hopefully---my fiancee will be in a position to apply online for the settlement ( marriage ) visa in december. what are you members thoughts about the timing--with xmas looming ? how long is UKVI shut down for---? would it be better to wait for the new year --? what about the intended travel date --?
Sooner is better than later, the UKVI does close for Christmas details of which can be found below; Public holidays Thursday 1st January New Year’s Day Friday 16th January Pastoral Visit of Pope Francis Thursday 19th February Chinese New Year Thursday 2nd April Holy Thursday Friday 3rd April Good Friday Monday 6th April Easter Monday Friday 1st May Labour Day Friday 12th June Philippine Independence Day Monday 31st August Summer Bank Holiday / National Heroes Day Thursday 24th December Christmas Eve Friday 25th December Christmas Day Holiday Monday 28th December Boxing Day Holiday Wednesday 30th December Rizal Day Thursday 31st December New Year’s Eve I would go for a travel date of three months from application just to be sure.
Also, look at when you get bank statements coming in and time it so that it is easy to include the most recent in plenty of time. You have 28 days from your last bank statement to get the application in.
She has to travel in 30 days from when the visa is granted (date stamped on visa), they would take the travel date you submitted with the application into account.
aah--now thats a point------if she puts travel date--say---1st of feb--and the visa is granted before that date--can she--in fact--travel earlier than the date she chose on the visa app ?
The visa would come with 1st Feb stamped on it as that is what you asked for, you could always pick an earlier date and hope they process the application quickly
Agree. If the application is granted before the start date you put in the application, then the entry clearance will come with a start date of the date you chose in the application. If the visa is granted after the date you put in the application, then it will come with the date the visa was granted on it. In all cases, she must travel within 30 days of the date that appears on the entry clearance that is pasted in the passport. You aren't allowed to put a date in the future (in your application) that is more than 3 months after the date you applied. You have nothing to lose by applying early and putting an early date in it if your intention is to get it resolved quickly. However, be aware that if by some miracle you do get the date, then she has to enter the UK within 30 days. I'm sure you've seen application times. Mine took 30 working days exactly. If I was you I would use 30-40 working days as an estimate to plan and just take the UK and Philippine public holidays into account when calculating your 'estimated' exit date. You will not get it processed any quicker by delaying your application until January. I suggest you get it done and in the queue.
