UK visitor visa - application done,supporting docs submitted, what happens next?

[jimmy2times]

So, my GF took the supporting docs (for her UK visitor visa) into the new VAC office 10 days ago. Everything went ok, and she was told it would take 15 working days. They will email her soon with the exact date for coming back into the office.

I just want to check what happens when she goes back. Will she be given her passport (hopefully with visa) at that time? Or does she have to go back again? (my GF mentioned something about having to go back again (a 3rd time) a few days later but it doesn't make sense to me, unless its for the supporting docs).

Really just trying to put a timeline on this so we can plan the flights/schedule.

[nigel&panada]

She should get an email in the next couple of days telling her her stuff is ready to collect from VFS. When she gets there they will give her her passport and any returned docs, the passport will either have a visa or not, There will be no requirement for a 3rd visit.

[Andi]

My fiancée and her 3 year old daughter are applying for a visit visa.
Handing in supporting documents on Monday. Hoping they get a decision (positive) before I return to UK 15 days later.
She lives in Laos though, so will the daughter have to attend again to collect her passport or can the mother (my fiancée) attend again on her own to collect the passports etc.?
Travel ain't cheap or easy back and forth with a child and don't want to hinder child's education.
Be easier is my fiancée could just nip to collect.
If she is rejected I will be furious. But she'll have a mini breakdown. I just know it. She'll get paranoid I'll leave her and lot's of other thoughts will get into her head. Wouldn't like her to do it in public or with the child present.
Hopefully I can be present though to offer her support and visa will only take 14 days for a decision.

Be nice to know if the child needs to be present for passport re-collection though please?

[bifftastic]

There's no need for your daughter to attend. Is there no post option for Laos citizens? We always have ourt stuff sent by post as my wife lives in Chiang Rai

[Andi]

I wouldn't like to trust and rely on a postal service. Really wouldn't. Family are not well off. A lot of time and effort has gone into this visa application to get everything right. Wouldn't want my original docs getting into wrong hands or her docs with translations that have taken time, effort and money to get.

I will get her to collect them in person. Ensuring she keeps receipt to do so. Her sister in Thailand can always look after her daughter and mother for a couple days when she visits.

Not my daughter btw. It is hers. Daughters father is dead. Death certificate and translation in supplied documents evidence folder to show sole responsibility.

Really asking question as seems pointless her daughter sat 8 hours on a bus there and back (to Bangkok) just to pick up docs and passports. But didn't want to make assumption it is possible, only for VFS insisting daughter should be present to collect her own passport.

[bifftastic]

Ok, although we've never had a problem with the post service. They send it EMS (their equivalent of registered post). What has the fact that your family are not well off got to do with anything?

If you would prefer your wife to collect them then there is no need for your step-daughter to go with her.

She's only collecting an envelope, it's not an official issue of a passport or anything. Even if it was, passports are posted to the people who applied for them.

When the application was submitted, what method of collection/delivery did she choose?

[Andi]

I submitted the application for her. If a box was ticked I would have chosen collection. I'm just a worrier. Prefer collection that is all. I meant not well off as in village in Isaan, hardly a letter box or number on the 'barn' 555. Only seen the postman once during my last visit, delivering one letter elsewhere.

The appointment is Monday. I arrive Bangkok Saturday evening. She is traveling Friday (today Thai time) via plane. Staying in Thailand for 19 days. Hope we will hear news within 14/15 days. Two weeks on the Tues after the appointment I return to UK. Hoping I can be there when she collects passports and support docs to offer support.

Thank you for the replies

[bifftastic]

Our postman arrives in the soi and shouts the person's name (if he doesn't know it already). Due to the different house numbering system in Thailand (it's not designed for the postman's benefit like it is in the UK), and the fact that there isn't the same volume of postal deliveries (I think the only mail we get is from the British Embassy once a year) it's more of a 'personal service' involving plenty of discussion with the neighbours about who the envelope should be delivered to.

I hope it all goes well for you

[Andi]

Thanks. For that same reason I would prefer she collects passport and docs. My fiancée and her daughter are in VFS now. Office is terribly packed ill equipped to cope cconsidering it is a new location. Some farrangs got inside through security. Puzzledwhy I didn't. Security told me to wait downstairs as she would be a very long time. I told him twice she is Vip and should not wait. Sat in a bar now waiting.

[bifftastic]

So she did bring her daughter all the way to Bangkok after all then?

I wasn't impressed with the new office either. Seems as though VFS have combined their UK and Australian visa processing services into one office.

My wife was in there (for her ten minute appointment slot) for over three hours!

We've just had an email saying they've made a decision on her latest Family Visit Visa. 4 days after VFS said they sent the documents to the embassy, which was 13 days after they were submitted!

I have complained.

[Andi]

She had to take Daughter for giving application with photo and finger scans. Yes uk and aussies crammed together. Hardly any room at reception which is tiny. Not impressed. Hope it doesn't take that long for us to find out. I go back to UK on 17th. Also warned her not to let them take documents out the folder. Unfortunately she listened to a lad that told her she didn't have to photocopy her house book or elder daughter's birth certificate. But these were part of the evidence for reasons to return in proving she has another daughter and proving her mother who lives with her that she looks after. But rest of docs stayed. Inc separate folder of 117 pages of very small font contact logs of calls and messages. To strengthen evidence of relationship. ECO can just flick through as separate. Included lots of photos from 3 visits. Photos Inc engagement and me with child. I wouldn't reject the application. But then I am biased and know the facts. I did stated her sister in Holland may visit in application form. Worried they would reject wrongly on that grounds used it as a strength. Her sister has already gone the visa route and now has a Dutch passport with her own business. So should look good. Included screen shots of part of invite message where her sister would like to visit when going to see London. Mentioned not the purpose of my fiancées visit visa and may not visit anyway. But would be only a day or two. Fiancée is really worried we will get rejected. But worrying doesn't help things. In hotel room with her and daughter. Tomorrow we go to Amnat Charoen. Hopefully we will hear about the visa soon. Good news hopefully. Was a very very stressful day today.

[The Fat Controller]

My wife went to VFS on Thursday 15th May to submit her application for a 6 month Family Visit Visa.

She received an email today, Tuesday 3rd June at lunchtime, that her application had been processed and her documents can be collected 2 working days from now.

There is no indication in the email of the outcome, but I believe that is the way it is, she will only find out when she opens the package on Friday.

[bifftastic]

She had to take Daughter for giving application with photo and finger scans. Yes uk and aussies crammed together. Hardly any room at reception which is tiny. Not impressed. Hope it doesn't take that long for us to find out. I go back to UK on 17th. Also warned her not to let them take documents out the folder. Unfortunately she listened to a lad that told her she didn't have to photocopy her house book or elder daughter's birth certificate. But these were part of the evidence for reasons to return in proving she has another daughter and proving her mother who lives with her that she looks after. But rest of docs stayed. Inc separate folder of 117 pages of very small font contact logs of calls and messages. To strengthen evidence of relationship. ECO can just flick through as separate. Included lots of photos from 3 visits. Photos Inc engagement and me with child. I wouldn't reject the application. But then I am biased and know the facts. I did stated her sister in Holland may visit in application form. Worried they would reject wrongly on that grounds used it as a strength. Her sister has already gone the visa route and now has a Dutch passport with her own business. So should look good. Included screen shots of part of invite message where her sister would like to visit when going to see London. Mentioned not the purpose of my fiancées visit visa and may not visit anyway. But would be only a day or two. Fiancée is really worried we will get rejected. But worrying doesn't help things. In hotel room with her and daughter. Tomorrow we go to Amnat Charoen. Hopefully we will hear about the visa soon. Good news hopefully. Was a very very stressful day today.

I must've misunderstood. I thought you were collecting the documents after the decision had been made, not submitting the application.

The lad who said there was no need for the house book or the birth certificate was actually right, but I still don't think the VFS staff should have any input as to what's required and what isn't. They're not experts, although they do seem to think that they are!

Proving that she has a daughter that someone else looks after isn't going to be all that helpful in providing a reason to return. In fact, it probably goes against it, if you think about it. The house book is neither here nor there really. It neither adds or subtracts from the application, in my opinion.

Thai people always seem keen to include it. Possibly because they use that document quite frequently when dealing with officialdom in Thailand, so they assume they will need to include it with a UK visa application. The fact that there aren't any such documents in the UK gives it little weight to a UK government official though.

I think your contact evidence will demonstrate a very strong relationship, and that in itself will definitely help.

I think you've included everything that you possibly could, so now all you can do is wait.

Good luck with it all, I hope you hear the good news sooner rather than later

[The Fat Controller]

My wife collected her passport yesterday (Friday 6th June) at VFS.

She was a little ❇❇❇❇ed-off that she had to wait an hour as they only had one counter open for collections.

However, she now has a big smile and a Family Visit Visa and as of 10 minutes ago, flights booked with Emirates to come to Scotland in August.

Hope you have the same outcome.

[Andi]

It has been 3 weeks today since documents submitted. The submitted docs were delivered to embassy day after. So 20 days. We still are waiting. Stressful. She is Laos. Has 30 day visa for Thailand that will run out soon. She was crying this morning as can't collect 25000 baht money transfer her sister in Holland sent to pay for work on the very basic Isaan house where she has been working hard to get windows and tiled flooring to make the house suitable for her mother etc. If i knew before that the money was going to be sent I would have suggest before and not after to send to me as I was with her in Thailand and of course had my passport with me. So she now has to wait for her passport to get the money for paying work on her house. I witnessed a lot of the work whilst staying in the house for 2 weeks. Feel helpless. Not like i can send they money. She would still need passport to collect. Really need to explain to her about opening a bank account but then how many people in Issan villages feel the need or understanding of banking i wonder. Guess very few. Thanks for wishing us luck. We are very much in love now. The fact she loves me so much keeps our relationship solid.