Yesterday ATAS portal shows decided,till now I didn't recieved a email for certificate , the delay is normal.I emailed ATAS regarding this now

Sharing my timeline to give hope to those waiting for their visa decision and help future applicants. ❤️

• 2 Oct 2026 (Fri) – Online application
• 8 Oct 2026 (Thu, 9:00 AM) – Biometrics at VFS Dubai
• 16 Oct 2026 (Fri, 9:28 AM) – Application arrived at UKVI Decision Making Centre, Abu Dhabi
• 20 Oct 2026 (Tue, 3:19 PM) – VISA APPROVED! 🎉🇬🇧

Total: 8 working days from biometrics!

A little about me: I’m a Philippine national working and living in Dubai, and I applied completely DIY, without an agent.

Honestly, I wasn’t confident because I had no international travel history apart from the UAE, and my financial profile was a bit complicated.

• My main purpose was to visit my British boyfriend during the Christmas holidays. He will sponsor my accommodation and transportation with his own car. I submitted documents that establish both the genuineness of our relationship and my ability to financially support myself during my visit.

• I also had large deposits from friends for payments and expense reimbursements from employer. I prepared a bank statement cover page and financial evidence summary which includes explanations and supporting receipts to clarify these transactions.

• I also explained that I have an upcoming exam in February 2027. I included this as part of my circumstances to demonstrate that I have commitments to return to after my planned visit.

I may have gone overboard with the documents 😂, but I didn’t want any “what ifs” or regrets about not submitting enough supporting documents and most of all.. rejection.

My tips for future applicants:
• Ensure your application matches your supporting documents.
• Be honest about your income, savings, and spending.
• Explain unusual bank transactions and provide evidence where possible.
• Submit relevant, clear, and consistent documents. More isn’t always better!

Limited travel history or visiting a partner doesn’t automatically mean refusal. Every application is assessed based on its own circumstances.

This is just my personal experience, and outcomes may vary. I hope it gives some encouragement to those waiting and useful insights to future applicants. ❤️

If you have any questions about my DIY application, feel free to ask! 🥰 I’d be happy to share what I can and help make the process a little less stressful.

Good luck, everyone! Wishing you all positive results soon! 🤍🇬🇧

I passed guys it was so easy, I RECOMMEND TO FOCUS ON THE 17 MOCK EXAMS, all the questions I had came from that website 100% there were no new questions on my test, it was recognised from the 17 mock exams and yes I never once opened or used the handbook, the 17 mock exams was all I needed. Good luck everyone and thank you for this unbelievable cheat code 😂

Our UK spouse visa has finally been approved after an incredibly long, stressful, and emotional wait.
Our Journey
We made multiple paid enquiries, involved our MP. The application still took over 8 months.
Visa Details

● Visa Type: Spouse Visa
● Nationality: Pakistani
● Application Date: 13 February 2026
● Biometrics Date: 16 February 2026
● Approval Date: 19 October 2026
Processing Time
● 248 calendar days
● Approximately 172 working days
● 35 weeks and 3 days
Approval Email
● Pakistan Time: 9:57 PM
● UK Time: 5:57 PM

After months of uncertainty, the wait is finally over! ❤️
To everyone still waiting, InshaAllah, your good news will come soon too. Keep faith and stay hopeful. 🤲

Today (20 October), TLScontact at the Swindon UKVCAS centre. The staff member told us their system was offline, and they couldn’t process biometric appointments today. They advised that affected customers could return anytime this week or next week as walk-ins and would be seen without needing to rebook.

Has anyone else been affected today, either in Swindon or at another UKVCAS centre?

Also, if your biometric appointment was previously disrupted by an IT issue, how was it handled? Were you able to return as a walk-in using your original appointment confirmation, and did you receive any email confirming the arrangement?

It would be helpful to hear from anyone who’s been through something similar. Thanks!

Hi! I am currently on my first spouse visa, which is valid until 21 Nov 2026. My partner and I are currently in the process of preparing everything to apply for an extension. We are planning to apply on 25 Oct 2026. Is this too early? I heard that applying too early can cause issues later with regards to the ILR. If it's too early, when is the earliest date we can actually apply for an FLRM extension?

Edit: typo error

Hello all,

Posting my timeline here as I found it helpful to follow other people's timelines during the process.

I just got my citizenship application approved, I have also got my ILR this month through 5 year Global Talent route (Arts Council - Exceptional Promise)

ILR Timeline:
Route: Global Talent - Arts Council - Exceptional Promise (5 Years)
Application Method: Super Priority

• 5 October 2026: ILR application submitted
• 7 October 2026: ILR biometrics appointment (11.30am)
• 7 October 2026: ILR approved (2.00pm)

British Citizenship Timeline:
Route: Civil Partner of a British Citizen (applied immediately after the ILR approval)
Application Method: Priority

• 9 October 2026: Citizenship application submitted (1am)
• 13 October 2026: Biometrics appointment (7.45am)
• 20 October 2026: CT3 approval email received (around 10.45am)
• Ceremony Invitation: Awaiting

Hi. I'm renewing my UK dependent worker visa. My husband previously had a skilled worker and now has an ILR.
one of the questions in the application is : what is xxx work end date? The previous question was to add his COS number, which I did. But the work end date on that COS was in January, due to which it is not letting me proceed with the application. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi! Basically what it says on the tin : I’ve been staying in the UK as first a student, then on a graduate visa and have just transitioned to a Skilled Worker Visa. I’ve been working with my employer for a few months at this point.

Per my knowledge just my passport; share code and expired BRP should be enough. I’ve also kept print-outs of my share code, pay slips and employment contract just in case - is there anything I’m missing?

Thank you!

Hi ,

I have recently applied for my wife’s spousal visa extension and I did a mistake on the consent forms. I made my wife sign the part 1 ,part 2 and part 3 consent forms, and realised I should have signed the part 3 consent form not my wife as I am the sponsor (she is the applicant ) . I only signed the declaration form. What should I do to rectify this situation how bad have I messed up ?

My full name as per passport is john doe smith and under spouse name column in my wife's passport its mentioned john doe only.so when i fill the visitor visa form shud i mention john doe or john doe smith for my wife's application whn asked for spouse name?

I’m attaching my refusal letter in the hope that it might help others planning to apply for a similar visa in the future.

I went through quite a few posts on this subreddit and tried to incorporate everything I could to make my application as strong as possible. Unfortunately, my application was refused for appropriate reasons.

For context, I don’t have a good travel history, my only international travel includes a trip to Thailand for tourism. And I’m not married nor do I have any immovable assets. I work for a very well-established US product based company.

Biometrics submitted : Oct 9 Application received email: Oct 12

Decision email- Refusal letter: Oct 19

Docs submitted :

Official Employer sponsorship letter UK invitation letter with letter head and invitee’s details Payslips Form 16 Cover letter Personal bank statement

At this point i'm just tired. Can anyone point out what i should do for the third application?

I applied UK visit visa to attend academic conference as a PhD student from Myanmar studying in Thailand. They rejected my visa because they thought financial statement is not clearly stated, one night hotel booking is lack and not strong tie to country. I explained financial statement how I got money and phd stipend by supervisor’s letter and I got financial support letter from university too. And I submitted the two nights hotel booking and conference invitation letter which stated that the accommodation is already arranged. I have paid that nights and they didn’t look at that I guess. Should I reapply or should I wait at least 6 months.

Hi guys. The background is such that my fee waiver was lodged in time in August 2026. A month later, my employer obtained my Certificate of Sponsorship, however, I have not received a decision on my FW application yet.

Pursuant to 34G(4)(b), I can make the paid FLR application and it will take the date of my original FW. That satisfies the first limb. However, my question is whether after doing that, I can safely vary the paid FLR to a Skilled Worker visa.

Of course, I would attend the biometrics for both applications - but I am only looking for people in similar situations where they did the same thing. Please let me know.

Anything at all....I got to the UK on a dependent visa Feb 2023,my main applicant visa was cancelled April 2024 because he did a no show in school. Meanwhile,i got a new Cos and i put in the application befr the said visa cancellation date.Applied for a fee waiver to enable us stay in the country so we won't overstay. It was approved.
The Cos was refused with claims that I don't meet the requirements because I'm on immigration bail.I did an administrative review but nothing. The lawyer said since ders a pending application, we still have rights to work stay etc until you get a response.
Fast forward to Jan 2025,the lawyer applied for family/private life visa for us and we asked to come for biometrics. I did and we was asked to submit our int passport that it will be emailed back to us....till now,Home Office still holding on to it.
So..September 17th 2026, I got a mail to come fr a HO reporting
I got there and the interviewer asked me why m not living with my main applicant i.e my husband
I explained oh because of his school and my work
He was like No,you're not supposed to be working,you don't have any application ongoing....
I said, no dts not correct
I put in a Cos I haven't gotten any response, d family and private life visa too...
It was there i got to know that my Cos application has been withdrawn since without my knowledge because then I refused to put him(my main applicant)on the Cos when I did the application.
Secondly,d family/private life visa too has been refused so ders no pending application anymore.The interviewer even said oh HO will fine my workplace 20k fine for employing me illegally.
I was like but I have a unique application number for checks since I don't have a brp and it always comes back dt I have a pending application.
I am devastated,I need help
Anything, I was served the letter of refusal on the 15th of October and asked to leave the UK with no right to appeal the decision.
My main applicant has runaway....I have no recourse to him
Anything can help me at this point

Husband came to UK on skilled worker visa and is settled, going to be eligible to apply for citizenship next month. I came along as his dependant and will be eligible to apply for ILR early next year. I just want to clarify please that if my husband is a citizen at the time of me receiving settlement, would I still have to wait for a year before I can apply for citizenship or I could apply immediately?

I am working towards dual citizenship between Britain and the US, as the maternal side of my family is from Britain. I was born in the US in 1999 and am currently a US citizen.

My mother was born in Cumberland in 1967, and from what I understand she never became a US citizen. Her parents were also British. I‘m unable to confirm with her, but I distinctly recall her referring to herself as a British Subject, and from what I understand, most British Subjects cannot pass citizenship onto their children. However, based on what I’ve read, a person born in Cumberland in 1967 should be a British Citizen. Is there a way to verify if she is a British Subject or Citizen?

I have a copy of her birth certificate and would like to move onto next steps but am thrown a bit on how to proceed because of this. Based on what I’ve read, she should be a British Citizen, and if so I should automatically be a British Citizen and be able to just apply for a British passport. I don‘t mind spending the money and risking it getting rejected, but before I do I just thought I would attempt to get answers to my questions and ensure I’m not missing any other crucial information on the process. I would also like to know if there is any reason not to apply for the British passport if I’m not certain, other than the loss of the application fee.

Hi everyone,

We’ve just submitted our UK spouse visa application and I’m looking for some reassurance regarding a couple of sick pay adjustments on my payslips.

I’m the UK sponsor and have been permanently employed by the same company since February 2026. We’ve submitted six months of payslips and matching bank statements covering April to September 2026, along with my employment contract and employer’s letter.

My basic annual salary during the six-month period was initially £26,624, increasing to £26,728 in August. I also earned £2,779.58 in overtime during those six months.

My understanding of the Category A calculation is:
Lowest annual basic salary: £26,624
Six months’ overtime annualised: £5,559.16
Total annualised income: £32,183.16
This puts me £3,183.16 above the £29,000 requirement, without including any bonuses.

However, I’ve noticed the following sick pay adjustments:

May 2026:

Basic salary: £2,218.67
Retrospective sick leave deduction: −£100.85
Statutory Sick Pay: +£24.65
Occupational Sick Pay adjustment: +£76.20
Total gross earnings: £2,218.67

June 2026:
Basic salary: £2,218.67
Sick leave (1 day): −£100.85
Statutory Sick Pay: +£24.65
Monthly bonus: +£44
Total gross earnings: £2,186.47

Both payslips clearly show my normal basic salary, with the sickness adjustments separately itemised.

I’ve even tried calculating it conservatively by deducting the full £100.85 from my basic monthly salary, ignoring SSP, occupational sick pay and bonuses entirely.

That would leave a lowest monthly salary of £2,117.82, which annualises to £25,413.84. Adding the £5,559.16 annualised overtime gives £30,973, still £1,973 above the requirement.

My question is whether these sick pay adjustments could cause any issues with the Category A calculation, despite the income remaining above £29,000 even under that conservative approach.

I’ve read the sick pay provisions in Appendix FM-SE, but I’m interested in hearing from anyone who has had a similar situation involving one or two sick days on their payslips.

Has anyone successfully applied with something similar, or had UKVI question a small sickness deduction?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in the UK and waiting for my appeal hearing regarding my asylum refusal at the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber).

I would like to ask whether it is possible to submit an application for Further Leave to Remain (FLR(FP)) on the basis of family or private life while my asylum appeal is still pending.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or successfully applied for FLR(FP) while waiting for an asylum appeal hearing?

I would really appreciate it if anyone could share their experience or explain whether making this application could affect my ongoing asylum appeal or immigration status.

I understand that every case is different, and I will seek professional legal advice before making any decisions. I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who have been through a similar situation or have relevant knowledge of UK immigration law.

Thank you very much for your help.

Anyone have any experience getting in to the UK on a ETA visa if they had a state prison (not federal) sentence less then 12 months? I know people will say well why didn’t you say yes when they asked if you were convicted? it’s because it was pardoned later on. Will that still show up at customs in the UK though? Been approved for the ETA for tourism and we’re leaving next week. It took 2 mins to apply and get approved. Any help much appreciated.

My employer letter states “this person has not taken any unauthorised leaves in duration of employment” is that sufficient or they need to add the types of leaves too including annual, sick, study or emergency leave?

Also they’ve written in letter that I work 10 sessions per week and in ILR application it’s more specifically asked about hours and I’ve mentioned 40 (under NHS) is that enough or I ask employer to specify in number hours rather than sessions?

Many thanks.

Hi everyone,
I’m trying to work out whether I have any route to British citizenship through my maternal grandmother, and I’d appreciate advice from anyone familiar with historical British nationality law, particularly the rules before 1983.
Here are my family details:
● My grandmother: Born in London, England, in 1905. She moved to Canada in 1910 and lived here continuously until her death in 1980.
● Her nationality: I have her original British passport, issued in 1977 and expired in 1987. It describes her status as “British subject: citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies.” I have her birth certificate too, including a certified true copy issued in 1945.
● My grandfather: Born in Canada and was a Canadian citizen. He married my grandmother before my mother was born.
● My mother: Born in Canada on 1936. She has a Canadian passport, and I don’t know whether she ever held British nationality or registered as a British citizen.
● Me: Born in Canada on 1966. I am a Canadian citizen.
I don’t know whether my grandmother ever became a naturalized Canadian citizen. I suspect she may not have, but I haven’t confirmed this.
My questions are:

1. Could I qualify for British citizenship through my grandmother under Section 4C or another registration provision for people born before 1983 to British mothers?
2. What is the best way to establish my mother’s historical nationality status? Should I contact UK Visas and Immigration, HM Passport Office, or the UK National Archives first?
3. Has anyone successfully navigated a similar case involving a British-born grandmother, a Canadian-born mother, and a Canadian-born grandchild?
4. I understand that being descended from someone born in the UK does not automatically confer British citizenship, especially given the historical restrictions on transmission through women.
5. I’m hoping to identify the correct legal route and the documents I should obtain before making an application.
6. Thanks in advance for any advice or similar experiences!

I’m applying for a UK Standard Visitor visa for my mother. I accidentally entered the number from her expired passport on the application. She now has a new passport with a different number.

At her biometrics appointment, the visa centre noticed the difference and asked her to sign a form adding her correct passport number. She attended with her new passport, and the centre accepted her biometrics.

Has anyone had a similar experience where the passport number on the application was from an expired passport, but they attended biometrics with their new passport? Did the centre send the explanation to UKVI, and what was the outcome?

My boyfriend applied from Indonesia to visit me in Leeds on 7–16 November. He had biometrics on 7 October, and today is 19 October with no decision yet.

His first application was refused on 30 September (letter attached) because of insufficient relationship/accommodation evidence and a £1,500 trip budget considered disproportionate to his £3,000 savings.

For the second application, we provided the agent with:
- Our photos together
- Passport and six months of bank statements.
- Stock Investment transaction history explaining transfers.
- My invitation/accommodation letter and UK status/accommodation documents.
- His father’s signed consent letter.
- Return flight reservation and itinerary.

The new form states £3,471 savings and a £1,054 trip budget. It also explains parental support, stock-account transfers and the previous refusal.

However, the agent confirmed no cover letter was submitted, only the father’s consent letter. The explanations are in the application form.

Could the lack of a cover letter be an issue? Anyone with a similar refusal/reapplication experience, or still waiting after 7 October biometrics?