uk visit visa waiting time

UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times

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 and 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 , Scale-up , International Sportsperson and Minister of Religion )
Short Term Work Visas (including High Potential Individual and Creative Worker )
Business Visas (including Innovator )
Global Business Mobility Visas (including Senior or Specialist Worker and UK Expansion 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. This service standard is currently being met in practice.

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 generally being met in practice currently. However, due to the war in Ukraine and high global demand for visas, a pplications to switch into or extend a Skilled Worker visa are currently taking, on average, 9 weeks to be decided.

Applications 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. Following a reduction in the backlog of Ukraine Visa Scheme applications, the Home Office has recently announced that standard family visa applications are now being processed within 60 working days.

Can I Visit the UK While My Partner Visa Is Being Processed?

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 9 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 3 weeks to process. This is in line with 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 currently advising that Student visa applications are taking on average 3 weeks to process. This is in line with the service standard. Short-term study visas are also currently taking on average 3 weeks to process.

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.

The Super Priority Visa is currently suspended for new Partner & Family Visa applications submitted outside the UK. However, if you apply for a Partner & Family Visa via the Priority Service then you will usually receive a decision within 30 working days.

For work (except Innovator Founder 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.

A Guide to UK Visa Premium and Priority Services

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 to Chase a Delayed UK Visa Application

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.

UK Visa Application Granted – What Next?

Contact our Immigration Barristers

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UK Visa Processing Times (Latest from UKVI)

Anne morris.

26 February 2024

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

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Family Visa UK: Explore Ways to Apply
Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Ukraine Refugee Aid in UK
Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Understanding British Values
Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Family Reunion and Immigration

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility .

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners , we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

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UK Visa Decision Waiting Times: Frequently Asked Questions

Nov 23, 2022 | Blogs - Immigration

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

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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 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 .

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.

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.

Update April 12, 2024

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Special Visa Processing Procedures Pursuant to Section 306

Capitalizing on Visa Demand to Spur Economic Growth in the United States

Congressional Testimony

Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CRFP) Program Appointments

List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates - K1-K3 Visas

U.S. Government Fact Sheet on Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C)

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Presidential Proclamation 9645 and the January 2020 Presidential Proclamation

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List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates

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Immigrant Visa Prioritization

USCIS Extends Suspension of Premium Processing Service for Religious Workers (R-1) Nonimmigrant Visa Classification

Record Numbers of U.S. Students Are Studying Abroad

U.S. Student Visas Reach Record Numbers in 2007

U.S. security officials will begin scanning all 10 fingerprints of most non-Americans traveling to the United States

Electronic Submission of Diversity Visa Lottery Applications

USCIS Centralizes Filing for H-2A Petitions

USCIS Field Office Adopts Teletech Call Appointment System For Filing Waiver of Inadmissibility Applications

Application Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas to Increase on January 1, 2008

Senior Advisors to Brief Press on the Latest Developments in Iraqi Refugee and Special Immigrant Visa Issues

Briefing on Developments in the Iraqi Refugee and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Admissions Programs

DHS Proposes Changes to Improve H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program

Testimony of Stephen A. “Tony” Edson on U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, House Committee on Science and Technology

Update: Biometric Changes for Re-entry Permits and Refugee Travel Documents

With All the Talk about Illegal Immigration, a Look at the Legal Kind

Latvia, Estonia Sign Deals with US on Visa-Free Travel

Fact Sheet: Changes to the FY2009 H-1B Program

USCIS Announces Interim Rule on H-1B Visas

USCIS Releases Preliminary Number of FY 2009 H-1B Cap Filings

USCIS Extends Comment Period for Proposed Change to H-2A Program

USCIS Runs Random Selection Process for H-1B Petitions

17-Month Extension of Optional Practical Training for Certain Highly Skilled Foreign Students

DHS Begins Collecting 10 Fingerprints from International Visitors at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption Enters into Force

USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions Sent to California or Vermont Service Centers Temporary Accommodation Made for FY 09 Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions

USCIS Revises Filing Instructions for Petition for Alien Relative

USCIS Announces Update for Processing Petitions for Nonimmigrant Victims of Criminal Activity

USCIS to Allow F-1 Students Opportunity to Request Change of Status

Immigration Tops Agenda at North American Summit

USCIS Issues Guidance for Approved Violence against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petitioners

USCIS Modifies Application for Employment Authorization Previous Versions of Form I-765 Accepted until July 8, 2008

Overseas Education More Attainable for Chinese Students

New York Business Group Seeks Fewer Restrictions on Foreign Worker Visas

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.

Immigrant Visa Interview-Ready Backlog Report

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Guidance: Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK

Uk visas immigration.

You are advised not 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

The waiting time starts once youve submitted your application online and ends when you get a letter or an email with a decision.

As part of the application process, youll need to either:

book and attend your appointment to submit your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre or a Service and Support Centre (SSC)
verify your identity and submit your documents using the UK Immigration: ID Check app . Well tell you if you can use this

The waiting time for Graduate visa applications starts when youve applied online and either attended your appointment at a visa service centre or submitted your documents using the ID Check app.

The waiting time ends for all applications when you get a letter or an email with a decision.

You can stay in the UK until youve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Switch to or extend a Student visa

You should usually get a decision within 8 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend a Student or Child Student visa.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - youll be told if you can when you apply.

Switch to or extend a family visa

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend as a:

spouse or partner (if youre on a 5-year route to settlement)
fianc, fiance or proposed civil partner

When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision .

Apply for leave to remain as a partner, parent or on the basis of your private life (10-year routes or 5-year parent route to settlement)

If youre currently applying under a 10-year route to settlement (or 5-year parent route to settlement), there are no standard processing times for applications submitted as a partner, parent or on the basis of your private life. The average wait time for a decision is currently 10 months. We are working hard to reduce this.

Please note that there may be circumstances which result in your application taking slightly longer.

If you need to make urgent travel overseas (for example, due to a family bereavement), we may be able to provide a faster decision. Please contact UKVI .

Apply as a child

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend as a child .

Extend a relative wholl provide long-term care visa

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend as a relative wholl provide long-term care .

Extend a Parent of a Child Student visa

You should usually get a decision within 8 weeks once youve applied online and youre applying to extend a Parent of a Child Student visa.

Switch to or extend a work visa

You usually should get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend or switch to any of the following work visas:

Entrepreneur
Global Talent
Intra-company
Minister of Religion
Scale-up worker
Skilled worker
Sportsperson

Switch to a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa

You should get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to switch to a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa .

Switch to a Graduate visa

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online and either attended your appointment at a visa service centre or submitted your documents using the ID Check app to switch to a Graduate visa .

Switch to a Start-up visa

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once youve applied online to switch to a Start-up visa .

Extend a Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa

You should get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend a Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa .

Extend a Representative of an Overseas Business visa

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend a Representative of an Overseas Business visa .

Switch to or extend a Health and Care Worker visa

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend a Health and Care Worker visa .

Switch to or extend a Temporary Worker visa

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend in any of the following temporary work visas:

Creative and Sporting
Government Authorised Exchange
International Agreement Worker

Extend a Charity Worker visa

You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to ex

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Official Statistics: Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Quarterly Provisional Figures April to June 2022 Friday, 19 Aug
Official Statistics: Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Quarterly Provisional Figures July to September 2022 Friday, 25 Nov
Guidance: Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK Monday, 22 Aug
Guidance: Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK Monday, 7 Nov

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Once you have submitted an application for a UK visa, your application and supporting documents will be reviewed by Home Office caseworkers, who will assess your eligibility and suitability for the category you are applying under. The Home Office will then make a decision on whether or not to grant you a visa and notify you of the outcome in writing.

The time it takes to receive a decision is known as your visa’s ‘processing time’. The Home Office has agreed customer service standards in place for visa processing times and aims to provide a decision on most applications within these set timeframes.

Home Office customer service standards

Your visa’s processing time starts once you have submitted your application online and verified your identity either by attending an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or by using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, and ends when you get an email or letter from the Home Office notifying you of the outcome.

For entry clearance applications submitted from outside the UK, the Home Office aims to process non-settlement applications within 15 working days (3 weeks) and settlement applications within 120 working days (24 weeks) under standard processing times.

However, there are occasions where it may take longer to get a decision on your application. This includes when you need to provide further evidence or attend an interview, and when the Home Office decides that your application is “not straightforward” and therefore it is not possible to decide your application within the customer service targets. If this happens, the Home Office will usually notify you by email.

Current UK visa processing times

We are currently in the midst of an extremely busy period for UK visa applications, as employers and individuals rush to secure visas before higher salary thresholds and minimum income requirements for work and family routes come into effect in April. At present, the department is receiving on average 12,000 entry clearance applications per week.

As a result of this high demand, applicants should be prepared for possible delays to processing times for entry clearance applications, and be aware that the Home Office is applying extra scrutiny during the decision-making process.

Smith Stone Walters is observing a growing number of applications being labelled as ‘not straightforward’ by the Home Office despite all required information and supporting documentation being provided.

In some cases, this has turned out to be a ‘false alarm’ and the applicant has ultimately received a decision within the standard processing times after receiving an email advising them it may take longer. In other cases, delays have occurred even for Priority applications, and requests for further information are becoming more frequent.

According to the UKVI website , current processing times for applications made outside the UK are as follows:

Work visas – 3 weeks
Temporary work visas – 3 weeks
Visit visas – 3 weeks
Student visas – 3 weeks
Family visas – 24 weeks
Ukraine visas – 3 weeks
British National (Overseas) visas – 12 weeks.

Priority and Super Priority services

Depending on service availability and the visa category you are applying under, you may be able to pay for a faster decision using the ‘Priority’ or ‘Super Priority’ services.

With Priority service, you will usually receive a decision within 5 working days, or 30 working days for Family visa applications from outside the UK. Using the Super Priority service for visa and settlement applications means you’ll usually get a decision by the end of the next working day.

Due to high demand, the Home Office will be making more priority appointments available for customers who wish to utilise this service.

How to avoid delays with your UK visa application

Even when using Priority services, processing times are never guaranteed and paying for a faster decision does not mean your visa will be granted.

However, if your application is urgent, Smith Stone Walters advises applicants to use the Priority and Super Priority services where available.

Most importantly, avoiding visa delays largely comes down to the quality and accuracy of your application. We strongly recommend double checking you have provided all the required information and supporting documents with your application, and that all details provided are correct.

Missing or incorrect information is a leading cause of visa processing delays and refusals and is often avoidable. Getting your application right the first time will give you the best chance of securing visa approval as quickly as possible.

If you require support with your UK visa application, Smith Stone Walters can help. To speak to a qualified immigration advisor about your requirements, please contact us today .

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UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times

UKVI Visa Processing Standard Processing Times

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.

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 0161 529 7779 or complete the enquiry form below.

What Are the Current Home Office UK Visa Processing Times?

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, Scale-up, International Sportsperson and Minister of Religion)
Short Term Work Visas (including High Potential Individual and Creative Worker)
Business Visas (including Innovator)
Global Business Mobility Visas (including Senior or Specialist Worker and UK Expansion 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.

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 generally being met in practice currently. However, due to the war in Ukraine and high global demand for visas, applications to switch into or extend a Skilled Worker visa are currently taking, on average, 9 weeks to be decided.

Applications 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:

Spouse
Civil Partner
Unmarried Partner
Fiancé(e)
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.

Can I Visit the UK While My Partner Visa Is Being Processed?

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.

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 3 weeks to process. This is in line with the 3-week service standard.

Visitors are not eligible to apply for settlement.

Study in the UK

sponsor but at an accredited institution.

Students are not eligible to apply for settlement.

Hong Kong British National (Overseas)

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

UK Ancestry

Returning Residents

Our immigration barristers assist individuals and businesses across the globe to prepare and submit successful UK visa and immigration applications. Call us on 0161 529 7779 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?

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

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

The Super Priority Visa is currently temporarily suspended for new Family Visa applications submitted outside the UK. However, the Priority Visa Service has, since 20 February 2023, now resumed for new Marriage and Family Visa applications submitted outside the UK. Applicants can expect to receive a decision within 30 working days.

Additionally, from 9 January 2023, existing applicants with a pending Family Visa application have started to be offered the option of upgrading to a 15 full working days/3 weeks Priority Service.

For work (except Innovator Founder 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.

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).

A Guide to UK Visa Premium and Priority Services

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?

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 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.

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 to Chase a Delayed UK Visa Application

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

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.

UK Visa Application Granted – What Next?

Contact our Immigration Legal Advisers

For expert advice and assistance regarding a UK visa application, contact our immigration legal advisers on 0161 529 7779 or complete our enquiry form below.

Sponsor Licence Refusals: Causes and Solutions

How to Switch from Sole Representative to Skilled Worker

Common Mistakes and Errors in UK Visa Applications

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UK Visa Processing Times

Many factors impact visa processing times, this article is a summary of the current (average) processing times. For accurate information refer to UKVI.

Paragon Law

UK visa processing times vary quite significantly depending on what visa is being applied for, where the application has been made, and what an individual’s circumstances are .

It is worth mentioning that the provided information is just a guide, and so, processing times experience may be longer or shorter depending on factors such as the complexity of your case, the capacity at the UKVI.

UK visa processing times

In order to assess whether your visa or immigration application has been delayed, it is important to understand what the current visa decision waiting times are.

Your UK visa processing time begins when you submit your application online and ends when you have received a letter or email which outlines the decision. Some applicants will only need to submit an application form, however, others may be required to either:

Attend an appointment to provide both fingerprints and pictures at a biometric centre either within the UK or at an approved partner centre outside of the UK.

Verify identity and submit documents using the UK Immigration ID Check app (ID check app) .

If applicable, your UK visa processing time begins once you have either attended a biometrics appointment or have submitted the relevant documents to the UK ID Check app.

It is worth noting that a priority visa service is available for in-country and out-of-country applications. The priority visa service means that decisions on visa applications can be received within 1 and 5 working days (depending on the service purchased). Unfortunately, the priority visa service is not available for every visa route - where it is available you will be able to purchase it either upon submission of an application or during the process of booking the biometric appointment.

UK visa processing time: Applications made inside the UK

Below is a summary of how long the UKVI expects decisions to be made on the various types of UK immigration and visa applications. The UK visa processing time starts after you have submitted your biometric details, either through the ID Check App or by attending an in-person appointment.

According to UKVI, applicants who have made a visa application (and haven’t paid to receive a priority service) can expect to receive a decision within 8 weeks when switching to, or extending any of the following visas :

Applicants who have applied to either switch to, or extend either a Health and Care Worker visa or a Start-up visa, can expect to receive a decision within 3 weeks .

Applicants who have submitted a settlement application, can expect to receive a decision within 6 months .

Please be aware that the standard visa processing times outlined above have been impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As a result of this, decisions on visa applications are taking more than 11 weeks to be made. However, UKVI is continuously working and aiming to return their decision timelines back within their standard service times.

UK visa processing time: Applications made outside of the UK

Below is a summary of how long the UKVI expects decisions to be made on the various types of UK immigration and visa applications. The processing time refers to the period after an individual has attended a biometric appointment or has verified their identity through another means.

According to UKVI, applicants who have made a visa application can expect to receive a decision within 3 weeks when making an application for one of the following:

Visit visas (this includes Standard Visit visas)

Transit visas

Student visas

Short term study visa

Commonwealth citizen visas (including Ancestry visas)

Returning resident visa

Work and investment visas, including:

Entrepreneur visa

Global talent visa

Skilled worker visa

International sportsperson visa

High potential individual (HPI) visa

Innovator visa

Intra-company transfer visa

Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa

Investor visa

Representative of an Overseas Business

Minister of religion visa

Temporary Worker Visa

Scale-up worker visa

If you have made a visa application to join family in the UK (i.e. partner visa, spouse visa, parent visa, child visa, adult dependent relative visa, private life applications) then visa decisions take around 24 weeks . However, if you are applying for family reunion to join a refugee or an individual with humanitarian protection, then decisions will take around 12 weeks (but there are currently delays in visa processing times).

The decision waiting time for the Hong Kong BNO visa and Turkish Businessperson visa is around 12 weeks .

If you are applying for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, you will get a decision soon after you have proved your identity and provided the required documents .

What is the waiting time after biometrics?

The waiting time after biometrics depends on a range of factors including:

What visa you applied for.

Whether you applied from inside or outside the UK.

Whether you paid to receive a priority service.

The complexity of the case.

The evidence presented.

For a general overview of the waiting times after biometrics head over to these links ( applying from outside the UK or applying from inside the UK ).

What are some of the factors which affect immigration and visa application processing times?

The delays to the visa and immigration processing times are currently largely caused by Covid and the Ukraine crisis. However, other factors which can affect processing times include:

Concerns about an individual meeting the eligibility requirements (e.g. having a criminal record or an adverse immigration history).

Concerns about the documents presented with the application (e.g. issues with authenticity or not many have been provided).

If the applicant is required to attend an interview .

The capacity of the caseworkers at UKVI .

Can I speed up the processing time of my visa?

Yes certain UK visa applications enable you to pay to receive either a priority service or a super priority service .

If you are eligible to benefit from the priority service then a decision on your visa application will be made within 5 working days of attending your appointment at the visa application centre or uploading your documents on the UK Immigration: ID Check app.

If you are eligible to benefit from the super priority service then a decision on your visa application will be made within 1 to 2 working days of attending your appointment at the visa application centre or uploading your documents on the UK Immigration: ID Check app .

Please note that priority and super priority services have been suspended for new family visa applications and there is a reduced availability for these services amongst visitor visa applications.

Want to know more about applying for a UK visa?

Perhaps you have a question about UK visa processing times, or perhaps you have a question about applying for a UK visa. Whatever, the need, why not get in touch with us today and claim your free consultation with an expert immigration lawyer?

What to do when there is a Home Office delay

If your application to any of the routes outlined previously has been delayed, then you can do one of the following.

Contact UKVI to escalate application delays

UKVI offers several routes to contact them and enquire about applications.

For applications made outside of the UK, you can contact UKVI online . Queries cost £2.74. Upon completion of this application form and payment a response will be received from UKVI by way of email within 5 working days. You will not be charged for any follow-up emails about the same enquiry.

For both applications made within the UK and from outside of the UK a complaint can be lodged through this link . This route is free however upon submission of the complaint it takes 28 working days for a response to be received in respect of the application.

Contact your local MP

If you have made an immigration application within the UK and it has been delayed, then an alternative route to escalate this delay would be to contact your local Member of Parliament (MP).

To find out who your local MP is, please head over to this link . Upon selecting your MP based on your location you will be brought to their page on the government where you can find the correct email address to contact them.

If you choose to contact them to express your concern or frustration at the delay in your immigration application, then it is important that you write in a formal manner. Your email or other form of correspondence should include the following:

The reason why you are requesting your MP’s assistance .

What you would like them to do after reading your request.

Facts and evidence which supports your case and shows that you have experienced a Home Office delay .

The above information will assist your local MP to determine the strength of your case and how they can best assist you.

Your MP has the power to raise your case with UKVI which is invaluable because UKVI is obligated to respond. However, UKVI might only tell your MP what stage your case is at or reaffirm that your appeal rights have been exhausted. Therefore, it is important to be very specific with what you request your MP to do i.e. pushing for a decision to be made in the instance of a prolonged delay on your application. It is only through a specific and measured approach that you can increase your chances of getting positive intervention.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

The Parliamentary Ombudsman is a body which makes the final decisions on complaints that are yet to be resolved by a government department within the UK. They aim to do this fairly, without biases and freely. However, you can only complain about UK government departments (such as UKVI) if an MP refers the complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman . In summary, a complaint form (found here ) must be completed and signed by an MP before being submitted.

You can only make a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman about one of the following:

The government department’s (e.g. UKVI) conduct was unfair .

The service you received was poor .

The negative impact of either the above has not been resolved .

It is then for the Parliamentary Ombudsman to investigate this and determine whether the government department is at fault and have failed to resolve these issues. Ideally, a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman is submitted as soon as all of the other routes (mentioned previously) have been exhausted. However, as long as a complaint is lodged within the time-limits it will still be valid: this means that a complaint about a UK government department must be made within a year of becoming aware of the problem.

If the Parliamentary Ombudsman agrees with your complaint, they can do one of the following:

Request the government department take action to rectify its error , which could be in the form of either a refund or apology or acknowledging its mistake.

Instruct the government department to revisit the incorrect decision made.

Ask the government department to change their processes in order to prevent them from repeating the same mistake. This step would require the government department to review any policies, guidance, and standards which are in place.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman will also consider legal action where appropriate as they might be of the view that the best solution to your complaint is within the courts. However, this decision will be made considering all factors, such as the likely cost of legal action, the likelihood of a positive outcome and the likely length of court proceedings.

C onclusion

In summary, when dealing with Home Office delays it is first important to assess whether you have in fact experienced a delay. With this information you can then:

Contact UKVI to get an update.

If that fails you can escalate your issue to your local MP.

As a last resort you can lodge a complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsman providing that your local MP has referred your complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman first.

How can Paragon Law help?

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If you would like to know more about UK visa processing times, or if you would like to know what you can do to try and speed up the decision process, then get in touch with us today to speak to an expert immigration lawyer.

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UK: UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times

UKVI Visa Processing Standard Processing Times

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Visitors are not eligible to apply for settlement.

Study in the UK

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.

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

UK Ancestry

Returning Residents

UK Visa Decision Waiting Times: Frequently Asked Questions

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

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.

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.

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).

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?

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 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.

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 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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UK Skilled Worker Visa Application
Sole Representative Visa
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Start-up Visa
Mock Licence Audit Sponsors
Marriage Visit Visa
UK Unmarried Partner Visa
Spouse Visa UK
UK Ancestry Visa
Long Residency ILR
Indefinite Leave to Remain
Naturalisation

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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New visa decision waiting times for applications outside the UK

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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New Schengen Visa Rules for Indian Visitors: Key Questions Answered

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 23rd, 2024 at 5:39 AM EDT

Destinations value Indian travelers, but lengthy visa processing times lasting months act as significant deterrents. The adoption of these new regulations by European authorities reflects a proactive effort to tackle these concerns, aiming to boost tourism flow.

Peden Doma Bhutia

The European Commission has introduced a new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India. This regime looks to offer longer-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, based on the applicant’s travel history.

Indian travel agents had been complaining of Schengen visa delays as a major challenge to the summer travel rush from India.

How does one qualify for the longer duration visas?

The European Commission can issue a two-year multiple-entry visa after a traveler “has obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years.” This demonstrates a positive travel history and compliance with previous visa regulations.

Subsequently, after granting the two-year visa, authorities may issue a five-year visa if the passport has has adequate validity remaining.

What benefits do holders of these extended visas enjoy?

During the validity period of these visas, holders can enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals within the Schengen area, allowing for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Which countries are part of the Schengen area?

The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 European Union member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden. Additionally, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen area.

Are there any restrictions or conditions to these visas?

Schengen visas do not grant the right to work within the Schengen area and are for short stays only. Additionally, the visas are not purpose-bound, providing flexibility for travel within the specified period.

Industry Take

Skift also spoke to players in the Indian outbound travel industry to understand what has changed in the new Schengen visa rules.

How is this different from the earlier visas that Schengen countries offered? Don’t they already offer multi-entry visas with longer duration to Indians?

Mahendra Vakharia, managing director of Pathfinders Holidays, said there was no standard policy of Schengen states for issuing these long-term visas earlier. Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Italy and Spain usually issued long-term visa, but it was all subjective. “With this new policy it should be a standard rule now,” Vakharia said.

Travelers mainly complain of longer processing times, has that changed?

Here too, there is no standard processing time as it varies from country to country, according to Vakharia. “France and Spain have been processing visas within four days, and then there’s Croatia, which takes 60 days,” he said.

Processing time will not change as of now, it will take time for the visa rules to be enforced, said an industry source, while highlighting that the visa would be especially useful for corporate travelers.

What Promoted The Move?

Speaking on the possible motivations, Vakharia acknowledged various reasons, including administrative capacity constraints at embassies to cater to the huge inflow of applications.

“As there is an overwhelming demand from Indian travelers, the process of securing visa appointments has posed significant challenges , especially for travelers residing in cities lacking VFS Global centers,” he said.

The European Commission said in an statement that the decision reflects the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, aimed at fostering comprehensive cooperation on migration policy. Facilitating people-to-people contacts is a key aspect of this agenda, acknowledging India’s importance as an EU partner.

The decision also reflects a realization of the strong economic benefits derived through the spending power of Indian tourists. As Vakharia aptly puts it, “Why let go of the Golden Indian Goodie Bag?”

Skift India Report

The Skift India Report is your go-to newsletter for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

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Tags: asia monthly , europe , european commission , European summer travel , european union , india , india outbound , schengen , visa , visas

Photo credit: Park Guell in Spain. Unlike many Schengen countries, Spain has been processing visas within four days for Indian travelers. Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz / Pexels

Money latest: Gameboys, Sindy dolls, designer shoes, 1950s furniture - the items in your attic that could be worth a small fortune

Gumtree's most popular items include rare stamps, Gameboys and Pokemon cards. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment or submit a consumer dispute or money problem in the box.

Monday 29 April 2024 19:46, UK

Three of UK's biggest lenders up mortgage rates
Annual mortgage repayments have increased by up to 70% since 2021
Higher food prices and shortages warning - as new Brexit checks begin this week
People on disability benefits could receive vouchers rather than cash

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Strikes at Heathrow Airport are taking place over the next few weeks, with the first one already under way.

Staff at the UK's biggest airport are set to walk out during the early bank holiday in May, with their union warning planes could be "delayed, disrupted and grounded".

Click here to find out when all the strikes are, what disruption is expected and which airlines are affected...

The average price paid for comprehensive motor insurance rose 1% in the first quarter of the year, according to industry data indicating an easing in the steep rises seen last year.

The latest tracker issued by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) showed a 1% increase on the previous three months to £635.

That was despite the average claim paid rising 8% to reach a record of £4,800, the body said.

The ABI said the disparity showed that its members were "absorbing" additional costs and not passing them on.

Nevertheless, the average policy was still 33%, or £157, higher between January and March compared to the same period last year.

Read the full story here ...

Getir , the grocery delivery app, has abandoned a European expansion that is set to result in the loss of around 1,500 jobs in the UK.

Sky News had previously revealed that the Turkey-based company, which means "to bring" in Turkish, had successfully raised money from investors to fund its withdrawals from the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.

It had already departed other countries including Italy and Spain.

The exits were prompted by growing losses linked to the company's rapid expansion.

Waitrose is launching an exclusive range of products with popular chef Yotam Ottolenghi today.

The Israeli-British chef is famous for his Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired food, and has worked with the supermarket to release products including a pasta sauce, spice blend and shawarma marinade.

It is the first time Ottolenghi has partnered with a supermarket in such a way.

The full range will be available in Waitrose shops, Waitrose.com and Ottolenghi.co.uk from today, while a selection of products will be available from the supermarket on Deliveroo and Uber Eats.

An introductory 20% off offer is being launched until 18 June.

The range includes:

Ottolenghi Miso Pesto 165g (£4)
Ottolenghi Kalamata Olive & Harissa Sauce 350g (£4.50)
Ottolenghi Pomegranate, Rose & Preserved Lemon Harissa 170g (£5)
Ottolenghi Green Harissa 170g (£5)
Ottolenghi Aleppo & Other Chillies Blend (£3.95)
Ottolenghi Sweet & Smokey Blend (£3.95)
Ottolenghi Citrus & Spice Blend (£3.95)
Ottolenghi Red Chilli Sauce (£4.50)
Ottolenghi Shawarma Marinade (£4)

Ottolenghi said he had "always been super eager to get our flavours onto people's dinner plates nationwide, not just in London, without having to cook it from scratch every single time".

He added: "I hate to admit it but the pasta sauce already features heavily in my home kitchen, when no one is looking."

The cost of bread, biscuits and beer could increase this year due to the impact of the unusually wet autumn and winter on UK harvests.

Research suggests that production of wheat, oats, barley and oilseed rape could drop by four million tonnes (17.5%) compared with 2023.

The wet weather has resulted in lower levels of planting, while flooding and storms over winter caused farmers more losses.

The predictions come just as the rate of price increases on many food items begins to slow as inflation falls.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) analysed forecasts from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHBD) and government yield data.

It found a "real risk" of beer, biscuits and bread becoming more expensive if the poor harvest increases costs for producers, according to its lead analyst Tom Lancaster.

Beer prices could be affected because the wet weather is still disrupting the planting of spring crops such as barley, the ECIU said.

And potatoes might also see a price hike in the coming months, with growers warning of a major shortage in the autumn due to persistent wet weather.

By Emily Mee , Money team

When I think about the toys of my childhood - my pink Barbie car, my Gameboy Micro, my collection of Pokemon cards - I can't tell you where they went.

Maybe they were shipped off to a charity shop at some point... Or perhaps they're in the attic?

While my hot pink Gameboy Micro is lost to the void of time (or a cardboard box somewhere in my mum's house), other versions of it are selling on eBay for £100 or more.

And there are Pokemon cards selling for anything from a tenner to hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

It's possible you also have items at home that are a collector's dream.

Gumtree says its collectables category is already proving to be a "hotbed of activity" this year, with listings up 22% in 2024 so far.

Its most popular items include rare stamps, coins, war memorabilia and Pokemon cards.

Spring is often the most popular time for buying and selling collectibles, with demand spiking in March and April.

We've enlisted the help of TV presenter and collectables expert Tracy Martin to give an idea of what could make you an easy buck.

Old toys making a 'retro comeback'

Tracy explains that while trends change, vintage toys tend to stand the test of time.

"Toys are always going to be popular because they tap into nostalgia, our childhood memories," she says, explaining that adults like to buy the toys they used to have.

Perhaps you were into cars, and you've got some old diecast vehicles from Matchbox, Corgi or Dinky Toys.

A quick look on toy auction site Vectis.co.uk shows a Corgi Toys "James Bond" Aston Martin estimated to sell for between £600 to £700 - while others are likely to fetch £50 to £60.

Sindy dolls are also particularly sought after - particularly those from the 1960s - and Barbie dolls from the 1990s too.

Pokemon cards have seen a "massive surge", Tracy says, with people paying "thousands and thousands of pounds" for good unopened sets.

She's even seen examples of people paying £16,000 upwards.

Another up-and-coming market is games consoles, such as Gameboys, vintage consoles and PlayStations, which are making a "retro comeback".

What else could earn you some cash?

Tracy says there's currently a surge in people wanting to buy "mid century" furniture, which is dated to roughly 1945 to 1965 and typically uses clean lines and has a timeless feel.

Vintage Danish furniture is sought after, particularly tables and chairs with good designer names such as Wegner, Verner Panton and Arne Jacobsen.

Prices range from the low hundreds into the thousands.

People will also look out for vintage framed prints by artists such as Tretchikoff, J.H. Lynch and Shabner - these can range in price from £50 upwards to a few hundred pounds plus.

Vintage clothes, handbags and shoes can fetch a good price - but you can also invest in modern pieces.

Tracy suggests looking out for good classic designs with high-end designer names such as Gucci, Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton.

Modern designers such as Irregular Choice, Vendula and Lulu Guinness are also collected.

Collaborations with designers and celebrities can do well as they're often limited edition.

For example, Tracy says the H&M x Paco Rabanne maxi silver sequin dress retailed at £279.99 last year but now sells for in excess of £600.

When it comes to shoes, "the quirkier the design the better" - so look out for brands such as Irregular Choice and Joe Browns.

Converse and Dr Martens collaborations also do well, depending on the design and condition, as well as Adidas and Nike limited edition trainers.

What's the best way to sell?

Tracy recommends to always research before selling your items, as they might perform better on different platforms and you can also get an idea of how much they sell for.

For example, Vinted can be a good place to sell clothes and shoes, while other items might be better suited for sale on Gumtree, eBay or Etsy.

Tracy's favourite way to sell is through auction - especially if there are specialist sales.

Vectis is one of the biggest and most popular for toy selling.

Interests in different periods and items can go up and down, but for the time being vintage pieces from the 1980s and 90s are popular.

How much you'll be able to get from an item often takes into account its rarity, condition, whether it reflects a period in time, and if it's got a good name behind it.

You never know - you might be sitting on a treasure trove.

Annual mortgage repayments have increased by up to 70% since 2021, according to new data from Zoopla .

The biggest impact of rising interest rates has been in southern England where house prices are higher.

Across the South West, South East and East of England, the annual mortgage cost for an average home is £5,000 higher than previously. This rises to £7,500 in London.

But the universal uptick in mortgage costs has been less pronounced in other parts of the UK, with the North East seeing a £2,350 increase.

In a bid to tackle inflation, the Bank of England has raised the base rate from 0.1% in December 2021 to a 16-year high of 5.25% now.

The Zoopla research looked at the average home buyer taking out a 70% loan-to-value mortgage.

This week seems to be starting where last week left off - with three major lenders announcing further hikes in mortgage rates.

Amid uncertainty of the timing of interest rate cuts from the Bank of England this year, swap rates (which dictate how much it costs lenders to lend) have been rising in recent weeks.

Financial markets currently see two rate cuts by the Bank of England this year.

We've reported on a string of rate bumps from the high street over the last 10 days, and this morning NatWest, Santander and Nationwide moved.

In its second hikes announcement in less than a week, NatWest laid out increases across its full range of residential and buy-to-let fixed deals of up to 0.22%.

Santander, meanwhile, announced increases for both fixed and tracker deals across their residential and buy-to-let products - up to 0.25%.

The same hikes are being imposed for a range of Nationwide deals.

All of these will kick in tomorrow.

Amit Patel, adviser at Trinity Finance, told Newspage it was "not a great start to the week".

"This is not good news for borrowers," he said.

Where will the base rate go this year?

The majority of the bets, according to LSEG data, are on the first cut coming in August (previously this was June) and the second in December.

This would take Bank rate from the current level of 5.25% to 4.75%.

Disabled people could receive vouchers instead of monthly payments under proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The changes could see people being provided with either one-off grants for specific costs such as home adaptation, or being directed to "alternative means of support" rather than financial support.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride is set to announce plans today to overhaul the way disability benefits work.

In a Green Paper due to be published alongside Mr Stride's statement to the Commons, ministers will set out plans to reform Personal Independence Payments (PIP), the main disability benefit, through changes to eligibility criteria and assessments.

The plans also include proposals to "move away from a fixed cash benefit system", meaning people with some conditions, such as depression and anxiety, will no longer receive regular payments but rather get improved access to treatment if their condition does not involve extra costs.

Speaking to Sky News earlier, Mr Stride said: "I want us to have a grown-up, sensible conversation about a benefit called PIP that has not been reviewed in over a decade.

"And I want to ask the question, is it fit for purpose given the world that we're in today, in which mental health issues sadly present more of an issue than they did a decade ago."

By James Sillars , business reporter

A fresh high for the FTSE 100 to start the week.

The index of leading shares in London was 0.5% up at 8,179 in early dealing.

The gains were led by miners and financial stocks.

Dragging on the performance were some consumer-facing brands including JD Sports and Flutter Entertainment.

One other development of note to mention is that stubbornly high oil price.

A barrel of Brent crude is currently trading almost 1% down on the day.

But it remains at $88 a barrel.

The market has been pulled by various forces this month, with hopes of a rebound in demand in China among them.

The latest decline is said to reflect peace talks being held between Israel and Hamas.

A demand for smaller homes has driven growth in UK property prices early in 2024, according to research by Halifax.

Data from the bank's house price index suggests annual property price growth hit 1.9% in February this year - a significant rise from -4.1% just three months prior.

That equates to a rise in prices of £5,318 over the past year.

It follows interest rates stabilising, Halifax says, after a sharp rise over the past two years which squeezed mortgage affordability.

A key driver behind rising prices, Halifax says, has been first-time buyers, who made up 53% of all homes bought with a mortgage in 2023 - the highest proportion since 1995.

And it's smaller homes that have recorded the biggest increases in price growth in the early part of this year - with buyers adjusting their expectations to compensate for higher borrowing costs.

Flats and terraced houses made up 57% of all homes purchased by first-time buyers last year.

This varies by region - for example, in London, flats and terraced homes accounted for 90% of all first-time buyer purchases.

Challenges remain

However, Amanda Bryden, head of Halifax mortgages, said "it's important not to gloss over the challenges" facing the UK housing market, given the "impact of higher interest rates on mortgage affordability" and "continued lack of supply of new homes".

"But scratch beneath the surface and there is a more nuanced story, one which shows that demand for different property types in different parts of the country can vary hugely," she added.

"As interest rates have stabilised and buyers adjust to the new economic reality of owning a home, one way to compensate for higher borrowing costs is to target smaller properties.

"This is especially true among first-time buyers, who have proven to be resilient over recent years, and now account for the largest proportion of homes purchased with a mortgage in almost 30 years."

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Visa processing times: applications outside the UK
When your application processing time starts. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) starts processing your application once you either: verify your identity and submit your documents and application ...
Visa processing times: applications inside the UK
The processing times listed below are based on the current volume of visa applications. All UK processing times are measured against agreed customer service standards . Visit visa
UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times
10 Mar 2024. 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 (Latest from UKVI)
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 ...
December update on UK visa processing times
visa processing times. 6 December 2022. When you apply for a UK visa, the length of time you can expect to wait for a decision will vary depending on the type of visa you have applied for, whether you applied from overseas or from within the UK, and whether you have utilised any of the Home Office's paid for priority services.
UK Visa Decision Waiting Times: Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Guidance: Visa decision waiting times: applications outside 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 ...
Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK
The delay in visit visa processing times reduced from 6 weeks to 5 weeks on Monday 28 November 2022. 2022-11-11 14:47 Added guidance about checking spam folders if you are waiting for a decision letter. 2022-11-11 12:07 The visit visa delay processing times have been changed from 7 weeks to 6 weeks. 2022-10-07 15:00
Visa Appointment Wait Times
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: Wait Times for Embassy/Consulate. Visa Wait Times. Nonimmigrant Visa Type. Appointment Wait Time. Interview Required Students/Exchange Visitors (F, M, J) -- days.
Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application
Using the 'priority service' means you'll usually get a decision within 5 working days, or 30 working days for Family visa applications from outside the UK.
Guidance: Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK
The average wait time for a decision is currently 10 months. We are working hard to reduce this. Please note that there may be circumstances which result in your application taking slightly longer. If you need to make urgent travel overseas (for example, due to a family bereavement), we may be able to provide a faster decision.
Spring 2024 update on UK visa processing times
According to the UKVI website, current processing times for applications made outside the UK are as follows: Work visas - 3 weeks. Temporary work visas - 3 weeks. Visit visas - 3 weeks. Student visas - 3 weeks. Family visas - 24 weeks. Ukraine visas - 3 weeks. British National (Overseas) visas - 12 weeks.
UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times
The customer service standard for receiving a decision is 3 weeks. The Home Office is currently advising that Student visa applications are taking on average 3 weeks to process. This is in line with the service standard. Short-term study visas are also currently taking on average 3 weeks to process.
UK Visa Processing Times
Scale-up worker visa. If you have made a visa application to join family in the UK (i.e. partner visa, spouse visa, parent visa, child visa, adult dependent relative visa, private life applications) then visa decisions take around 24 weeks. However, if you are applying for family reunion to join a refugee or an individual with humanitarian ...
Please share your timeline: UK Visitor visa from US (VFS New ...
May 20: VFS New York received our package with the passport plus documents. May 21: Email, "Application was forwarded to UKVI". June 10 : Email, "The processed visa applicaton for reference number is dispatched via courier UKVI". June 13 : Email, "Receved our Passport with visa". Wroking Days to get our visa is 15 days.
UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times
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 ...
UK Visa Waiting Times
UK Visa Waiting Times. Nov 07, 2023. 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 ...
New visa decision waiting times for applications outside the UK
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:
UK Visas and Immigration
UK Visas and Immigration is responsible for making millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the country, with a firm emphasis on national security and a culture ...
Processing Times for Tourism & Visitor Visas
If a visa application is approved during a visa interview, the average processing time is 3-5 working days. At least a further 2-3 workdays should be allowed for delivery. If you are eligible for the 'Interview Waiver Program' and submit your application by courier without attending an interview. Visa processing takes approximately 21 ...
Visitor Visa Waiting Times : r/ukvisa
ShiningCrawf. • 2 yr. ago. Standard processing time for that visa is 21 days. If your biometrics were submitted on 13/10, this would have elapsed on 04/11 - sounds as though you may have escalated too early. Going a week or so over the expected due date is far from abnormal, especially with the pandemic backlog.
New Schengen Visa Rules for Indian Visitors: Key Questions Answered
During the validity period of these visas, holders can enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals within the Schengen area, allowing for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day ...
How to apply for a visa to come to the UK
If you want to visit the UK. Apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months. For example: for a holiday or to see family and friends. for a business trip or meeting. to do a ...
Ask a question or make a comment
A quick look on toy auction site Vectis.co.uk shows a Corgi Toys "James Bond" Aston Martin estimated to sell for between £600 to £700 - while others are likely to fetch £50 to £60.

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