How Long for My Immigration Application to Be Decided?

This is one of the most common questions our Immigration team are asked.

The Home Office has standard processing times for most visa applications. These vary depending on the type of application being made.

Which visa applications do not have standard processing times?

• Applications made in the UK in the 10 year route to settlement or as a parent
• Windrush applications.

When does the application waiting time start?

As part of the visa application process once an Applicant submits their application they must enrol their biometric information, that is provide their fingerprints and a photograph, and supporting documents.

Applicants must either:

• Attend a visa appointment to provide their fingerprints and photograph
• Verify their ID using the UK Immigration ID Check App if this is available for their type of application.

The type of application being made, and for some categories also the nationality of the applicant, will determine which options the Applicant needs to use. They will receive confirmation of this after their application has been submitted.

The standard processing time will start from either the date the Applicant attends their face to face appointment or verifies their ID on the App.

Example: An Applicant submits their application online on 1 October 2022. They attend a face to face visa appointment  on 15 October 2022. The standard processing time will start on 15 October 2022, so after the appointment.

What are the current processing times?

The Home Office provide information about how long it should take for your visa application to be decided on their website. Here is the link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/visa-processing-times

The Home Office have revised their information about standard processing times for certain applications since March 2022 saying they have been prioritising Ukraine visa applications.

The longer standard processing times are still affecting applications made outside the UK in the following routes:

Spouse, Fiancée Unmarried Partner and Child Entry Clearance applications

The Home Office have increased the standard processing time from 12 to 24 weeks.

Visit visas

The Home Office have  increased the standard processing time from 3  to on average 7 weeks.

Work visas

The Home Office have  increased the standard processing time from 3 to on average 4 weeks.

What are the Priority and Super Priority services?

Where available, Applicants have the option to choose a Priority and/or Super Priority service to enable them to receive a quicker decision by paying an additional charge on top of the visa fee.

Applicants purchase these services at the point when they submit their visa application online, subject to the availability of Priority or Super Priority slots at the time of submission. The services can be purchased later for some applications made outside the UK at the point of booking a visa application.

Priority and Super Priority services were suspended in March 2022 because the Home Office were prioritising Ukraine visa applications. Most have now been re-introduced. However Priority services remain suspended for all new family visa applications made from outside the UK. There is also a reduction in the availability of the Priority service for visit visas.

There are different priority services available for different visa applications and depending on whether these are made outside or in the UK.

Applications made in the UK

Priority service

Available for work and business applications.

Applicants receive their decision 5 working days after their visa appointment or the date they verify their ID via the App. The additional charge is £500 to use this service.

Super Priority service

Available for most types of applications except Nationality.

Applicants will receive their decision by the end of the next working day if their visa appointment is on a weekday or 2 working days after if it is on a weekend. The additional charge is £800 to use this service.

Applications made outside the UK

Not all visa application centres offer faster decisions so Applicants need to check the availability where they are applying first.

Priority service – non-settlement

Available for work, business, student and visit visa applications.

Applicants will receive their decision within 5 working days. The additional charge is £220 to use this service.

Priority service – settlement  – currently suspended

For family settlement applications.

Applicants will receive their decision within 6 weeks.  The additional charge is £573 to use this service.

Will using a Priority or Super Priority service increase the chances of my Application being successful?

Using the Priority or Super Priority service will not increase the chances of your application being successful. The only benefit of both the services is that you will receive your decision faster.

The Home Office may decide that an application is not suitable for consideration using the Priority and Super Priory services, for example because the Applicant has been a refused a visa previously or there are other complex issues raised. If so, they will notify the Applicant and should return the additional fee paid.

Contact Us

Call our friendly, experienced personal immigration solicitors on 0191 232 9547  contact us using this form or email the team Immigration.Enquiries@davidgray.co.uk so we can guide you and advise you through this complex and ever changing process.