**** COVID19 and UKVCAS Appointments **** (ONLY discuss here)

[daku]

Been checking for the last few days but there are no free appointments. I miss the post office. Why should i pay £200 for fingerprints when i just paid 3 k for a stupid application. Leeches.

[Rayrayray]

@daku
I submitted my application yesterday and followed Cullinan's below advice...found a free appointment between 6AM-9AM this morning..otherwise the only available was at the end of July and a minimum of £199.
The appointment is also 2 weeks away so happy days... Thank you very much Cullinan..cheeta hai bhai!!!


"Suggestion for booking biometrics appointments, might be helpful to new users:

You have 45 working days to book an appointment (excluding Sat/Sun) after online submission. These days biometrics appointments are running at a 28 days lag i.e. you get an appointment for the 28th day unless you get to find an earlier cancellation.

My suggestion:
1) Login UKVCAS booking system 12 AM midnight GMT (1AM BST) to look for appointments.

2) Look for different centres and locations if you are willing to travel.

3) Look continuously for 3/4 days regularly (after submission and before booking a slot) to find an earlier cancellation or free appointments during the day/after midnight. For free appointments look especially between 6am-9am in the morning. Free options are offered by Core Centres only (week days).

4) If you fail and can not find any earlier cancellations or free appointments for next 3/4 days after submission, book one logging in at 12 AM midnight GMT. You will get one for the 28th day (has to be a week day for better availability). If the 28th day is a Sat/Sun, availability will be almost nil.

I would suggest you try your luck for 3/4 days before you book one. Once you book an appointment, you will not be able to see any more availability.
Cullinan"

[mishima]

ok so i've uploaded most of the documents and got an appointment at an enhanced centre. I understand document scanning and checking is included in the service so I assumed they will scan the remaining documents for us (since i'm paying for a service might as well get them to scan the passports).

I've noticed i get this option"Submit your uploaded documents to UKVI
You now have the option to submit your uploaded documents before your appointment takes place. This action can only be performed once."

Does that mean I shouldn't click on this as there are still remaining documents and it will be submitted by UKVCAS when they scan the remaining documents?

[CULLINAN]

ok so i've uploaded most of the documents and got an appointment at an enhanced centre. I understand document scanning and checking is included in the service so I assumed they will scan the remaining documents for us (since i'm paying for a service might as well get them to scan the passports).

I've noticed i get this option"Submit your uploaded documents to UKVI
You now have the option to submit your uploaded documents before your appointment takes place. This action can only be performed once."

Does that mean I shouldn't click on this as there are still remaining documents and it will be submitted by UKVCAS when they scan the remaining documents?

Documents checking service is a waste tbh. Note it is your responsibility to upload all documents as per the immigration requirements. UKVCAS staff usually is not happy to scan full passports plus they have little knowledge about immigration matters. They only scan the front and bio pages. You should make sure you upload your passports ideally full or at least bio page and all stamps pages covering your qualifying period.
Obviously it is your choice if you want them to do it.
Self-submission button is useless in your case.
UKVCAS staff will submit for you at the appointment.

[sachink0201]

Hi Mishima,

How’s the availability of paid appointments? How far out is your appointment? I am applying during the week and wanted to know how much is the gap between submission and biometrics?

ok so i've uploaded most of the documents and got an appointment at an enhanced centre. I understand document scanning and checking is included in the service so I assumed they will scan the remaining documents for us (since i'm paying for a service might as well get them to scan the passports).

I've noticed i get this option"Submit your uploaded documents to UKVI
You now have the option to submit your uploaded documents before your appointment takes place. This action can only be performed once."

Does that mean I shouldn't click on this as there are still remaining documents and it will be submitted by UKVCAS when they scan the remaining documents?

[mishima]

Documents checking service is a waste tbh. Note it is your responsibility to upload all documents as per the immigration requirements. UKVCAS staff usually is not happy to scan full passports plus they have little knowledge about immigration matters. They only scan the front and bio pages. You should make sure you upload your passports ideally full or at least bio page and all stamps pages covering your qualifying period.
Obviously it is your choice if you want them to do it.
Self-submission button is useless in your case.
UKVCAS staff will submit for you at the appointment.

thanks for that info.I guess i will scan myself to be on the safe side

[mishima]

Hi Mishima,

How’s the availability of paid appointments? How far out is your appointment? I am applying during the week and wanted to know how much is the gap between submission and biometrics?

Hi paid appointments availability is OK but depends on location.My local ones had no availability at all The one that was reasonable for me to travel(10 miles away)to had availability one month after our submission date

[sachink0201]

Thank you! All the best

[mishima]

Documents checking service is a waste tbh. Note it is your responsibility to upload all documents as per the immigration requirements. UKVCAS staff usually is not happy to scan full passports plus they have little knowledge about immigration matters. They only scan the front and bio pages. You should make sure you upload your passports ideally full or at least bio page and all stamps pages covering your qualifying period.
Obviously it is your choice if you want them to do it.
Self-submission button is useless in your case.
UKVCAS staff will submit for you at the appointment.

thanks for that info.I guess i will scan myself to be on the safe side

just thinking about it if i scan myself... I guess self-submitting is more beneficial?

[glasgowedinburgh2000]

Hello all - Hope everyone is well. I will be applying for Tier2 to ILR during the last week of July once i am eligible. I was wondering and would like to know from others as to how soon we are getting biometric appointments. I can travel anywhere in England and Wales.

[CULLINAN]

Hello all - Hope everyone is well. I will be applying for Tier2 to ILR during the last week of July once i am eligible. I was wondering and would like to know from others as to how soon we are getting biometric appointments. I can travel anywhere in England and Wales.

Normal appointments run at a 28 days lag. If you want to try your luck to find any earlier free cancellation/free appointment read a couple few previous messages in the thread.

[glasgowedinburgh2000]

Thanks Cullinan for the quick reply. Does this usual 28 day lag also apply to paid appointments?

[CULLINAN]

Thanks Cullinan for the quick reply. Does this usual 28 day lag also apply to paid appointments?

Yes. You can always try the trick to find earlier cancellations/free appointments as suggested above.

[zl13407]

Submitted my application online with super priority on the 16th, attended biometrics appointment this morning and got approval just 4 hours after!

A tip for getting early appointments if you’re willing to travel - don’t bother with large centres or major cities, availability is most likely nada. Log on at 1am BST and look for smaller centres. When I searched I found quite a few slots 3-7 days ahead in Norwich and Aberdeen (and another small centre that I don’t recall). The Aberdeen appointments are even free and Norwich ones cost £71. If you’re willing to travel and/or pay, give this a try

[naht2018]

how did you submit super priority appln?

I'm getting only standard service option. looking to book Super Priority for SET (LR) route, any tips ?

[CULLINAN]

how did you submit super priority appln?

I'm getting only standard service option. looking to book Super Priority for SET (LR) route, any tips ?

First come first serve limited appointments basis. Every day some slots are released 1AM BST. Log in and check then.

[AlexJoestar]

Does anyone live in London? The appointment slots in every service point just went full in an instance every day at 1 o'clock BST. So literally, it's just impossible to get an appointment in that situation. Does anyone have suggestions? Thank you : )

[CULLINAN]

Does anyone live in London? The appointment slots in every service point just went full in an instance every day at 1 o'clock BST. So literally, it's just impossible to get an appointment in that situation. Does anyone have suggestions? Thank you : )

Keep checking throughout the day especially between 6-9am.

[naht2018]

how did you submit super priority appln?

I'm getting only standard service option. looking to book Super Priority for SET (LR) route, any tips ?

First come first serve limited appointments basis. Every day some slots are released 1AM BST. Log in and check then.

Thanks a lot CULLINAN, it helped. managed to pay for Super Priority service by logging in at 1 AM BST. One step forward.

Next, need to book an appointment. do we need to upload the documents after booking an appointment?

[ryan1988]

Hello there,

My partner has a tricky situation where she is a T2 dependant with 46 calendar days between her visa expiry date and 5-year time to be eligible to apply for ILR.

I have found a very smart move to apply ILR on the last day of visa expiry and book the UKVCAS appointment only after she has actually accumulated for 5-year time. However I could not find anywhere stating how much time we would have to book the appointment after submitting the application. I trust the professional and generous advice provided from this board but I'm worried a lot on her application being rejected or invalid if it crossed the maximum limit.

Can I seek some help from you guys? Many thanks in advance!


Cheers,
Ryan

[CR001]

Hello there,

My partner has a tricky situation where she is a T2 dependant with 46 calendar days between her visa expiry date and 5-year time to be eligible to apply for ILR.

I have found a very smart move to apply ILR on the last day of visa expiry and book the UKVCAS appointment only after she has actually accumulated for 5-year time. However I could not find anywhere stating how much time we would have to book the appointment after submitting the application. I trust the professional and generous advice provided from this board but I'm worried a lot on her application being rejected or invalid if it crossed the maximum limit.

Can I seek some help from you guys? Many thanks in advance!


Cheers,
Ryan

You have 45 days to attend the biometric appointment.

[ryan1988]

Hello there,

My partner has a tricky situation where she is a T2 dependant with 46 calendar days between her visa expiry date and 5-year time to be eligible to apply for ILR.

I have found a very smart move to apply ILR on the last day of visa expiry and book the UKVCAS appointment only after she has actually accumulated for 5-year time. However I could not find anywhere stating how much time we would have to book the appointment after submitting the application. I trust the professional and generous advice provided from this board but I'm worried a lot on her application being rejected or invalid if it crossed the maximum limit.

Can I seek some help from you guys? Many thanks in advance!


Cheers,
Ryan

You have 45 days to attend the biometric appointment.

Much appreciated with the prompt reply.
Does it mean 45 working days? Unfortunately my partner has 46 calendar days gap in between, I hope it would be working days.

Thanks a lot!
Ryan

[CULLINAN]

45 working days.

[ryan1988]

Thanks CULLINAN for your clear advice.
Sorry I know I'm a pain on this question. Is there any gov/UKVCAS page that I can find this 45 working days information? The point I'm hesitating is the application might become invalid or rejected in case the rule changed without notice. I trust your professional advice but it's a huge cost to me so wanted to be 100% sure.

[CULLINAN]

Thanks CULLINAN for your clear advice.
Sorry I know I'm a pain on this question. Is there any gov/UKVCAS page that I can find this 45 working days information? The point I'm hesitating is the application might become invalid or rejected in case the rule changed without notice. I trust your professional advice but it's a huge cost to me so wanted to be 100% sure.

It is 45 working days. When you apply you will have the deadline on your further actions page.