember, the visa will be valid for 33 months but she only needs to be living in the UK for 30 months to be residentially qualified for the next stage, Further Leave to Remain. So she'll have plenty of time between receiving the visa and the latest date she should enter the UK with it.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

It all depends on how busy they are.

One ray of hope, between 30 working days and 60 working days could be anything from 31 working days to 60 working days.

But I would still plan on three months; better, IMHO, to get it earlier than hoped than later!.

Remember, the visa will be valid for 33 months but she only needs to be living in the UK for 30 months to be residentially qualified for the next stage, Further Leave to Remain. So she'll have plenty of time between receiving the visa and the latest date she should enter the UK with it.

I was going to do a new thread on this, but there are changes coming. This is the official line :

UK Home Office is expected to rollout Biometric Residence Permits for non-EEA Nationals applying for a UK visa for a stay of more than six months, effective from 15th March, 2015. All applicants are therefore required to apply for a BRP, and if approved, collect the same within 10 days from the date of their first arrival in the UK.

The visa process remains unchanged except that the applicants have to provide their intended date of travel along with a UK address and post code. The post code will help the concerned department to identify the nearest post office branch and dispatch the BRP for collection by the applicant. Overseas applicants will be offered assistance to select a post code on the basis of the UK address they provide.

All successful applicants will be informed of the decision through a letter and are required to collect the BRP within 10 days after landing in UK. A short term visa will be endorsed on the passport or other travel document of the applicant, which will be valid for 30 days from the expected date of travel. There are no additional charges or extra fee for the same.

If an applicant does not travel to UK within the given time of 30 days, then he/she will have to apply for replacement of short-term visa with the Entry Clearance Office and upon replacement, can freely travel to the United Kingdom.

It doesn't say which countries will be rolled out first, or the order that this happen. As I understand it, Post Offices in the UK are still unaware of the introduction, but I could be wrong. But, the important point is that the initial "short term" visa will give only a 30 day travel window. I guess the BRP, will be valid for 24 months from the expiry date of the 30 - day short term visa.

Tony M

Edited February 9, 2015 by ThaiVisaExpress

[ThaiVisaExpress]

I did try to edit my post above, but it didn't work. The final sentence should read :

"I guess the BRP, will be valid for 30 months from the expiry date of the 30 - day short term visa."

Tony M

[Deano1000]

My wife waited 10 working days. We applied online on 9 January 2015, she had her meeting with VFS on 13 January 2015, and then on 26 January 2015 she collected her documents and her visa

[Grindting]

So she just got her 4th and final tourist visa (thanks to U guys advice) which took 3 days to process

BUT THEY ONLY RETURNED THE PASSPORT NOT OUR PACK OF DOCUMENTS!

So much for paying for fast track, as now she has to lodge a complaint and argue the toss to get them to send it now. Or she won't have anything to show immigration on this side, or work from to continue(start) with our spouse visa. Thinking of making a thread as they didn't even sms her to collect the visa. She only popped her head in randomly and asked, and there it was. Useless

Edited February 12, 2015 by Grindting