Hello! Writing an update as I shared my [original approval post](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukvisa/comments/16mzu3r/spouse_visa_approved/) here 3 years ago! Hoping this brings some comfort to anyone currently stressing over their FLR(M) extension timeline!

**Application date:** June 17, 2026
**Biometrics date:** June 30, 2026 (Edinburgh UKVCAS)
**Visa approval:** July 21, 2026
**Total time:** 15 working days from biometrics (24 working days total from online submission).

Standard non-priority service!

Applied from within the UK for an FLR(M) extension (US citizen, British spouse). We prepped all the evidence ourselves—cohabitation timeline grid covering 2 years, joint bank statements, payslips, employer letter, and landlord consent letter from family.

Because I work at a university, I sought advice from our university’s legal immigration service to double-check our cohabitation spacing before submitting, but we handled and prepped the application process ourselves!

Super impressed by how fast the turn-around was considering standard processing is quoted at 8 weeks with no priority service bought.

For anyone currently doing this on their own: as long as your cohabitation spacing and financial documents meet the strict 28-day rule, you can 100% do this yourselves without spending thousands on a private solicitor.
Good luck to everyone currently waiting on their decisions!

I’ve read the updated guidance, but I couldn’t find anything that explicitly states the service is limited to applications made within the UK, so I’m wondering what everyone’s real-world experience has been.

Has anyone who applied from outside the UK actually been able to select the Priority Service? Thanks

hi everyone! applying for a visa so my partner and i can get married in the UK in december, and i'm a bit worried and in need of some advice please.

we are relying on cash savings, but in the interest of being totally honest, i said that i'm self-employed on the application too (delivery driver). i keep seeing people talking about how they will want a tax return, but i've been told that i won't have to do one yet because i started self-employment after april last year. what if they ask for one?

I originally moved to the UK in September 2020 to study at a university that is part of the Golden Triangle. Studying in the UK was a major opportunity for me and has been a genuine game changer for my career.

I was granted pre-settled status in December 2020, originally valid until December 2025. I completed my first two years of university, then interrupted my studies and spent some time outside the UK.

I returned in September 2024 to complete my final year and have lived exclusively in the UK since then. I graduated in July 2025, worked for a startup after graduating, and have been employed full-time in my current job since November 2025.

I have had a UK bank account since October 2020 and received funding through Student Finance England. In December 2025, my pre-settled status was extended until 2030.

From what I understand, pre-settled status holders may qualify for settled status if their original qualifying period began at least five years ago and they have been resident in the UK for at least 30 months in total during the most recent 60-month period.

If my residence during the later part of my first period at university and my continuous residence since returning in September 2024 are counted together, I believe I may already be over the 30-month requirement. If my university years alone could be counted in full, I would already meet and exceed the required period, but I am unsure how the Home Office treats my absence and calculates the relevant 60-month window.

Has anyone applied successfully under this rule? Is there an organisation or adviser I could contact to check my exact travel dates and eligibility before applying?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sharing my timeline in case it helps anyone applying for their first British passport after naturalisation.
I submitted the application on 9 July, my documents were received on 14 July, and the passport was approved and printed on 22 July.
I sent:

-My original naturalisation certificate
-A colour photocopy of my current EU passport, rather than the original passport
-No cover letter

Everything was accepted without any issues or requests for further information. Much quicker and smoother than I expected!

I was first granted private life in 2021 i was 20 back then under Paragrpah 276BE of immigration rules as home office was satisfied i met requirements under paragraph 276ADE. i then got an extension in 2024. My next extension is this year in dec.

i came to UK originally in 2014, when i was 12. i dont know the exact visa i was on, but i know my parents always had an application which protected my legal rights. In 2018 i was granted 5 year visa under zambrano visa as carer for my dad but when UK left EU, i was no longer eligible under it, so had to apply for private life.

I know if you have spent half of your life in UK, you can apply for ILR under 5 years instead of doing whole 10 years under private life. so to be clear came to uk in 2014 when i was 12 and Date of birth is in August 2001 and applying for my next extension in dec 2026. Am i eligible for to apply for ILR in Dec

.

My brother and his daughter’s visit visa application, fully sponsored by me, was submitted on 10th July. Their biometric appointment was scheduled for 17th July in Lahore, Pakistan. However, I received a reminder email on 17th July stating their biometrics, despite them having already done theirs that morning, I also received an email informing me their visa application had been sent to the UKVI for consideration. Since then I haven’t received any further emails not even one saying we’ve received your application from the decision-making centre in Abu Dhabi. I’m concerned as other posts on this platform says they have received an email few days after that their application is been received, not sure whether this is normal or if I should follow this up.

Hi all - I just got my SWV refused today. I'm looking for help, but also to show what happened to me in case anyone else was confused like I was.

I have a flat, a car, a life here. I've been here since September 2020 on different visas. I just can't wrap my head around leaving right now and I'm devastated. Please, any help is appreciated.

My previous visa expired on 14 July 2026, so I was on Section 3C leave while waiting for the decision.

My details were:

• SOC code: 3554, Advertising and marketing associate professionals
• Salary: £34,650 per year
• Hourly rate: approximately £18.01
• SOC 3554 was listed on the Temporary Shortage List
• Published going rate for SOC 3554: £33,400 based on 37.5 hours per week
• My CoS stated that the job was on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List
• My CoS stated that I was not a new entrant

My application was refused on 22 July 2026 under SW 4.2, SW 4.4 and SW 8.1, with reference to SW 17.1.

The Home Office awarded me:

• 20 points for sponsorship
• 20 points for the appropriate skill level
• 10 points for English
• 0 points for the tradeable salary requirement

The refusal said that under Option A, I needed to earn at least £41,700 per year as well as meet the going rate for SOC 3554.

They accepted that the going rate for SOC 3554 was £33,400, but said my salary of £34,650 did not meet the £41,700 general threshold.

They also said they considered the other tradeable-points options but that no alternative option applied.

What confused me is that SOC 3554 is shown on the Temporary Shortage List with a salary figure of £33,400. I believed that earning above this amount meant I met the salary requirement. I now understand that the Temporary Shortage List apparently only makes the occupation eligible for sponsorship and does not provide the reduced salary threshold available to jobs on the Immigration Salary List.

There also appears to be an issue with the refusal saying I failed SW 8.1. My salary seems to exceed the pro-rated going rate for SOC 3554, so it appears that I met the occupational going rate but failed the separate £41,700 Option A threshold.

My employer may be willing to raise my salary to £41,700 and issue a new CoS. I understand that a salary increase after the refusal probably cannot fix the original application through administrative review and that I may need to make a fresh Skilled Worker application.

My main questions are:

1. Is the Home Office correct that SOC 3554 being on the Temporary Shortage List does not allow me to use the £33,400 Option D threshold?
2. Is the reference to failing SW 8.1 a caseworking error if I met the pro-rated going rate? Is that error worth raising in an administrative review if I still failed the £41,700 Option A threshold?
3. If my employer raises my salary to £41,700 and issues a new CoS, would a fresh application be the correct route?
4. If I submit a fresh application after refusal, what happens to my Section 3C leave and right to work while the new application is pending?

My refusal letter gives me 14 calendar days to request an administrative review, so I am trying to understand the safest route before the deadline.

Hi,

I'm applying for my first tourist visa. I have previously gotten a schengen visa as well - my current concern is that I lended my friend through bank transfer amount of 30K aed which they returned as cash and I deposited back into acc. This will get flagged so I will explain in cover letter. Is that OK?

Also, should your expenditure for the trip in UK be lesser than your average monthly expenditure?

Any other important tips for approval?

I have applied for a standard visitor visa from India to visit the UK in september, and my biometric appointment will be soon. However, I also want to apply to the India Young Professionals Scheme visa: ballot system by tomorrow. Is it possible that that may affect my visitor visa application?

Nationality Brazilian

Date of application 26/09/2025

Date of biometrics 06/ October/2025

REASONS FOR REFUSAL
On 26/09/2025 you made an application for entry clearance to the UK under Appendix FM
to the Immigration Rules on the basis of your family life with your partner.
Your application has been considered under those Rules, and with reference to Article 8
of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The relevant Immigration Rules
can be viewed on gov.uk here: www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules.
This decision takes into account as a primary consideration the best interests of any
relevant child in line with section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.
We have considered your application under paragraph EC-P.1.1. of Appendix FM.
However, you do not qualify for entry clearance under the 5-year partner route for the
following reasons:
Suitability
Under paragraph EC-P.1.1.(c), your application falls for refusal on grounds of suitability
under Section S-EC of Appendix FM.
SUI 11.1. states an application for entry clearance or permission to enter must be refused
if:
(a) the applicant has previously breached immigration laws as defined in SUI 11.4; and
(b) the application was made within the relevant time period in SUI 12.1.
Home Office records show that you used deception in an application for entry clearance. I
am therefore satisfied that you have previously breached immigration laws as specified in
SUI 11.4.
You were refused for deception on 07/02/2024 and a mandatory refusal period of 10
applies from this date. As your application for entry clearance has been made within the
relevant time period specified in SUI 12.1 it is mandatory to refuse your application. I
therefore refuse your application under EC-P.1.1.(c) of Appendix FM of the Immigration
Rules. (SUI.11.1.(a)&(b))
Future Applications
As your application has been refused for deception under SUI 11.1 (a)&(b) you are subject
to a 10-year mandatory refusal period. This means any future entry clearance applications
may also be refused under the Immigration Rules for a period of up to 10 years, depending
on the type of application you make. The period of 10 years starts from the date of the
previous use of deception.
Eligibility
You meet the eligibility requirements of Section E-ECP of Appendix FM.

RIGHT OF APPEAL
You have 28 days from the date you receive this decision to appeal.

I'm posting this to see if anyone else is going through something similar, I don't know what to do!🥲

Hi there! I cannot find any confirmation on the gov UK website regarding this, but does anyone know how the application works if you have 2 nationalities? I intend to apply with my EU passport, but I also hold another citizenship and unfortunately have no valid passport for it due to some ongoing circumstances and have no easy way of getting my 2nd nationality's passport any time soon. I know the application asks you to list all your nationalities and I will include my 2nd citizenship in the form, but did anyone have to submit both passports and present both of them at the visa appointment? Thank you!

Looking for advice after a UK Visitor Visa refusal
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice from people who have experience with UK visitor visa applications.
My previous application was refused because the visa officer was not satisfied that I had strong enough economic ties to Egypt. At the time, I was relying on my father’s financial support because I had not yet started my government job as a doctor. The purpose of my trip is to take a medical examination in the UK this September.
I will officially start my government position on 25 July. By the time I reapply, I will be able to provide an official employment letter confirming my position, but the letter will be very recent and I will not yet have received my first salary.
This time, I also plan to fund the trip entirely myself using my own bank account, which has a balance of around USD 5,000, instead of relying on my father’s finances.
In your opinion, would an official government employment letter together with my own savings be enough to address the concerns raised in the refusal? Or would the fact that I have only just started the job and have not yet received a salary still make a second refusal likely?
I would really appreciate any advice or similar experiences. Thank you!

I am a student who just came back to the UK from a short trip in europe this afternoon. If I submit an application for the graduate visa on the same day (within a few hours after landing back and entering the UK Border), is there a chance my application can get refused due to border systems not syncing my arrival in the UK on time? has there been any cases of this happening before?

Got my UK Student visa approval email today and successfully created my UKVI account. Passport scan, identity verification, and account setup all completed successfully. However, when I log in, it still says "We'll email you when your eVisa is ready to view." I. Has anyone experienced this?when will eVisa to appear after setting up your UKVI account?.

I will be applying for my UK Citizenship (via ILR route). However, I have 2 week overseas travel planned later this hear

Given the reported timelines on the citizenship process, it’s likely my application will be pending during my travel dates (between application submission and before attending the ceremony)

I have researched online and can’t find anywhere on the Gov website that advised against travel during a pending citizenship application.

When applying for my tier 2 and t2 visa previously I’m aware it is specifically advised not to travel overseas otherwise the pending application would be rejected. So would like to understand if it’s the same process for citizenship.

Does anyone have any information around this or have travelled while the citizenship application is pending?

FYI I am also factoring in the requirement to provide biometrics within 45 days of application and need to apply and use British passport after attending the ceremony
Thanks

Hi everyone,
I applied for UK naturalisation on 19 April 2026 and attended my biometrics appointment on 21 May 2026.
I know it’s still quite early in the process, but I’m curious to see how everyone else’s applications are progressing. Has anyone who applied around April/May 2026 received any updates, requests for further information, or decisions yet?
Also, does anyone know if the processing timeline is counted from the date the application was submitted/paid for or from the date of biometrics? I’ve seen different opinions about this and would like to understand how others are tracking their timelines.
For those who have already received decisions, how long did it take from application date and from biometrics?
Thanks everyone, and good luck with your applications! 🍀

Has anyone attempted to add irish passport to ukvi account?

I am on dependent skilled worker visa on pakistani passport and now have got irish passport which i am trying to upload to ukvi account but it gives me an error at the end of process "sorry there is a problem with the service "?

Anyone who experienced same? As an irish i have same rights as british so do I even need to inform UKVI? I have spoken to UKVI webchat and phone and the only way is to physically send passport which I am trying to avoid given risk of losing in the post.

Thank you

I am going to apply for a UK tourist visa from Nigeria to write the IMAT exam to study medicine in Italy. I have pre-enrolled at my intended university as well. The itinerary of my trip is simple: travel to London. I will be staying with my aunt, who is a British citizen and lives in London, for maybe a week and a half, so that removes accommodation costs, and my parents will be sponsoring my flight ticket and any other costs; there really isn't any other thing tbh.

The only qualm in my application is that the IMAT registration has not opened yet, and it usually maybe late august of closer to the exam date which is on sept 30 but i need to apply for the visa beforehand due to processing times, do you think my application will be strong enough with just a pre enrollment summary(this indicates my application to study in italy and take the exam to get admission for medicine), the italian goverments decree of when the exam is and the fact they haven't started registration and its usually closer to the exam date which doesn't give time for visa processing, correspondence with my school that indicates the registration of the exam is handled when the government says so which nobody knows at this time, i think if my case is stated well in my cover letter it should be enough but what do you think

My visa is valid from 1 May 2026 to 1 May 2028. Does the 3 month entry period apply to to the HPI visa? Do I need to enter the country by 1 August 2026 to ensure the visa stays valid?