Guidance: Visa processing times: applications outside the UK

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Uk Visas Immigration

February 19

15:00 2024

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You are not required to book any travel before you apply or before a decision is made on your application.

You should allow enough time before you plan travel to make a visa application. You will only receive a refund of your application fee if we have not started to process your application.

You may be able to pay for a faster decision on a visa application.

When your application processing time starts

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) starts processing your application once you either:

verify your identity and submit your documents and application online using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. Well tell you if you can use this
attend your appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information)

Applications made in the USA

If you make an appointment at a USCIS Application Support Center to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information), you must then send your passport and documents to the VFS processing hub in New York.

If you make an appointment at a VFS premium Application Centre to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information), you can submit your passport and supporting documents at that location.

In both cases, the processing time starts when VFS receive your application.

When your application processing time ends

Youll get a letter or email to let you know that a decision has been made on your application.

If you attended a visa application centre, you should not visit one until you have been contacted to do so.

You do not need to contact UKVI to track your application if youve already made a visa application and it is still within the current processing times.

When you might wait longer

Your visa application may take longer to process if, for example:

the information in your application is not accurate or requires further consideration
you need to provide further evidence, for example evidence of funds
your supporting documents need to be verified
you need to attend an interview
further information is required on your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
UKVI is experiencing increased visa demand

You will be contacted by a letter or email if we need more information on your visa application.

Current processing times

The processing times listed below are based on the current volume of visa applications.

All UK processing times are measured against agreed customer service standards.

Visit visas

Category	Processing time
Standard Visitor	3 weeks
Permitted Paid Engagement	3 weeks
Marriage Visitor	3 weeks
Chinese tour group	3 weeks
Transit	3 weeks

Study visas

Category	Processing time
Student	3 weeks
Child Student	3 weeks
Study English in the UK: Short-term student (6 to 11 month English language courses)	3 weeks

Family visas

Category	Processing time
Partner or spouse	24 weeks
Parent	24 weeks
Child	24 weeks
Adult coming to be cared for by a relative	24 weeks

Ukraine visas

Category	Processing time
Homes for Ukraine	3 weeks

Popular work visas

Category	Processing time
Skilled Worker	3 weeks
Health and Care Worker	3 weeks

Temporary work visas

Category	Processing time
Government Authorised Exchange	3 weeks
Charity Worker	3 weeks
Creative Worker	3 weeks
International Agreement	3 weeks
Seasonal Worker	3 weeks
Religious Worker	3 weeks

Work visas you can apply for without a job offer

Category	Processing time
Global Talent	3 weeks
Youth Mobility Scheme	3 weeks
India Young Professionals Scheme visa	3 weeks
UK Ancestry	3 weeks
High Potential Individual (HPI)	3 weeks

Work visas to start a business

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