Waiting time for the process of entry clearance application outside the UK

If you apply from outside the UK, or overseas, your waiting time starts once you’ve submitted your application online, either on the date, you attend your biometric appointment or verify your identity using by IDV app.

• Standard Visitor (holidays or family or friends visit; business trip or get married) - Usually it takes about 3 weeks to apply for standard service, but it currently takes about 6 weeks and may vary depending on the country you are in.

• The study, Work, or Business (including dependents of the main applicants) and returning resident and ancestry - it is announced that they can get a decision within 3 weeks, but it may take more than 3 months.  

• Family (partner/parent/child) visa - Usually you can get a decision within 12 weeks, but it may take up to 6 months.

• EEA Family Permit or EUSS - you will get a decision as soon as possible after providing your identity and providing your documents.

Waiting time for the process of further to remain application inside the UK

The calculation of the amount of time to wait after applying for a visa in the UK is started from the time the application is submitted online, not when biometric information is registered.

• It takes more than 8 weeks to switch or extend to study, employment, health workers visas, and business workers in the UK.

• Family (partner/parent/child) visa – usually you can get a decision within 8 weeks, but it may take up to 6 months.

• Currently, there is no standard processing time if you are applying for permission to stay under the Private Life route. The average waiting time for a decision is currently 8 months.

• Settlement applications – Settlement applications are normally received to a decision within 6 months, but the processing time may vary depending on the application.

Waiting time for priority service application

The priority service for entry clearance applications from overseas has been suspended.

In the UK, priority services will be offered at the point of payment, if currently available on your visa route. However, even if you have applied for priority service, it may be delayed if the Home office thinks the application is not straightforward or more information is required before a decision is made.

For example, if your supporting documents need to be verified, if you need to attend an interview or if you have a criminal conviction, the processing time will take longer. To avoid delays, it is important to provide well–presented and adequately documented applications.  

The legal status during the visa process

If you applied from within the UK before your last leave expired, then you will be able to stay in the UK until you receive a decision from the Home Office even if a decision is delayed.

Travel outside the UK during the processing period

If you have submitted a visa application from within the UK, the general rule is that you must not travel outside the UK while waiting for an immigration decision. If you leave the UK, your immigration application will be treated as withdrawn and you will not be able to request a refund of your application fee. 

You may travel outside of the UK if you have submitted a naturalisation application or have applied for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Challenge the delay in deciding on visa applications

If you have not received an update from UKVI due to a delay in your visa application, you can contact them directly (by phone or in writing) to request an update. If you have paid the priority service application fee and no decision has been made within the standard processing time, you may also be able to request a refund for the priority service fee. At this time, make sure that you have no intention to withdraw your visa application.

You may also consider a formal written complaint to UKVI. The complaint process can take up to 20 working days. 

You may also consider contacting your local MP.

If there is still no response, you may consider judicial review processing as a way to ask a judge to review the failure of the UK to act and make a decision. However, it is legally complex, costly and time-consuming.