UK Visa Processing Times (Latest from UKVI)

  • Anne Morris
  • 26 February 2024

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IN THIS SECTION

The length of time it takes for your application to be processed can be an important factor in deciding when to apply and when to make travel arrangements. But UK visa processing times vary considerably, depending on factors such as the type of visa being applied for, the country or Embassy where the application is made and the applicant’s own individual circumstances and eligibility.

Visa applicants are advised to take guidance on the current processing timescales for their specific type of application.

UK visa processing times

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the Home Office department responsible for the UK’s visa system.

The processing date is typically counted from when the applicant has attended their visa appointment and submitted their biometric information, or as soon as ID checks have been completed and the application is submitted using UKVI’s visa processing app.

Processing times for in-country applications are as follows (correct as at the date of publishing):

Priority & fast-track services

Priority service and super priority services for applications being made from outside the UK are available for work, business and family visa routes.

Where available, priority processing allows applicants for certain work and settlement routes such as the Skilled Worker visa to pay an additional fee for fast-tracked processing. Priority processing provides a decision within 5 working days, while super-priority is for a decision by the end of the next working day

Priority processing is only available to certain applicants, notably those proving their identity by attending an appointment at a UKVCAS centre or those using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app . If available to you, you will be notified when making your application and given the option to purchase faster processing.

The fees for priority and super-priority processing are as follows:

Priority processing times for Certificate of Sponsorship requests & Changes of Circumstances

Priority processing remains available to A’ rated sponsors for fast-tracked CoS allocation and other Change of Circumstances requests, for a fee of £200 per application. The priority requests are generally processed within 5 working days.

What is the difference between UKVCAS and Home Office processing?

One factor that may affect the UK visa processing time is whether the application has to be made through UKVCAS .

UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) was introduced in November 2018 to handle certain UK visa, settlement and citizenship applications made be applicants already in the UK.

You will be advised when making your application if you must go through UKVCAS in order for your application to be processed.

How might the time of year and other factors affect your UK visa processing time?

There are other factors that may affect the processing time of your UK visa application. These include:

Caseload Summer is generally the busiest time for UKVI, and other factors such as Home Office priorities may impact processing.

Where you apply from The country that you apply for your UK visa from may affect the processing time for several reasons, including the relationship and arrangements between the UK and your country, the administrative systems within each country, current conditions within either country, endorsing documents from your country or finding their equivalent in the UK, whether that country is part of the EEA and so on.

It is always advised to check with the UK embassy or consulate in your country for any such issues that could lead to visa processing delays.

Insufficient or incorrect information If your application includes incorrect information or the documentation you supply is insufficient, the processing time may be longer than expected if UKVI suspend processing to request further information from you in order to make a decision.

The best way to avoid this is to check your application thoroughly and ensure that you have all the necessary documentation to hand before you apply.

What are the different types of UK visa applications?

The type of UK visa that you apply for will be the main deciding factor in how long it takes to process your UK visa application. The UK visa that you choose will depend on your reason for visiting the UK and how long you wish to stay.

Work in the UK

There are many types of short-term and long-term work visas including:

  • Skilled worker visa
  • Temporary worker visas
  • Global Business Mobility visas
  • Domestic workers in a private household visas
  • Sportsperson visa
  • Graduate route
  • High Potential Individual visa
  • Global Talent visa
  • Scale up visa
  • Innovator Founder visa

Each type of visa will carry its own eligibility, conditions and application requirements.

The Skilled Worker visa , for instance, is open to non-UK residents with a job offer from a licensed sponsor for skilled employment in the UK.

The processing time for the Skilled Worker visa is generally no longer than 3 weeks once the applicant has attended their appointment.

Holiday, family visit or business trip

The Standard Visitor visa is generally suitable for tourism, holidays, visiting and to receive short-term medical treatment. It replaces:

  • Business visitor and prospective entrepreneur visas
  • Family visitor visa
  • Child visitor visa
  • Sports and entertainer visitor visas
  • Private medical treatment visitor visa
  • Approved destination status visa
  • General visitor visa

Under the standard visitor visa, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

Your application for a Standard Visitor visa should be made no earlier than 3 months before you intend to enter the UK, and it will generally take no more than 3 weeks for the visa application to be processed and a decision made after your appointment.

Under current processing times, visitor visa applications from outside the UK are taking six weeks instead of the usual three.

Studying in the UK

Should you wish to study in the UK, there are 3 visas available for this purpose, depending on your individual situation:

  • A short-term study visa is suitable for a 6 month stay in the UK to attend a course. For students over 16 who wish to attend an English language course, it may be possible to use a Short-term study visa for a stay of up to 11 months.
  • A general study visa is suitable for a longer course of study in the UK as long as the student has a confirmed place on a course and is sponsored by a licensed university or college.
  • 4 to 17 years old wishing to study at an independent school should apply for a child student visa .

Apply for the appropriate student visa no earlier than 3 months before you intend to enter the UK. Once you have attended your appointment, it will generally take no more than 3 weeks to receive a decision.

Entrepreneurs & investors

The primary route for people coming to the UK to set up or run a business is the Innovator Founder visa.  While no up-front investment is required under this route, there are many eligibility criteria that will need to be satisfied by both the applicant and the business. Endorsement will also be required before the visa application can be made.

Processing for business visas can take longer than other categories due to the complexity of the application documentation and evidence. Again, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Joining family in the UK

The Family visa will generally allow you to join certain family members who already live in the UK if you wish to remain in the country for more than 6 months, such as spouses. You may also consider a dependant visa .

If the visa application is made from outside the UK, the processing time will generally take up to 24 weeks.

To get married in the UK

If you intend to visit the UK to get married, you should generally apply for a Marriage Visitor visa . This visa is also suitable for civil partnership ceremonies in the UK.

This visa doesn’t allow you to remain or settle in the UK after the marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

Processing, once an appointment has been attended, should ordinarily take no more than 3 weeks.

Travelling through the UK

There are two types of Transit visa . If you will be passing through UK border control and staying in the UK no more than 48 hours, then you should apply for a Visitor in Transit visa. If you will not pass through UK border control, then you should apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa.

If you will be staying in the UK for longer than 48 hours, it will be necessary to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

Need assistance?

At DavidsonMorris we have the experience to advise you on the most appropriate UK visa for your circumstances and have the insight to make the process as smooth as possible.

As a team of immigration lawyers and former Home Office employees, we have an established reputation for effective and efficient management and processing of visa applications, and for providing expert visa-related advice to suit your needs. Contact us for advice.

Last updated: 26 February 2024

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UK Visa Waiting Times

Nov 2023 Update – Most application have now returned to their typical service standard timeframe. Visit, study, work visas are typically 3 weeks where as Family applications are 24 weeks more than double the time compared to last year. You can expedite your application if you need to be in the UK faster however you would need to meet the criteria for this. Reasons for waiting longer for your family visa
  • the information in your application is not accurate or requires further consideration
  • your supporting documents need to be verified
  • you need to attend an interview
  • further information is required on your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
  • UKVI is experiencing increased visa demand
June 2023 Update – Applications made outside the UK for Visit, Points Based System and temporary worker visas are currently 3 weeks. Family visas are currently 24 weeks. April 2023 – There are currently delays in processing times for family reunion with a refugee or person with humanitarian protection. Contact the UKVI if you have not received any communication after 9 months. For visitor visa applications, there is a reduction in the availability of the priority visa service Feb 2023 – There are currently delays in processing times and your application may take longer than usual. For visitor visa applications, there is a reduction in the availability of the priority visa service
December 2022 Additional Update: Visit visas, including standard visitor visa applications, are currently taking on average 5 weeks to process, however some applications might take longer. We are working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard. Priority and super priority visa services have been temporarily suspended for new family visa applicatio ns. For visitor visa applications, there is a reduction in the availability of the priority visa service. October 2022 Additional Update: Visit Visas are currently taking on average 7 weeks to process. The UKVI is working towards the 3-week service standard. October 2022 Update:  Visit Visas are currently taking on average 7 weeks to process, however some applications might take longer depending on their complex nature. The UKVI is working towards the 3-week service standard. Most work and investor visas, including skilled worker visa applications, are currently taking on average 4 weeks to process. The UKVI are working towards their three-week service standard. June 2022 Update: Skilled Worker Visa applications are currently on average taking 6 weeks to process although the Home Office are working hard to process applications in order to get back to the three-week service standard. May 2022 Update: UKVI is prioritising Ukraine Visa Scheme applications. It may take up to 24 weeks to receive a decision for people applying to join family in the UK. April 2022 Update: Priority and super priority visa services have been temporarily suspended for new study, work and family visa applications made outside the UK to j oin family in the UK.  Standard visitor visa applications are currently taking on average 6 weeks to process. The UKVI are working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard. March Update: Due to Exceptional Circumstances, UK Visa applications may take longer to consider. There are a significant number of applications being processed at the moment due to an international effort to support the security of those fleeing conflict. Priority Services have also been disrupted, therefore consider whether it is worth using this service abroad.  

UK Visa Waiting Times (Pre-Humanitarian crisis)

One of the most common questions applicants have with regard to their visas is how long they will have to wait for a decision.

Ukraine Visa applications

Under the Ukraine Visa schemes available for those who are applying to join family in the UK and those who are applying under the ‘Ukraine for Homes’ the current waiting time is 7 days. Due to a significant number of applications being submitted the processing times may be extended. The home office resources are being reassigned to tackle high volumes of applications.

Applications made outside of the UK

If you are applying from outside of the UK then your application’s waiting time starts, once you’ve submitted your application online, either from the time that you attend your biometric appointment or verified your identity using the IDV App.  The waiting time also depends on the visa you have applied for.  See below.

Visit visa ( for a holiday or to see family or friends; for a business trip or meeting; to get married) – You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. You may be able to get your visa faster or other services depending on what country you’re in.  See priority services section below

Study in the UK/Work or invest in the UK (this also includes dependants of the main applicant) plus returning resident and ancestry – You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks

Join family in the UK (partner/parent/child) incl. dependants applying at the same time – You should get a decision within 12 weeks

EEA family permit or an EUSS family permit you will get a decision as soon as possible after proving your identity and providing your documents.

Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK

The waiting time starts, not when you have submitted your biometrics, rather as soon as you’ve submitted (paid) your application online.

For the visas outlined above which typically take 3 weeks consideration time outside of the UK – Switching or making extensions – 8 weeks other than applications to switch to a Start-up visa or extend a Health and Care Worker visa, both of which take 3 weeks

Family-based visas – Applications for leave to remain take 8 weeks

If you’re currently applying on the basis of your private life as you are unable to meet the requirements there are no standard processing times.  The average wait time for a decision is currently 8 months although The Home Office state that they are endeavoring to reduce this waiting time.

Applying for settlement – All standard route applications for ILR (settlement) normally receive a decision within 6 months, although this is often shorter and very occasionally longer (see when you might wait longer section below)

Priority services – pay a premium (check go.uk website for current visa fees) for a faster decision (where available)

Collection within 5 working days (priority service); next working day (super-priority).  These will be offered at point of payment, if currently available for your location and/or route.

When you might wait longer

You might wait longer for a decision if your application is not straightforward and 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; your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction).  These holdups can often be avoided by submitting a well-presented and more than adequately documented application.

If, you applied for a priority or super priority visa and your application is not straightforward, you may have to wait longer.  It is therefore advisable that, should you feel your application is not straightforward or has not been accompanied by ample supporting evidence, then perhaps it be best not to pay a premium for a faster decision.

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How to Chase a Delayed UK Visa Application

We regularly receive telephone calls and emails from people experiencing delays by the Home Office processing their visa and immigration applications.

It is deeply frustrating when the Home Office takes longer than stated on its website to process a visa or immigration application, especially when there are already significant delays in processing times due to the war in Ukraine.

Delays in Home Office processing times for UK visa and immigration applications can ruin travel plans, prolong uncertainty, and cause hardship by preventing applicants from working in the UK or spending time with loved ones.

This article sets out some of the common causes of delays and the ways in which you can chase the Home Office for a fast-track decision if you are experiencing delays in the processing of your UK visa or immigration application.

Is My UK Visa Application Definitely Delayed?

The Home Office publishes estimated waiting times for decisions on applications submitted inside and outside the UK on its website. It also publishes its Service Standards online.  For an up-to-date summary of current UK visa processing and decision-waiting times please visit our post: UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times .

Processing times have recently been affected by COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. For example, partner visa applications from outside the UK, which usually take 12 weeks to process, are currently taking up to 24 weeks to process from the date of biometric enrolment at a visa application centre.

Our recent post sets out the processing times of standard service applications for different kinds of applications.

The Home Office website indicates that, for applications made from inside the UK, the “ waiting time starts once you’ve submitted your application online and ends when you get a letter or an email with a decision .” The exception is Graduate Immigration Route applications, where the waiting time starts when you attend your appointment at a service centre or you submit your documents using the ID Check app.

For applications made from outside the UK, the waiting time starts when you “ attend your appointment and provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a visa application centre ” or you “ verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. This will depend on the visa you apply for and you’ll be advised if you can use this .” The waiting time ends “ when you get an email containing the decision on your application. ”

Before submitting an immigration application, you should factor in additional time for the Home Office to issue and send you a BRP if this applies to your application. This is usually within 10 working days of the decision.

Why Has There Been a Delay in Processing My UK Visa or Immigration Application?

If you have not heard back from the Home Office and the published waiting time has elapsed, you should investigate the possible causes for the delay.

The Home Office website indicates that in order for applications to be processed within the service standards, applicants should ensure:

  • your application is made before your current visa expires
  • your application is completed accurately
  • you include any required photographs
  • you provide evidence of funds to maintain yourself if required on the application form and guidance
  • you enrol your biometric information and respond to any requests for further information by the dates we ask you
  • when you attend your appointment at our commercial partner or Service and Support Centre, you submit the required documents with your application
  • if your application is made on a paper form
  • it is signed and dated and made on the correct form, submitting the required documents
  • you have included the payment and any cheque is signed and dated for the full fee

The Home Office’s guidance indicates that straightforward applications that meet these requirements should be handled within the standard processing time. 

In the event of a problem with your application or the application being particularly complex, the Home Office “ will write to explain why it will not be decided within the normal standard. We will write within the normal processing time for the 8 week standard and within 12 weeks for the 6 month standard. The letter will explain what will happen next.”

Possible reasons why your case might take longer than the standard processing time to decide are that:

  • The Home Office wishes to interview you about your application;
  • The Home Office needs further information from you;
  • The Home Office is conducting external checks relating to your application (for example, with other government departments);
  • The Home Office is processing a higher than usual volume of applications (e.g., just before seasonal holidays or sporting fixtures);

The Home Office’s Service Standards only apply to ‘complete’ applications: “ If your application is incomplete at the time you complete your appointment the caseworker will consider whether the case should be excluded from the service standard. ”

How to Chase a Delayed UK Visa or Immigration Decision in 6 Steps

Step 1: contact uk visas and immigration for assistance.

If you are experiencing delays in processing your application and have not been contacted by the Home Office, the next step is to contact UK Visas and Immigration and ask for an update on the progress of your application. You will find the relevant contact details for the Home Office here .

UK Visas and Immigration should be able to advise you on why there has been a delay in processing your application and if there are any steps you should take to expedite the application. 

It is advisable to keep a record of all calls and emails you have made to the Home Office regarding your application, including who you spoke to, when the call was made, and what information was given. The Home Office may provide you with ‘ticket’ numbers in email correspondence, which you should hold onto. You will need a record of these steps being taken in order to take further action to chase your immigration decision.

In calls and correspondence with the Home Office, you should refer to your Home Office reference number(s) and/or visa application number(s). These numbers can be found in correspondence with the Home Office and your downloaded application form(s). You should also mention when your application was submitted, when your biometrics were enrolled, and the published processing time on the Home Office website at the date of submission. You should also explain how the delay is impacting you and your family, for example, if it is affecting an employment offer or is separating you from loved ones. 

It is advisable to ask for the matter to be escalated or fast-tracked as a matter of priority, and for the Home Office to refund you for the priority or super-priority service fee if you paid for this.

Step 2: Complain About UK Visas and Immigration

If contacting the Home Office does not avail you, the next step is to submit a complaint to UK Visas and Immigration using their online form . It is alternatively possible to write a letter to the complaints allocation hub or to email [email protected]

When using UKVI’s internal complaint procedure, you will need to provide the following information:

  • your contact details – it is important you include your address and phone number as we may contact you to resolve your complaint by phone or to request further information
  • the names of the applicant/original complainant if you’re completing this on behalf of someone else – we must have written authority to disclose information about another person’s case
  • full details of the matter you’re complaining about, including times, dates and locations
  • the names or identifying numbers of any staff you’ve dealt with
  • details of any witnesses to the incident, if appropriate
  • details of any reimbursement issues including papers and receipts to support your claim
  • your Home Office reference details, and any other references that will help us to investigate your complaint, for example refund reference, appeal reference, UAN (unique application number), IHS reference and any payment references.
  • if your complaint is in relation to our contact centre we will need to know the date you called, the number you dialled and the number you called us from

The Home Office website warns that it can take up to 20 days to receive a response to a complaint about waiting for a decision on an immigration application. Where a complaint suggests serious professional misconduct, it can take up to 12 weeks – UKVI should write to you to explain this.

You should include all details of previous communications with the Home Office, your reference numbers, your full name, your date of birth and all other relevant information in your complaint.

The complaints procedure for UK Visas and Immigration is set out on the government website . It indicates that complaints should be made “ no later than 3 months after the date of the incident unless there are exceptional circumstances .”

The UKVI website states that it will “ only respond to enquiries that are considered as complaints. ” UKVI will “ not respond to progress enquiries if you used our online complaints form. ”

Step 3: Contact Your Local MP

If you have still not heard from the Home Office from the above steps, many of our clients have successfully asked their MPs to intervene on their behalf . The Parliament website indicates that you should contact your MP “ [i]f you feel you have been treated unfairly by a Government office or agency ”.

Writing a letter to your MP at the House of Commons, London SW1A OAA or emailing them using the Directory of MPs is the easiest way as you can ensure that you provide them with all of the information to your complaint, including details of the steps you have taken above.

Step 4: Complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

If your MP’s letter to the Home Office is unsuccessful, you may wish to ask your MP to refer your complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman . This service is free, but it can only be done if you have already utilised UKVI’s complaints procedure as set out above: “ As we are the final stage for unresolved complaints, we usually expect you to complain to the organisation you are unhappy with first. This is so that it has the chance to look into your concerns and, where needed, put things right for you. ” You must have made a formal complaint to the Home Office and waited 20 days before your MP can contact the Ombudsman for you.

As a matter of law, the Ombudsman may only investigate complaints about UK government departments if an MP refers the complaint to them. You may complete the complaint form on their behalf and ask your MP to sign and send it.

Step 5: Pre-Action Protocol Letter

If you have completed all of the above steps, you may consider seeking advice about taking legal action against the Home Office. As a matter of law, you are only able to take legal action against the Home Office as a last resort. 

The first legal step is filing a pre-action protocol letter (PAP) on the Home Office.

Our immigration barristers will be able to advise you on whether there are merits in following the PAP process. You would need to show that the Home Office has unreasonably failed to act in relation to the exercise of its public function resulting in disadvantage such as losing a job or harm to your health. This is only likely to be appropriate where there have been delays resulting in significant harm to you, for example, loss of a job offer or being unable to spend time with sick family members. It would be important to have evidence of the steps you have already taken to obtain a decision, including evidence of prior communications with the Home Office.

If the Home Office does not respond within 14 days of receiving the PAP, you will be able to lodge a judicial review with the High Court.

Step 6: Judicial Review

Judicial review is a matter of last resort. It is a costly, complex and time-consuming process that involves challenging the Home Office’s delay before a judge. Before commencing JR proceedings, it is advisable to obtain legal advice on the merits of doing so.

Will the Home Office Compensate Me for the Delay in Deciding My Application?

Please note, pursuing the Home Office for compensation is not something we are able to assist with. The following information is provided for information only.

Following a complaint that seeks financial redress, the Home Office sometimes makes ex-gratia payments where “ the customer has suffered actual financial loss or non-financial loss that is sufficiently compelling to warrant financial redress.” UKVI only makes ex-gratia payments to customers “ as a redress for maladministration. ” 

Maladministration is “ lack of care, judgement or honesty in the management of something ”. Examples include the Home Office losing/defacing/invalidating documents or taking incorrect action such as endorsing a passport with the wrong conditions.

The Home Office guidance is clear that delays are not generally classed as maladministration: “ Delays that have occurred due to operational constraints and limited resources, i.e. where a backlog of cases have occurred, are not classed as maladministration by Immigration Enforcement, Border Force or UK Visas & Immigration directorates. ”

The guidance states that only in “ exceptional circumstances ” will financial redress be appropriate: 

“ Forms of redress such as an apology or remedial action may be called for when the complaint is about delay. Financial redress would only be appropriate in exceptional circumstances where the delay has also had a financial impact. Examples can include failure to take action on repeated requests from applicants regarding the return of a passport which then leads to financial loss, or a decision being made on an application and failing to serve that decision which then leads to financial losses, such as loss of access to benefits or being unable to take up a proven offer of employment or employment being terminated. Whether a delay should be considered as “reasonable” will be dependent on the circumstances and decision makers will take a case by case approach.”

Home Office maladministration cases should be pursued through the Ombudsman (see steps above).

Following certain judicial review proceedings, it is possible for courts to award damages in cases where the Home Office has been negligent in performing its common law duty of care causing the appellant loss for which they should be compensated in damages. This has been found to be the case where an applicant experienced a delay of several years in receiving his BRP. However, any financial remedy will be compensatory in nature and there is no guarantee that the cost of legal representation will be covered.

Contact our Immigration Barristers

For expert advice and assistance in relation to a UK visa application or immigration appeal, contact our immigration barristers on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.

SEE HOW OUR IMMIGRATION BARRISTERS CAN HELP YOU

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UK Visa Decision Waiting Times: Frequently Asked Questions

Nov 23, 2022 | Blogs - Immigration

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has published service standards for waiting times for decisions on visa and immigration applications.  UKVI also publishes up-to-date information on current processing times for visa and immigration applications submitted both within the UK and outside the UK.

In this post we take an in-depth look at UK visa processing times, including the Home Office service standards for waiting times, current Home Office visa processing times, options for securing a faster decision on a visa or immigration application and how to challenge a delay in the processing of a UK visa or immigration application.  We also answer some frequently asked questions relating to UKVI visa processing times and look at some of the factors to consider when timing an immigration application.

When Does the UK Visa Application Processing Time Start and End?

For UK visa applications submitted outside the UK, visa processing time will start from either the date you provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application centre or, if eligible, the date you verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. The waiting time will end on the date when you receive an email with a decision on your application.

For a UK immigration application submitted from within the UK, the waiting time will generally start from the date when you submit your application online.  An exception is made for Graduate Immigration Route applications, where the waiting time starts from the date when the applicant attends an appointment at a visa service centre or submits their documents using the UK Immigration ID Check app.  In all in-country cases the waiting time will end on the date when you receive either a letter or email with a decision.

The service standard does not include the time taken to issue you with your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). You will usually receive your BRP within 7 working days after a decision has been made on your application.  If you do not receive a BRP you can report it.

Will My Dependents’ Visas Be Processed Within the Same Time Frame?

Dependent visas should be processed within the same time frame as the main applicant’s visa and dependents should receive their decision at the same time. Dependent visas will not be issued before the main applicant has received their decision. Where a dependent applies after the main applicant has received a positive decision, this may shorten the time to receive an outcome.

Can I Get a Faster Decision on My UK Visa Application?

UK Visas & Immigration offers a ‘priority service’ and a ‘super priority service’ for applicants who, for an additional fee, wish to receive a faster decision on their UK visa application.  Selecting one of these premium services will ensure that an application is placed at the front of the queue at every stage of the decision-making process.

Eligible applicants who apply via the priority service should receive a decision within 5 working days of their appointment at the visa application centre (for overseas applicants) or within 5 working days of either the day of their appointment at a UKVCAS appointment centre or the working day after having finished uploading documents if using the UK Immigration: ID Check app (for in-country applicants).

Eligible applicants who apply via the super priority service should receive a decision by the end of the next working day after their appointment at the visa application centre (for overseas applicants) or their appointment at a UKVCAS appointment centre (for in-country applicants) or within 2 working days if the appointment is at the weekend.  In-country applicants cannot use the super-priority service if applying using the UK Immigration: ID Check App to confirm their identity.

However, the Home Office has announced that both priority and super priority visa services are currently temporarily suspended for new family visa applications submitted outside the UK whilst it prioritises Ukraine Visa Scheme applications.  This suspension has been in place since 14 March 2022. For work (except Innovator, Start-up and High Potential Individual), study and visitor visa applications, priority and super priority services are available in the majority of overseas locations on an appointment basis.  However, there is a reduction in the availability of the priority visa service for visit visa applications.

The priority and super priority services are currently both still available to applicants who are applying for leave to remain and settlement in eligible routes from within the UK.

Overseas applicants should check with their visa application centre to see if the priority visa service or super priority visa service is available in the country they are applying from for their application type.

Applicants applying from within the UK can check the eligible visa and settlement application tables to confirm whether the type of application they are making is eligible for either the priority 5 working day or super priority next working day service (note that there are separate tables for switching/extending applications and settlement applications).

Priority and super-priority services may not be appropriate for complex applications which cannot be processed expeditiously.  In these cases, your application will be put at the front of the queue at each decision-making stage, but a decision may exceed the priority and super-priority timescales.

These premium services should also be considered carefully when making extension applications or switching categories where there is a risk of refusal.  Specialist advice should be sought to ensure that complex applications are timed strategically and sensibly.

Can I Stay in the UK While Waiting for a Decision on My Immigration Application?

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.

Can I Travel Outside the UK While My In-Country Application Is Being Processed?

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.

What Can I Do if a Decision Is Not Made in Time or I Need an Urgent Decision?

If UKVI is not able to process your visa application in time, due to its complexity for example, you should receive a letter explaining the reasons and what will happen next. This letter should be received within the standard processing time.

If you do not receive an update from the Home Office, you can contact them directly (by phone, in writing or both) to request an update on your application status .

You may wish to consider providing evidence of how the delay is impacting you, for example if you do not have a right to work or study.  If there is an urgency or the standard processing time has passed it is possible to ask for the matter to be escalated as a priority.

If you paid for a priority or super-priority service and a decision has not been made within the standard processing time, then you may also be able to request a refund of the priority or super-priority service fee.

When making enquiries, always take care to make clear that you are not intending to withdraw your application.

Additionally, you may also consider making a formal written complaint to UKVI. The complaint process can take up to 20 working days.

You may also consider contacting your local MP.

Please note that UKVI has a discretion to treat incomplete applications, for example those that do not include all mandatory documents, outside of the standard service processing time.

How Can I Challenge Home Office Delay in Deciding My Application?

If there is still no response, then you may consider a further legal avenue of challenge.  There is no right of appeal when there is no decision, but you may consider judicial review proceedings as a way to ask a judge to review the failure of the Home Office to act and make a decision.

If this is a route you wish to consider then you will need to ensure that you have evidence of all stages of your attempts to obtain a decision.  Keeping a written record and details of any Home Office ‘ticket’ numbers you are provided is highly recommended.  The steps you have taken to obtain a decision and the reasons why one is required will be relevant considerations.

Before commencing proceedings you will need to follow a pre-action protocol process. This will give UKVI the opportunity to consider the position before you commence proceedings.

Judicial review proceedings can be legally complex, costly and time consuming.  You may wish to consider seeking legal advice before commencing any proceedings.

Contact our Immigration Solicitors

For expert advice and assistance regarding a UK visa application, contact our immigration solicitors on 020 8240 9018 or via the enquiry form on our website.

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Don’t Make Me Wait – UK Visa Processing Times

Author: Hannah Phelvin

Whether it’s backlog from the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of staffing or priority services taking precedence, delays seem to be an inevitable fact for most applications to UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI).  

To provide some clarity on how long a visa applicant can realistically be expected to wait for a decision, we’ve laid out the wait times provided by the Home Office and compared those with our actual experience. We conducted our research in May 2023, and obviously things can change, so check in with our team if you need updated advice.

We’ve divided visa types into 5 categories:  

  • Out of Country Applications: Visas
  • Out of country Applications: Route to Settlement Applications
  • In-country Applications: Temporary/Non-Settlement Applications
  • In-country Applications: Settlement Applications
  • Other Applications

  With this, we aim to make understanding wait times as simple as possible.  

  Out of Country Applications: Non-Settlement Visas  

For customers applying for non-settlement applications from outside the UK, UKVI has a general service standard of a wait of 3 – 12 weeks from the application submission date or attending an appointment at a local visa application centre. The current data they provide on how long applicants can expect to wait are:  

– 90% of applications receive a decision within 3 weeks  

– 98% of applications receive a decision within 6 weeks  

-100% of applications receive a decision within 12 weeks  

What types of visa are covered by this processing time?  

Out of Country Applications: Settlement Visas  

UKVI’s general service standard for customers applying for settlement applications from outside the UK is within 12-24 weeks of the application submission date or attending an appointment at a local visa application centre. The current data they provide on how long applicants can expect to wait are:  

– 98.5% of applications receive a decision within 12 weeks  

-100% of applications receive a decision within 24 weeks  

In-country Applications: Non-Settlement

UKVI’s general service standard for customers applying for Temporary/Non-Settlement applications from inside the UK is within 8 weeks of the application submission date or attending an appointment to submit your biometric information, if required.  

In-country Applications: Settlement  

UKVI’s general service standard for customers applying for settlement (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR) and 5/10 year route to settlement applications from inside the UK is within 6 months of attending an appointment to submit your biometric information, if required.  

Other Applications  

UKVI is very keen to remind applicants that if your application is not “straightforward”, then you might be looking at a longer wait than the service standard. This may occur if:  

  • if your supporting documents need to be verified  
  • if you need to attend an interview  
  • because of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)  

If you applied for a priority or super priority visa and your application is not straightforward, you may have to wait longer, but your application will still be put at the front of the queue at every stage of the decision-making process.   

In fact, our practitioners have found that even straightforward cases where applicants have purchased priority through overseas visa application centres for applications made from outside the UK are taking longer than priority-purchase wait times.   

What happens if my wait time exceeds the service standard?  

UKVI says that it will write if there is a problem with making a decision on your application to explain why it will not be decided within the normal standard. It claims that it is sending these messages within the normal processing time for the 8 week standard and within 12 weeks for the 6 month standard.   

The same goes if you have applied for a super priority next working day or priority 5 working day service.  

When can I ask for a refund?  

You’ll only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.  

If your application is refused, then you cannot claim a refund on your application fee. However, you can claim one for the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge. They are currently taking around 2 months to process.   

When does my application’s waiting time start and end?  

For applications that require it, the waiting time starts when you either:  

  • attend your appointment and provide your fingerprints and a photograph  (biometric information)  at a visa application centre  
  • verify your identity using the  UK Immigration: ID Check app  - this will depend on the visa you apply for and you’ll be advised if you can use this  

If neither of these steps are required, then your waiting time starts when you’ve submitted your application online.  

Your waiting time will end when we receive an email from UKVI containing the  decision on your application .   

When will I get my biometric residence permit?  

Out of country applications  

If you’re coming to the UK for more than 6 months, you will need to take your passport to the visa application centre where you attended your appointment, where you will be issued with a vignette sticker in your travel document (passport, etc.).  

Once you are in the UK, will need to  collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) . You must do this before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later.  

In-country applications  

Upon a successful decision, you will be sent your BRP either by courier from UKVI or by your legal representative, depending on what you requested when you applied.   

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New visa decision waiting times for applications outside the UK

visit visa uk waiting time

You are not required to book any travel before you apply or before a decision is made on your application. You’ll only be refunded if we have not started processing your application.

When your application’s waiting time starts and ends

Once you’ve submitted your application online, the waiting time starts when you either:

  • attend your appointment and provide your fingerprints and a photograph  (biometric information)  at a visa application centre
  • verify your identity using the  UK Immigration: ID Check app  – this will depend on the visa you apply for and you’ll be advised if you can use this

The waiting time will end when you get an email containing the  decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

Visit the UK

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a  visa to visit the UK :

  • for a holiday or to see family or friends
  • for a business trip or meeting
  • to get married
  • to study for 6 months or less

You may be able to  get your visa faster  or access other services depending on what country you’re in – check with your visa application centre.

Travelling through the UK

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a  visa to travel through the UK  on your way to another country.

Study in the UK

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you either attend your appointment at the visa application centre or use the ID Check app, if you are applying for a:

  • Student visa
  • Child Student visa

Short-term study in the UK

  • Short-term study visa

If you are studying for 6 months or less and have applied for a Standard Visitor visa, please refer to the  visit the UK  decision times.

Work or invest in the UK

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you either attend your appointment at the visa application centre or use the ID Check app, if you are applying for a visa  to work or invest in the UK .

You should get a decision within 12 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a  Turkish Businessperson  visa.

Join family in the UK

You should get a decision within 24 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying to settle in the UK as the  spouse, partner or family member of someone who has British citizenship or is settled in the UK .

If you are applying as the dependent of another applicant, you will get your decision at the same time.

If you are applying for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit you will get a decision as soon as possible after proving your identity and providing your documents.

Family reunion

You should get a decision 12 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for  family reunion with a refugee or person with humanitarian protection .

Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa

You should get a decision within 12 weeks once you either attend your appointment at the visa application centre or when you submit your online documents after completing the ID Check app.

Commonwealth citizens

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for an  Ancestry visa .

Returning residents

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a  returning resident visa .

Replacing biometric residence permits

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a visa to travel to the UK to replace your  biometric residence permit (BRP) .

Replacing residence cards

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and are applying for an  EU Settlement Scheme travel permit  to travel to the UK to replace a lost or stolen residence card.

Transfer your visa from your passport

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying to  transfer your visa from your passport .

Certificate of entitlement

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a  certificate of entitlement  to prove you have right of abode in the UK.

Priority services – get a faster decision

Priority and super priority visa services have been temporarily suspended for new family visa applications.

For visitor visa applications, there is a reduction in the availability of the priority visa service.

Collection within 5 working days (priority service)

If you verify your identity at a visa application centre and the service is available in the country you’re applying from, you can choose the ‘priority service’ when you apply. There will be an additional cost for this service.

A decision will be made within 5 working days of your appointment at the visa application centre.

Check with  your visa application centre  to see if the priority visa service is available in the country you’re applying from. The priority visa service is available in most countries.

Next day collection (super priority service)

If you verify your identity at a visa application centre and the service is available in the country you’re applying from you can choose the ‘super priority service’ when you apply. There will be an additional cost for this service.

UK Visas and Immigration aims to make a decision on your super priority visa application and contact you to let you know that your passport is ready to be collected by the end of the next working day from when you provide your biometric information.

Check with  your visa application centre  to see if the super priority visa service is available in the country you’re applying from.

What happens next

If you verified your identity at a visa application centre you will be contacted when your documents are ready for collection.

If you verified your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check app, and your application was successful, then you do not need a biometric residence permit (BRP). Your  immigration status will be completely online .

Check your email spam / junk folder

Sometimes emails from us can end up in spam or junk folders, so check these folders.

When you’ll get your biometric residence permit

If you’re coming to the UK for more than 6 months and you verified your identity at a visa application centre you will need to  collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) . Collect your BRP once you’re in the UK.

You must do this before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later.

If there’s a problem with your BRP

Report  any problems with your BRP  within 10 days of collecting it.

When you might wait longer

You might wait longer for a decision if your application is not straightforward and 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
  • because of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

If you applied for a priority or super priority visa and your application is not straightforward, you may have to wait longer, but your application will still be put at the front of the queue at every stage of the decision-making process. UK Visas and Immigration will try to process your application within our standard timescales.

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Advance travel planning and early visa application are important. If you plan to apply for a nonimmigrant visa to come to the United States as a temporary visitor, please review the current wait time for an interview using the tool below. Not all visa applications can be completed on the day of the interview; please read the information below for more details .

Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Note: Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times.

Select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

Global Visa Wait Times

Wait Time for Interview

The estimated wait time to receive a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate and is based on workload and staffing and can vary from week to week. The information provided is an estimate and does not guarantee the availability of an appointment.

Wait Time for Interview Waiver

Wait times for applicants eligible for Interview Waiver are applicable only for locations where applicants schedule appointments to submit their passport and any required documents to a U.S. embassy or consulate. The wait time estimate does not account for the time required for a consular officer to adjudicate the application nor mailing time of passports or other documents. Refer to the website of the Embassy or Consulate Visa Section where you will apply to determine your eligibility for Interview Waiver and for instructions for submitting a nonimmigrant visa application. Note that applicants must be a national or resident of the country where they are applying to be eligible to apply via Interview Waiver.

Qualifications for an Expedited Interview Appointment

Consular sections overseas may be able to expedite your interview date if there is an urgent, unforeseen situation such as a funeral, medical emergency, or school start date. The process to request an expedited nonimmigrant visa interview varies by location. You should refer to the instructions on the website of the Embassy or Consulate Visa Section  where you will interview, or on their online appointment scheduling site. You will need to provide proof of the need for an earlier appointment.

In all cases : You must first submit the online visa application form (DS-160), pay the application fee, and schedule the first available interview appointment. Only at this point will a consular section consider your request for an expedited appointment.

Note: Travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conference, or enjoying last-minute tourism does not qualify for expedited appointments. For such travel, please schedule a regular visa appointment well in advance.

These estimates do not include time required for administrative processing, which may affect some applications. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on individual circumstances of each case.

There are only two possible outcomes for U.S. visa applications. The consular officer will either issue or refuse the visa. If a visa applicant has not established that he or she is eligible for a visa, the consular officer must refuse that application. However, some refused visa applications may require further administrative processing. When administrative processing is required, the consular officer will inform the applicant at the end of the interview. The duration of the administrative processing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. At the conclusion of the administrative processing period, the consular officer might conclude that an applicant is now qualified for the visa for which he or she applied. The officer may also conclude that the applicant remains ineligible for a visa. Visa applicants are reminded to apply early for their visas, well in advance of the anticipated travel date.

Important Notice:   Except in cases of emergency travel (i.e. serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family), before making inquiries about status of administrative processing, applicants should wait at least 180 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later.

About Visa Processing Wait Times – Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

Information about nonimmigrant visa wait times for interviews and visa processing time frames are shown on this website, as well as on U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites worldwide. It should be noted that the “Wait Times for a Nonimmigrant Visa to be Processed” information by country does not include time required for administrative processing. Processing wait time also does not include the time required to return the passport to applicants, by either courier services or the local mail system.

In addition, it is important to thoroughly review all information on the specific  Embassy or Consulate Visa Section website  for local procedures and instructions, such as how to make an interview appointment. Embassy and Consulate websites will also explain any additional procedures for students, exchange visitors and those persons who need an earlier visa interview appointment.

About Wait Times

* Calendar days refers to every day of the week, including days when embassies are closed (such as weekends and holidays).

† Work days refers only to days when the embassy is open and does not include weekends and holidays.      

‡ A, G, and NATO applications are excluded from these wait times, as they are processed separately.

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Middle East latest: US claims 'ball in Hamas's court' on ceasefire talks - as 'five killed' when parachutes fail to open in aid airdrop

As reports grow of children now starving to death amid a looming famine in Gaza - and questions over the effectiveness of the US plan to create a temporary port to get aid in, Washington claims it is up to Hamas to agree to a ceasefire.

Friday 8 March 2024 18:44, UK

  • Israel-Hamas war

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  • US claims 'ball is in Hamas's court' on ceasefire talks
  • 'Several people dead' after being hit by air-dropped aid
  • US to build Gaza port to increase aid deliveries as Palestinians starve
  • Humanitarian aid ship to head to Gaza today
  • Maritime corridor criticised as 'woefully slow response'
  • UN food expert condemns Israel over 'starvation campaign' as children die from malnutrition in Gaza
  • Dominic Waghorn: Enemies will make building port fraught with peril
  • Explained: Is famine about to be declared in Gaza?
  • Live reporting by Jess Sharp

By Sean Bell , military analyst

As the humanitarian situation worsens in Gaza and pressure builds for more aid to enter the enclave, the British foreign secretary has urged Israel to "confirm that they'll open the port at Ashdod". 

However, Ashdod is in Israel - around 20 miles north of Gaza - so even if aid was to flow into that port, it would still be subject to the Israeli security checks and delays before entering Gaza.  There is no shortage of international commitment to provide aid, and there is a clear need, but getting the aid across the border into Gaza has proved problematic at best.

Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced that a ship carrying humanitarian aid will head to Gaza today. The ship, belonging to Spain's Open Arms charity, will make a pilot voyage to test the recently announced maritime corridor.

The Open Arms ship arrived in Cyprus three weeks ago and is ready to open the proposed Cyprus Humanitarian Aid Corridor.  The ship can carry 200 pallets of supplies and is capable of making the return journey from Cyprus (a 400 mile round trip) on a daily basis. The ship has a 5m draft, and could be small enough to operate via the Gaza fishing port, which will make the logistics of unloading the vessel significantly simpler. However, it is not clear at this stage who will provide the security required to ensure the aid is distributed in an orderly manner, and to those who need it most.

Separately, Joe Biden used his State of the Union Address to announce the US would help build a port in Gaza to deliver aid to people starving in the enclave. Aid can be transported in bulk via large ships, but needs a deep-water port to enable the aid to be offloaded. The only Gaza port is not suitable as it is too shallow, but a temporary structure that enables ships to dock off-shore in deep water, and offload onto either smaller vessels or vehicles, might offer a workable option.  

The military has experience of building temporary "pontoon" structures - the most famous was the Mulberry pontoon that was used on D-Day in WWII.  However, the US-based capability will take some time to prepare and transport - the easternmost US port is seven days sailing away from the region - so a temporary harbour will take weeks, not days before it is ready to use.

There are a mass of details still to be worked through. Mindful of the scenes of chaos on the beaches of Gaza when the airdrops have been conducted, a robust security plan will need to be developed to ensure an orderly distribution of aid and to protect those involved in the delivery operation. The US has made clear it has no intention of putting "boots on the ground", and the IDF does not have a good track record of supervising the safe delivery of aid in Gaza.  

What is particularly interesting about this flurry of international effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is - why now?  The recent series of airdrops have demonstrated resolve, but it is a very inefficient way to distribute aid (each plane carries around one truck load of aid, and the need is 500 trucks a day). It's also dangerous, not only for the crews but also for those on the ground. Indeed, reports suggest that two Palestinians have been killed to date by pallets falling from the skies.

What the international effort does demonstrate is growing frustration at Israel's apparent reluctance to address the humanitarian crisis, with airdrops and maritime aid corridors bypassing Israeli control. With the 10 March deadline for the IDF offensive into Rafah fast approaching, many aid agencies are suggesting that with 1.3 million refugees crammed into the region, any ground offensive risks being a "bloodbath".  

Also, protesters in Tel Aviv are increasingly concerned that more needs to be done to secure the release of the remaining hostages, and Benny Gantz has only recently returned from an unsanctioned visit to meet US and UK political leaders to discuss the crisis in Gaza - all of this undermines Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position.

Perhaps this latest international initiative to provide humanitarian support to the Palestinians trapped in Gaza will add further pressure on Netanyahu to reconsider his war aims, to pursue a negotiated ceasefire, free the hostages, and bring this brutal war to an end. 

Maybe that is more hope rather than expectation at this stage, but with every passing day, Mr Netanyahu is becoming increasingly isolated.

By Sam Doak, OSINT producer

Satellite imagery captured by Planet Labs on 8 March shows the Open Arms docked in Larnaca Port in Cyprus ahead of its journey to the Gaza Strip. 

The vessel, operated by a Spanish charity of the same name, has been touted as the first to deliver aid through the newly announced maritime corridor.  

It is not currently known where exactly in Gaza the Open Arms will sail in order to deliver its cargo.  

Yesterday, Joe Biden announced plans to construct a temporary pier, though details concerning its location have not been publicly announced.  

From its current location, a journey to the coast of the Gaza Strip will amount to over 200 nautical miles.  

A vessel travelling in the Gulf of Aden has reported two explosions in the sea ahead of it, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has said.

Both the vessel and crew were reported as safe. 

It was travelling 50 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's city of Aden when it made the report. 

The UKMTO said authorities are investigating the incident.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group has launched drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November. 

Earlier this week, three crew members on board the Barbados-flagged True Confidence were killed in a Houthi missile strike. 

They were the first deaths caused by the group's attacks on merchant vessels. 

The US secretary of state has given his latest update on ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. 

Antony Blinken said it was up to Hamas to agree to a ceasefire that allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza as well as talks on an "enduring resolution" to the conflict.

"The ball is in their court. We're working intensely on it, and we'll see what they do," Mr Blinken said ahead of a meeting with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan.

He said the US remains "intensely focused" on securing a ceasefire. 

Mr Blinken also commented on getting aid into Gaza, saying there should be more work on getting land crossings open.

Assistance should also be distributed more effectively, he said. 

British campaign group Palestinian Action have slashed a historic painting at the University of Cambridge.

An activist was filmed spray painting and then slashing the portrait of Lord Balfour at the university's Trinity College. 

The 1917 Balfour Declaration was a pledge by Britain declaring its aim to establish a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.

It is seen by many as a starting point for the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The declaration was written by the then foreign secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Walter Rothschild, a leading proponent of Zionism.

Palestine Action wrote on X: "Normally our direct action campaign is focused on Israel's weapons trade in Britain. 

" However, it's necessary to highlight Britain's historic and current role in the colonisation of Palestine which roots back to the Balfour declaration."

A human rights charity has criticised the UK for being too slow to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, despite the announcement of a maritime corridor for aid deliveries.

"The creation of a maritime aid 'corridor' is a woefully slow response to the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the UK is once again failing to show anywhere near the required level of urgency in how it responds to this calamitous situation," said Amnesty International UK's chief executive Sacha Deshmukh.

He said the corridor was an "inefficient" way of delivering aid.

"Whether or not the seaport scheme goes ahead, the UK should be redoubling its efforts to press Israel into opening existing land crossings for aid deliveries, while also demanding that Israel end its 17-year-long blockade of Gaza, which is an act of collective punishment," he said. 

The charity official urged the British foreign secretary to "break the pattern" of the UK supporting "piecemeal measures".

Israeli officials are reportedly discussing arming some civilians in Gaza to provide security protection for aid convoys. 

Civil order has become increasingly strained in the Palestinian enclave, and last week dozens of people were killed in an incident during which crowds surrounded a convoy of aid trucks. 

Israel Hayom, which reported the discussions among Israeli officials, said the armed civilians would not be linked to militant groups.

It's unclear who they might be.

The newspaper added Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had postponed a decision on the issue, while his office declined to comment on the report.

These images show a young Palestinian, Jamila Khelah, who was injured in an airstrike. 

The strike killed three of her siblings. 

Jamila has been sheltering in a school in Jabalia, in northern Gaza.

Back to today's story surrounding the marine aid corridor to Gaza, and Downing Street has been providing some detail as to the UK's involvement.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: "We will and have been supporting it. We have supported the US in planning for the pontoon, including by sending marine surveyors and will now be working with partners to operationalise our maritime aid corridor from Cyprus."

She added: "We continue to be very clear that we need to go much further, not enough aid is getting into Gaza, and we continue to push them to take further action, to do more to protect civilians, to abide by international humanitarian law and allow more aid in and to protect foreign aid workers and to facilitate humanitarian operations.

"We continue to impress the importance of this in our conversations and as you've seen today we are also taking action with our allies to get more vital aid in."

UK involvement in the maritime corridor is not expected to involve a deployment of British personnel to Gaza.

The US-led plan to build a temporary port in Gaza will "take time", the UK's foreign secretary says. 

Speaking to reporters, David Cameron reiterates his call for Israel to open the port of Ashdod until the temporary one is complete. 

"It's going to take time to build," he says. "So the crucial thing is today the Israelis must confirm that they'll open the port at Ashdod." 

He adds that the UK has been involved in "helping with the prescreening of aid" in Cyprus, meaning it does not have to be re-checked by Israel before it enters Gaza. 

"We need to make a difference right now," he says. 

The project aims to combat the dire level of humanitarian aid arriving in Gaza, with the region's population on the verge of famine. 

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  • Last updated: 08 March 2024 16:57

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Guidance: Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK

Uk visas immigration.

You are not required to book any travel before you apply or before a decision is made on your application. Youll only be refunded if we have not started processing your application.

When your applications waiting time starts and ends

Once youve submitted your application online, the waiting time starts when you either:

  • attend your appointment and provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a visa application centre
  • verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app . This will depend on the visa you apply for and youll be advised if you can use this

The waiting time will end when you get an email containing the decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

Visit the UK

Visit visas, including standard visitor visa applications, are currently taking on average 7 weeks to process, however some applications might take longer. We are working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a visa to visit the UK :

  • for a holiday or to see family or friends
  • for a business trip or meeting
  • to get married

You may be able to get your visa faster or other services depending on what country youre in - check with your visa application centre.

Travelling through the UK

Transit visa applications are currently taking on average 7 weeks to process. We are working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard.

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a visa to travel through the UK on your way to another country.

Study in the UK

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you either attend your appointment at the visa application centre or use the ID Check app, if you are applying for a:

  • Short-term study visa
  • Student visa
  • Child Student visa

If you verify your identity at a visa application centre you may be able to get your visa faster or other services depending on what country youre in - check with your visa application centre.

Work or invest in the UK

Most work and invest visas, including skilled worker visa applications, are currently taking on average 4 weeks to process. We are working hard to process applications to get back to the 3 week service standard.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you either attend your appointment at the visa application centre or use the ID Check app, if you are applying for a visa to work or invest in the UK .

You should get a decision within 12 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a Turkish Business Person visa.

Join family in the UK

UKVI is prioritising Ukraine Visa Scheme applications. Applications for family visas may take up to 24 weeks to process.

You should get a decision within 24 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying to settle in the UK as the spouse, partner or family member of someone who has British citizenship or is settled in the UK .

If you are applying as the dependent of another applicant, you will get your decision at the same time.

If you are applying for an EUSS family permit you will get a decision as soon as possible after proving your identity and providing your documents.

Family reunion

You should get a decision 12 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for family reunion with a refugee or person with humanitarian protection .

Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa

You should get a decision within 12 weeks once you either attend your appointment at the visa application centre or when you submit your online documents after completing the ID Check app.

Commonwealth citizens

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for an Ancestry visa .

Windrush Scheme

If you are applying under the Windrush Scheme read the guidance and the latest correspondence on the work of the Home Office in relation to Windrush .

Returning residents

You should get a decision within 3 weeks you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a returning resident visa .

Replacing biometric residence permits

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a visa to travel to the UK to replace your biometric residence permit (BRP) .

Replacing residence cards

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and are applying for an EU Settlement Scheme travel permit to travel to the UK to replace a lost or stolen residence card.

Transfer your visa from your passport

You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying to transfer your visa from your passport .

Certificate of entitlement

You should get a decision within 3 weeks you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a certificate of entitlement to prove you have right of abode in the UK.

Priority services get a faster decision

Priority and super priority visa services have been temporarily suspended for new family visa applications.

For visitor visa applications, there is a reduction in the availability of the priority visa service.

Collection within 5 working days (priority service)

If you verify your identity at a visa application centre and the service is available in the country youre applying from, you can choose the priority service when you apply. There will be an additional cost for this service.

A decision will be made within 5 working days of your appointment at the visa application centre.

Check with your visa application centre to see if the priority

View the original news story

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Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, James Hong, Ian McShane, and Awkwafina in Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

After Po is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains... Read all After Po is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm. After Po is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.

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UK: UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times

View Paul  Richmond Biography on their website

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has published service standards for waiting times for decisions on visa and immigration applications. UKVI also publishes up-to-date information on current processing times for visa and immigration applications submitted both within the UK and outside the UK.

In this post we take an in-depth look at UK visa processing times, including the Home Office service standards for waiting times, current Home Office visa processing times, options for securing a faster decision on a visa or immigration application and how to challenge a delay in the processing of a UK visa or immigration application. We also answer some frequently asked questions relating to UKVI visa processing times and look at some of the factors to consider when timing an immigration application.

UKVI Visa Processing Standard Processing Times

If a UK visa application includes all relevant information and supporting documents (and the Home Office does not need to request further evidence or explanation) then the following waiting time customer service standards should apply:

  • Non-settlement visa applications submitted outside the UK: 90% to be decided within 3 weeks; 98% within 6 weeks and 100% within 12 weeks of the application date (where 1 week is 5 working days);
  • Settlement visa applications submitted outside the UK: 98.5% of settlement applications to be decided within 12 weeks of the application date and 100% within 24 weeks of the application date (where 1 week is 5 working days);
  • Applications for leave to remain submitted within the UK, including as spouses, workers and students: 8 weeks to be decided;
  • Applications for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) submitted within the UK: 6 months to be decided;
  • Applications for no time limit (NTL) submitted within the UK: 6 months to be decided;
  • Organisations seeking to sponsor a worker: 8 weeks;
  • Organisations updating their sponsor licence details: 18 weeks.

The processing time standard for applications submitted via the priority service and super-priority service is 5 workings days and the next working day respectively, where these services are available (see further below). Applications for a sponsor licence submitted via the pre-licence priority sponsor licence service should be decided within 10 working days.

These service standards are the visa processing times that UKVI aims to deliver on for the processing of straightforward, complete applications, based on its customer charter . Actual UK visa processing times can vary considerably.

What Factors Affect UK Visa Processing Times?

There are a number of factors which can delay UK visa processing times including:

  • The complexity of the case, for example if it involves an assessment of Article 8 ECHR rights or derivative rights of EEA extended family members;
  • Concerns regarding suitability requirements such as criminality;
  • Consideration of any adverse immigration history;
  • Any concerns regarding the authenticity of documents;
  • The volume of documents provided;
  • Whether further investigations are required or an interview scheduled;
  • The capacity of caseworkers; and
  • The time of the year.

There is no published service standard for waiting times for more complex applications and UKVI has a wide margin of appreciation with regard to the timing of their decisions.

Home Office decision-making is sometimes delayed. In the last couple of years, many UK visa applicants have experienced extended waiting times during the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, as we outline below, decisions on some UK visa applications are being delayed again as the Home Office seeks to prioritise Ukraine Visa Scheme applications in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the invasion of Ukraine.

To discuss your UK visa or immigration application with one of our immigration barristers, call us on 0203 617 9173 or complete the enquiry form below.

What Are the Current Home Office UK Visa Processing Times?

The Home Office publishes visa decision waiting times for applications submitted outside and inside the UK. From this information it is possible to ascertain approximately how long it should take for a pending visa application to be decided.

The information provided below assumes that the application has, or will be, submitted via the standard service and that a priority service or super-priority service, where available (see further below), has not been used.

Work in the UK

The UK offers a range of sponsored and non-sponsored work and business immigration routes, including:

  • Long Term Work Visas (including Skilled Worker , International Sportsperson and Minister of Religion )
  • Short Term Work Visas (including Creative Worker )
  • Business Visas (including Innovator )
  • Global Business Mobility Visas (including Senior or Specialist Worker )
  • Talent Visas

You can apply for a UK work visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK.

According to Home Office service standards, applicants applying for a work visa from overseas in any of the above-mentioned categories should normally receive a decision on their application within 3 weeks.

However, the Home Office is currently advising that applications for work visas in the above routes submitted from outside the UK may take longer to be processed than the published standard processing time. The Home Office has not published an up-to-date average processing time for work visa applications, but is advising that it is prioritising Ukraine Visa Scheme applications.

The standard processing time for an application to switch into or extend a stay in the UK on a work visa route is 8 weeks. This service standard is currently being met in practice. Applications to switch into a Start-up visa and to switch into or extend a Health and Care Worker visa are generally being processed within 3 weeks currently.

If you are applying for settlement on a work or business route you should usually receive a decision within 6 months.

Join or Stay With Family in the UK

You can apply for a family visa to live in the UK with your British or settled family member as a:

  • Civil Partner
  • Unmarried Partner
  • Proposed civil partner
  • Adult dependent relative

Applications for partner and family visas can be submitted up to 3 months before the intended date of travel.

The published service standard for deciding an application from outside the UK to settle in the UK as the spouse, partner or family member of a British citizen or settled person is 12 weeks. However, the Home Office is currently advising that applications for family visas submitted from outside the UK may take up to 24 weeks to process whilst it prioritises Ukraine Visa Scheme applications.

An application from within the UK to switch into or extend as a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, child or adult dependent relative should still be processed within 8 weeks.

If you are applying for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit , the Home Office is currently advising that you will receive a decision as soon as possible after proving your identity and providing your documents.

There are no standard processing times for applications submitted as a partner, parent or on the basis of private life (10-year routes or 5-year parent route to settlement). The average wait time for a decision on a private life application is currently 11 months.

If you are applying for settlement you should usually receive a decision within 6 months.

Visit the UK

The UK offers a range of Short Stay Visit Visas , for purposes such as:

  • Visiting friends, family and/or for a short holiday ;
  • Short-term unpaid business activity ;
  • Unpaid creative activities ;
  • Short courses of study or research ;
  • Unpaid sporting activities ;
  • Receiving private medical treatment ;
  • Marriage or civil partnership in the UK ;

Applications for a UK visit visa can be submitted up to 3 months before the intended date of travel.

Visitor visa applications submitted from outside the UK are currently taking an average of 6 weeks to process. This is longer than the 3-week service standard.

Most visitors cannot extend their stay from within the UK, but if you are a patient receiving medical treatment, an academic who still meets the eligibility requirements or a graduate doing a clinical attachment or retaking the PLAB test and you wish to extend as a visitor then you should usually receive a decision within 8 weeks.

Visitors are not eligible to apply for settlement.

Study in the UK

The Student visa is for individuals who are aged 16 or over and who wish to study on a further or higher education course in the UK. The Child Student visa route is for children aged between 4 and 17 who wish to study at an independent school in the UK, which is a Home Office approved student sponsor. The Short-term Student visa is a route for persons aged 16 and over who want to study an English language course in the UK for between 6 and 11 months without a student sponsor but at an accredited institution.

If applying from outside the UK, applications for UK Student visas can be submitted up to 6 months before the start date of the course. The customer service standard for receiving a decision is 3 weeks.

The Home Office is advising that applications for study visas in all of the above routes submitted from outside the UK may currently take longer to be processed than the published standard 3 week processing time. The Home Office has not published an average processing time, but has advised that it is prioritising Ukraine Visa Scheme applications.

If applying from inside the UK to switch into or extend a Student or Child Student visa, an application for permission to stay can be submitted up to 3 months before the start date of the course. The customer service standard for receiving a decision on such an application is 8 weeks and decisions are currently being made within this timeframe.

Students are not eligible to apply for settlement.

Hong Kong British National (Overseas)

The Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa is an immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) citizens to live, work and study in the UK. The Hong Kong BN(O) Household Member Visa is an immigration route for adult children (aged 18 or over) of a BN(O) Status Holder or a BN(O) Status Holder's partner, born on or after 1 July 1997, to live, work and study in the UK.

If you apply for a Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder visa or Hong Kong BN(O) Household Member visa from overseas then you should receive a decision within 12 weeks. The same processing time currently applies to applications to extend a Hong Kong BN(O) visa from within the UK.

If you are applying for settlement on the Hong Kong BN(O) route you should usually receive a decision within 6 months.

UK Ancestry

If you are a Commonwealth citizen and have a grandparent who was born in the UK, you may be able to live and work in the UK on the basis of your UK Ancestry. A UK Ancestry visa can only be obtained from outside the UK.

If you are applying for a UK Ancestry visa you should receive a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre. If you apply to extend an Ancestry visa from within the UK then you should usually receive a decision within 8 weeks.

Returning Residents

If you are a non-UK citizen and are not currently in the UK, but have previously been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you may be eligible to return to the UK for settlement on the basis of a returning resident visa. When you apply for a Returning Resident visa from overseas you should normally receive a decision within 3 weeks currently.

Our immigration barristers assist individuals and businesses across the globe to prepare and submit successful UK visa and immigration applications. Call us on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below to find out more.

UK Visa Decision Waiting Times: Frequently Asked Questions

When does the uk visa application processing time start and end.

For UK visa applications submitted outside the UK, visa processing time will start from either the date you provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application centre or, if eligible, the date you verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. The waiting time will end on the date when you receive an email with a decision on your application.

For a UK immigration application submitted from within the UK, the waiting time will generally start from the date when you submit your application online. An exception is made for Graduate Immigration Route applications, where the waiting time starts from the date when the applicant attends an appointment at a visa service centre or submits their documents using the UK Immigration ID Check app. In all in-country cases the waiting time will end on the date when you receive either a letter or email with a decision.

The service standard does not include the time taken to issue you with your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). You will usually receive your BRP within 7 working days after a decision has been made on your application. If you do not receive a BRP you can report it .

Will My Dependents' Visas Be Processed Within the Same Time Frame?

Dependent visas should be processed within the same time frame as the main applicant's visa and dependents should receive their decision at the same time. Dependent visas will not be issued before the main applicant has received their decision. Where a dependent applies after the main applicant has received a positive decision, this may shorten the time to receive an outcome.

Can I Get a Faster Decision on My UK Visa Application?

UK Visas & Immigration offers a 'priority service' and a 'super priority service' for applicants who, for an additional fee, wish to receive a faster decision on their UK visa application. Selecting one of these premium services will ensure that an application is placed at the front of the queue at every stage of the decision-making process.

Eligible applicants who apply via the priority service should receive a decision within 5 working days of their appointment at the visa application centre (for overseas applicants) or within 5 working days of either the day of their appointment at a UKVCAS appointment centre or the working day after having finished uploading documents if using the UK Immigration: ID Check app (for in-country applicants).

Eligible applicants who apply via the super priority service should receive a decision by the end of the next working day after their appointment at the visa application centre (for overseas applicants) or their appointment at a UKVCAS appointment centre (for in-country applicants) or within 2 working days if the appointment is at the weekend. In-country applicants cannot use the super-priority service if applying using the UK Immigration: ID Check App to confirm their identity.

However, the Home Office has announced that both priority and super priority visa services are currently temporarily suspended for new study, work and family visa applications submitted outside the UK whilst it prioritises Ukraine Visa Scheme applications. This suspension has been in place since 14 March 2022.

The priority and super priority services are currently both still available to applicants who are applying for leave to remain and settlement in eligible routes from within the UK.

Overseas applicants should check with their visa application centre to see if the priority visa service or super priority visa service is available in the country they are applying from for their application type.

Applicants applying from within the UK can check the eligible visa and settlement application tables to confirm whether the type of application they are making is eligible for either the priority 5 working day or super priority next working day service (note that there are separate tables for switching/extending applications and settlement applications).

Priority and super-priority services may not be appropriate for complex applications which cannot be processed expeditiously. In these cases, your application will be put at the front of the queue at each decision-making stage, but a decision may exceed the priority and super-priority timescales.

These premium services should also be considered carefully when making extension applications or switching categories where there is a risk of refusal. Specialist advice should be sought to ensure that complex applications are timed strategically and sensibly.

Can I Stay in the UK While Waiting for a Decision on My Immigration Application?

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.

Can I Travel Outside the UK While My In-Country Application Is Being Processed?

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.

  • Travel outside the UK while waiting for an immigration decision

What Can I Do if a Decision Is Not Made in Time or I Need an Urgent Decision?

If UKVI is not able to process your visa application in time, due to its complexity for example, you should receive a letter explaining the reasons and what will happen next. This letter should be received within the standard processing time.

If you do not receive an update from the Home Office, you can contact them directly (by phone, in writing or both) to request an update on your application status.

You may wish to consider providing evidence of how the delay is impacting you, for example if you do not have a right to work or study. If there is an urgency or the standard processing time has passed it is possible to ask for the matter to be escalated as a priority.

If you paid for a priority or super-priority service and a decision has not been made within the standard processing time then you may also be able to request a refund of the priority or super-priority service fee.

When making enquiries, always take care to make clear that you are not intending to withdraw your application.

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

You may also consider contacting your local MP .

Please note that UKVI has a discretion to treat incomplete applications, for example those that do not include all mandatory documents, outside of the standard service processing times.

How Can I Challenge Home Office Delay in Deciding My Application?

If there is still no response then you may consider a further legal avenue of challenge. There is no right of appeal when there is no decision, but you may consider judicial review proceedings as a way to ask a judge to review the failure of the Home Office to act and make a decision.

If this is a route you wish to consider then you will need to ensure that you have evidence of all stages of your attempts to obtain a decision. Keeping a written record and details of any Home Office 'ticket' numbers you are provided is highly recommended. The steps you have taken to obtain a decision and the reasons why one is required will be relevant considerations.

Before commencing proceedings you will need to follow a pre-action protocol process. This will give UKVI the opportunity to consider the position before you commence proceedings.

Judicial review proceedings can be legally complex, costly and time consuming. You may wish to consider seeking legal advice before commencing any proceedings.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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