Anxiety and stress are 2 words that spring to mind while waiting for the decision on a visa application. Here are some tips that may help to get a faster decision on a pending visa application.
Overseas applications:
For applications submitted outside the UK, you can use the Home Office’s Visa processing times (https://visa-processingtimes.homeoffice.gov.uk/) to find out the time range for processing applications in your country.
After selecting the country where you have submitted your application from and your application type, it will provide you with the time range for processing the application. For example, if you are a Turkish national and applied for a spouse visa, the time range will be from 15 – 60 days. So, from the time that your application passes the minimum processing time until it reaches the maximum time (in this case from 15-60 days), you can contact UK Visa and Immigration either via telephone number 00 44 203 481 1736 (calls cost £1.37 per minute on top of your standard network charges) or by emailing UK Visas and Immigration (cost £5.48) to chase the outcome of your application.
If your application exceeds the maximum waiting time (in this case 60 days), you can send a letter before action (also known as a Pre-Action Protocol letter) to the Litigation Department at the Home Office and to the Sheffield team giving them a time limit to respond (usually 28 days but sometimes it could be less depending on your circumstances) along with supporting documents (if available).
If no decision or response is received from the Home Office, you have then 2 options:
• Either to send the Home Office another Pre-Action Protocol letter with a new deadline; or
• Apply for Judicial Review (this is a form of court proceeding in which the judge reviews the lawfulness of action, or a failure to act, by a public body exercising a public function).
UK applications:
The UK visa processing time begins when the Home Office receives your completed application form, with your passport and supporting documents, your Biometrics registration and the relevant application fee. It ends after a decision has been taken on your application and your passport is available for collection.
The normal waiting time for applications submitted in the UK is 2-6 months. After 2 months have passed from the date that your application was submitted to the Home Office, you can send letters to the Home Office chasing the decision.
If your application exceeds the 6 months and you have still not received any response/decision, a Pre-Action Protocol letter can be sent to the Litigation Department at the Home Office with a time limit to respond (28 days or less) along with supporting documents (if available).
If no decision or response is received from the Home Office, you have then 2 options:
• Either to send the Home Office another Pre-Action Protocol letter with a new deadline; or
• Apply for Judicial Review.
We will be happy to get involved on your behalf.
Nadia Bazzaz
