SAWA17:
So after 3 failed visitor visas, we FINALLY SAW A SHINY STAMP YESTERDAY!

Applied on 31st March 2018 (priority)

Biometric 9th April

Documents sent to Sheffield on 23rd April

Application being prepared for consideration mail 25th April

Emailed asking for an update on 24th May. A reply came back saying that a decision had been made.

Documents sent back on 25th May

Went to TLS Ikeja to see if the passport was there on 30th May. They said it's still at the High Commission.

Passport ready for pick up mail 30th May

No decision made mail sent officially from UKVI

Decision made 17th May

Passport picked up 31st May

36 working days after biometric. There was so much public holidays to endure!!!

What made me worry was that:

1. My contract for my job expired in July, but they renewed it for another year AFTER I submitted. I wrote a letter of assurance (saying that I will look for another job etc) to cover my back. However, I am guessing they called my work place to find out they renewed my contract.

2. I lost one payslip, and I could not get another copy so I wrote a letter explaining why this payslip was not there and asked them to look at my bank statement AND what my work place added in a table showing my income.

3. My documents came back in a different envelope. Oh the paranoia thinking I have upset them and they might reject us because the envelope I sent them was too small. Yes, I was thinking like that....

Overall, I would say if there a small omissions, cover your back with a letter, and point it to other bits of evidence to back yourself up.

We are so grateful for the sound advice though! We went through EVERYTHING on this forum. Producing a table of income was a brilliant idea that we got from here (as I had variable income from 2 sources). Thank you all once again!!!

May you all experience good news too!!!! I celebrate with you all in advance!

Maryam30:
My timeline
Submitted application on the 4th of April 2018
Biometric on the 10th of April 2018
Application received on TLS on the 10th too
Documents sent on the 16th 2018
Decision made email on the 22nd 2018
Passport ready for collection on the 22nd too
Collected my passport on the 23rd April 2018
Vignette stamp on my passport with one month to stay for in Nigeria
A letter of a successful visa application granted entry to stay in UK for 5 years.
My husband’s lawyer in the UK handled our application. It took 28 working days for the decision made email to come out but it was worth it. I usually come to this blog to read and ease my mind off the stress,so thank you everybody and goodluck to other people applying.

Lexusgs430:



http://punchng.com/court-didnt-close-ikoyi-marriage-registry-fg-tells-lagos-govt/

Lexusgs430:
If Roman can be delayed or eventually rejected, after spending Billions in the British economy. It simply shows this people got no chill........

ronvlaar:
First application (standard)
August 2017
Denied December 2017

Appealed in January 2018

Reapplied in April 2018 (priority)
Biometric 6th April
Documents sent in 9th April
Application being prepared for consideration mail 17th April
Passport ready for pick up mail 15th May
No decision made mail sent
Decision made 11th May
Passport picked 17th May
Approx 24days after biometric

Big thanks to Lexus for always answering all my annoying questions and all the best to those still waiting.

Jiya1:

Thank you. Your testimony is sure!
You start counting from the day you do ur bio not when you submit your documents.

Jiya1:
I have bn a silent follower.
But here’s my spouse visa(Standard) timeline:
Online Submission: 29th January 2018
Bio-2nd Feb
Documents sent:9th Feb
Decision made:23rd April(55working days)
Passport ready for collection:25th April
Passport collected with visa: 27th April
I can’t really use words to express how excited I am atm...knowing fully well this is my 4th application(2visit and 2 spouse app)
I’m grateful to God.

phardey:
They will email you or spouse to send a self addressed to them. not to worry. wait for their email

Aphrodite007:


I think that might make sense. You can send the envelope with with a note containing your GWF no., informing them of your error. Better still, mail or call them for enquiries.

Minnienellie24:


In my own understanding, the self-addressed envelope is required to send your supporting documents back to you. and because most of these documents are of great importance to virtually all applicants, they believe that you would want it to get back to you safe. So i would say the implication of not including one could be loosing your document.

Minnienellie24:


In my own understanding, the self-addressed envelope is required to send your supporting documents back to you. and because most of these documents are of great importance to virtually all applicants, they believe that you would want it to get back to you safe. So i would say the implication of not including one could be loosing your document.

Phoenix77:


Just ignore that..its a standard msg...just tell them ur docs are already on the way to Sheffield...i didnt go with mine and my bio went smoothly...the person attending to me sef was kinda glad cos it both saved us stress...but major thing to make sure ur wife arranges all docs as requested and nothing missing. Good luck

Phoenix77:


You welcome...

Phoenix77:


I did mine Dec 20th 2017 so its still very recent and it went through...so maybe it has changed i dont know. Trust me...getting a domiciliary acct is very easy...but getting the dollars to fund it is the hard part...cos the banks wont sell or change for u..they tell u to source for it outside....and going to buy from all these bur-dechange is additional cost....
Attached a screenshot of my debit alert...hope it helps

deept:


ask your partner in the abroad to pay on your behalf.

Phoenix77:


I used my naija debit cards...but i had to use 2 diff ones cos once u charge d first one u wont be able to charge the second one cos of the huge amount..i was unable to charge the main fees on mine after paying the IHS...so i simply used another debit card from a diff bank and it went through without a prob. Goodluck.

Aphrodite007:


I didn't use a nigerian card for the payments, but I think you can go to the bank and tell them to open your card for huge payments.

Aphrodite007:
Everyone that helped me including LexusGs430, Lamakinde, Minnienellie24, teejay231 and annoyingly, Justwise (lol,, don't mind me, I am too happy to have any beef with you).

where do I start from to thank you all for your input. Just picked up my passport and it was a big YES .. I'm just too happy right now!

Anyway this is my time line:

Standard application
Centre: Abuja
Application Submited: 1 December, 2017
Documents sent to Spouse: 2 December, 2017
Biometrics: 4 December, 2017
Application Received Mail: 5 December, 2017
Documents received email from UKVI: none
Documents delivered notice from Courier: 7 December, 2017
Decision made email: 27 February 2018
Application picked up: 27 February 2018 (Literally 10 mins after I got the mail )

I am having headache from the whole hyper ventilation and excitement. God is merciful!

phatbaby1:


I'll be settling in Brum, it's quite lovely. Good luck to you and I hope you will be receiving good news very soon.

phatbaby1:


Oh great! Personally, after reading a lot of different forums I went with screenshots and not the downloaded chat. I just felt that the downloaded chat could be easily edited compared to a screenshot. I chose one or two per month going back 3 years and I set the word page to landscape and arranged 3 pics per page. I ended up with around 50 pages. Now remember, it’s all about proving that our relationship was genuine over the time stated so I was trying to show where we started and milestones like bdays, valentines, planning our wedding. I believe every case is different and you might have your own way you want to prove. I supported the chat with screenshots showing Whatsapp voice and video calls on the call log. This doesn’t go back very far but I had remembered to start taking screen shots of that three months before the application. It was just to prove that we talk every day. Again this could all be unnecessary so go with your gut instinct of what you think proves your relationship.

Good luck and hopefully see u at Birmingham New Street station.

phatbaby1:
Hi guys our application has been successful!

Whoop! Whoop!

I’m going to be popping champagne tonight

Thanks to every single person and the veterans on this thread. If you’re ever in the Birmingham area, feel free to stop by for tea :-)

Standard application
Timeline:
TLS and Biometrics: 21 November 2017
Documents received email: 24 November 2017
Supporting docs sent to Sheffield: 4 December 2017
Decision made email: None
Decision made TLS update: 15 February 2018
Passport returned to center email: 15 February 2018
Passport returned to center update: 15 February
Application picked up: 16 February

mzapplication:
Lexus G, Justwise,

Please see email that I received today: 12 weeks on the dot

The UK Decision Making Centre is currently assessing the application submitted by the above named. We are unable to conclude the application at this time.

From the evidence submitted it would seem that your sponsor is currently in the UK on a Tier 2 visa and has limited leave to remain. Given this you do not qualify for settlement.

Given this it is recommended that you withdraw your settlement application and that of your 2 children and re-apply for a Tier 2 dependent visas for all 3 of you.

Please check the www.gov.uk webiste for full details of how to apply.

I am very confused and don't understand the mail. I have gone back to check to see where (or if) I made a mistake in selecting the visa type.

Is it not a settlement visa? I was going to call them but want to take some time to do my research, possibly speak to am immigration lawyer.

And the fees! Have I lost over 5k pounds just like this?

CAT22:
Yayyyy finally I got a BIG YES
Thanks to almighty God, Oga lexusg430 and everyone here on this group that contributed one way or the other in answering my endless questions. You guys are the most valuable personality.

Type of application- Settlement wife (Standard)
Online application- 22/10/2017
Biometrics- 1/11/2017
Application received by UKVI- 6/11/2017
Support docs sent to Sheffield- 13/11/2017
Decision made email- None
Collection email- 26/01/2018
Passport collected- 26/01/2018
Visa approved from 31/01/2018.
This whole process is designed to frustrate and make you give up. Don’t you ever give up. There’s light at the end of the tunnel if you read your handouts well here on this page.

Good luck to those waiting.
Never ever give up.
Abeg before I forget, who am I dropping the offering with. Lol

Lexusgs430:


Apart from appealing, I think you need to escalate to anyone higher.
Possibly a letter to the home office, home office minister etc etc etc (copy all the copyables) (if such a word exists).....

Your case can be deemed as gross misconduct and negligence, on their part. Express your anger in the letter how incompetent the case worker was (you might get your appeal expedited and possibly small compensation).....

Teeaas:


Well a lot of people doubt when I say this. Also like I said before, let just pray that a stupid ECO does not handle ones case. I included the original. I had called Naric while I'm the uk and they told me o didn't need to further access my certificate.it was a very painful one. The Eco just did rubbish.

thatjoygirl:
Hello,

I came across this thread when researching the UK settlement visa process and it was my companion for the 3 months of waiting. I just had to create an account to share my timeline.

Type of application: Settlement – wife (Non Priority)
Application Submitted: 16 October, 2017
Biometrics: 20 October, 2017
Application received by UKVI: 23 October, 2017
Supporting documents sent to Sheffield: 1 November, 2017
Call to UKVI: 12 January, 2018. Informed that a decision was made on 10 January, 2018
Decision made email: None
Collection email: 15 January, 2018
Picked up: 15 January, 2018
Visa approved from 17 January, 2018

Good luck to all waiting!

Teeaas:
Please guys I need to know. I applied for settlement visa in November 2017 and was denied in December 2017 for not meeting English Lan gauge requirement even though I have a masters from a uk university. I has paid for priority. I reapplied paying priority again. Now my question is, will they treat the second application as priority or not because I was denied at the first application. Thanks.