Visa

Dear Applicant,  

Your online application has been received at the UK Decision Making Centre in Sheffield.  

CUSTOMERS IN THE USA

If you enrolled your biometrics at a US Dept of Homeland Security Application Support Centre (ASC) then the processing time on your application will start as soon as we receive confirmation from the New York Scanning Hub that your documents have been received and uploaded to our system.  

If you attended a VFS Premium Application Centre (PAC) then the processing time starts on the day you enrolled your biometrics. 

Please refrain from contacting the enquiry service within the processing times. You will receive an email once your application has been considered and has been despatched.

SETTLEMENT APPLICATIONS 

If you have made a Settlement application (except for applications lodged in USA and Canada): you must ensure that your UK sponsor has sent all relevant supporting documentation to the UK Decision Making Centre in Sheffield. The documents should be arranged in this order: application form and relevant Appendix* (See below); English language evidence; relationship documents; maintenance documents; accommodation documents.  If documents are not received a decision will be taken on the basis on the information that has been provided.

If you have already had your supporting documents scanned in at the Visa Application Centre, or if you have already sent them in to us, please ignore the request for documents. 

If you have paid for Priority Service, your application will be placed in front of the queue and assessed ahead of other non-priority visa applications others but may still take 12 weeks to conclude if we require further time to consider the application. As indicated in the terms of service, the amount paid for the priority service, as well as the visa fees, is not refundable if the visa application is refused or if the decision is delayed.

Please note that UKVI aims to complete all Visit Visa applications within 15 working days and all Settlement Visa applications within 12 weeks of the application date. If it is not possible to complete your application within this timeframe a member of our team will contact you to explain why. 

We regret that we are unable to respond to enquiries asking about the status of any application. Any status enquiry should be made to the international enquiry service, details of which are on the GOV.UK website. Staff at Embassies, visa processing centres and visa application centres cannot assist with visa enquiries. You may also wish to view the current processing times for applications made in your country.

A further email will be sent to you to confirm when your application has been assessed and dispatched. If your application was made in a Visa Application Centre, the staff there will contact you when your documents are ready – please do not attend the Centre until you are requested to do so.

Please note that you are advised not to purchase flight tickets until you have secured a visa for travel to the UK.

*List of Appendices:

Appendix 1 - Children / Other Dependants

Appendix 2 - Spouse / Partner

Appendix 4 - Pre-flight family members of Refugees

Appendix 5 - Access Rights to Child

Further information is also available on the UK visas and immigration website.

Kind regards,

UK Decision Making Centre