For all those who are still waiting, don't loose your hope! After 2 refusal, we submitted third application and finally after total of 1,5 year of trying we got it. This forum kept us patient and helped us to carry on. We applied from Shanghai.
15.9.2017 third application made
3.10.2017 'non straightforward' email
3.11.2017 escalation by international phone line
3.11.2017 at same time of escalation, I wrote a separate email complaint and sent to:
complaints@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
7.11.2017 Received email saying: 'my complaint will not be handled as I contacted the wrong team and please use this link (
www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside- ... ide-the-uk) to make any queries relating to application outside of the UK'
10.11.2017 Received email due to escalation saying: 'As we have previously advised (...) application has not been straightforward. We cannot give a time scale for when the decision will be made (etc...)'
30.11.2017 A reply for previously made complaint which firstly was not going to be handled by the complaints team but somehow they did replied and in a very long email they apologized for long delays, and answering my questions that ECO never makes a refusal decisions lightly and only after full consideration of the information submitted at the time of the application
5.12.2017 Email: 'The processed visa application for GWF reference number - GWF........ was received at the UK Visa Application Centre on 12/5/2017. If a courier service was purchased from VFS Global, your processed application will be delivered to the chosen address. If not, your documents can be collected during the designated passport collection times. Please note this is an auto generated e-mail. Please do NOT reply to this email.'
6.12.2017 Passport delivered by the courier with FP inside!!
Totally surprised, was expecting another refusal. Booked tickets immediately, me and my wife are going home for Christmas!
Good luck for rest who still waiting, be strong keep fighting!