The war in Ukraine has affected the waiting times of many applicants applying from both inside and outside the UK. With the recent introduction of the Ukraine Scheme, the Home Office is now prioritising Ukraine visa applications over all others.
Priority and super priority visa services have been temporarily suspended from outside the UK.
Standard visitor visa: Currently taking on average 6 weeks to process.
Study visas: Usually within 3 weeks.
Work visas: Usually within 3 weeks.
From in country we are currently experiencing applications for Sponsorship License taking in excess of 5 months for an outcome.
Family visas: up to 24 weeks to process.
It is our experience that applicants are having to wait in excess of the 24 weeks advised, with no communication or update from the Home Office regarding the delays. These are very stressful and worrying times for some applicants that have paid a priority fee last year prior to the service being suspended and are still having to wait for an outcome.
We continue to experience a further lack of communication from the Home Office when a complaint is logged, for which the advised response time is 20 working days, however, we once more are having to experience longer response times and in some cases no response at all, which means having to log more than one complaint on the same matter.
From inside the UK we are experiencing the "super priority service" take longer than a week (we are still waiting) for a decision. Which means applicants that have paid an additional £800 for a next working day or 2 working day outcome are having to wait longer.
We hope to see these times and services improved soon.
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