Visa Process Timeline
Stage #1: Spouse Visa (also known as Family Visa) this is the visa that gives you Entry Clearance to enter the UK for 33 months
- June 7, 2016: The first supporting documents I added: conversation logs and photos
- July 20, 2016: Received new passport with married name
- September 23, 2016: Received all supporting documents
- October 6, 2016: Filled out application and paid applicable fees (used Priority Service)
- October 11, 2016: Attended biometrics appointment
- October 14, 2016: Sent out the application and supporting documents
- October 17, 2016: Application arrived in Sheffield
- October 24, 2016: Got the email declaring a decision has been made
- October 27, 2016: UK Spouse Visa received
- November 22, 2016: Arrived in the UK (no hassle at the border 👍)
- November 23, 2016: Picked up my Biometrics Residence Permit card
Total visa cost: Roughly $3,300 (about £2,500)
- This includes the $835 Priority shipping, the £600 (about $767) NHS surcharge, and the $1,625 visa application fee.
- The cost may vary for you. Priority shipping is optional. You can choose to opt out of Priority service and save $800, however, you may be waiting for a long time for a response on your visa application (120 days is usually the max, but I have read that visa applications may take longer nowadays due to high demand)
- Needless to say, this broke the bank
Stage #2: Visa extension (Also known as Leave to Remain). Citizenship cannot be obtained just yet. Lasts 30 months.
- June 12, 2019: Submitted the online application. (I chose standard processing this time)
- June 28, 2019: Biometrics appointment in Birmingham's Sopra Steria site.
- August 10, 2019: Received a letter (dated August 7) saying I got the visa.
- August 12, 2019: Received my BRP by post.
Total visa cost: £2,187
- This includes the £1052 application fee, the £1000 NHS surcharge, and the $135 Biometric appointment fee. (to which the appointment itself was £100 and the document checking was £35) The document checking is an optional service which enables you to upload your documents at home. This cuts off a good amount of time you spend at the appointment. Biometric appointments vary in price from free, to £100, to even over £200.
- Due to the standard 8 week processing time, my spouse visa BRP expired. But I was granted a grace period due to Section 3C of the Immigration Act, which prevents me from becoming an overstayer if I made an in-time application. I applied June 12, and my BRP expired July 26.
- This didn't break the bank, as we thankfully had a savings account with all of this in.
Stage #3: Indefinite Leave to Remain. This is the visa that allows me to stay here indefinitely. (This is still not citizenship; that's an optional service. With an Indefinite Leave to Remain, I cannot get a passport or vote)
- November 10, 2021: Took my Life in the UK Test in Birmingham. Passed with flying colours.
- November 19, 2021: Submitted the online application. (I chose standard processing, despite the 6 month wait)
- November 25, 2021: Biometrics appointment in Birmingham New Street’s Sopra Steria site.
- March 22, 2022: Received an email stating that my visa application was successful.
- March 30, 2022: Received my BRP.
Total visa cost: £2,583.20
- This includes the £2,408 application fee, the £50 Life in the UK Test, and the $125 Biometric appointment fee. Biometric appointments vary in price from free, to £100, to even over £200.
- Due to the standard 6 month processing time, my Further Leave to Remain expired. But I was granted a grace period due to Section 3C of the Immigration Act, which prevents me from becoming an overstayer if I made an in-time application. I applied November 19th, and my BRP expired March 7th.
- This didn't break the bank, but after COVID-19, we did find ourselves treading deep waters.
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