The Home Office has established timetables to inform customers how long they can anticipate waiting for a decision on their application when applying for a UK visa or immigration permission to remain in the UK.
Your application will be decided within the regular processing timeframes if your UK visa or settlement application is easy and the Home Office does not need to request further information.
Processing periods vary based on the type of application you submit, whether you file from within or outside the United Kingdom, and whether you want to use any of the Home Office priority services to achieve a speedier decision. This blog will guide you about all UK visa and UK work visa processing time.
Standard processing times by application type
Once your application is received, the Home Office's usual processing times will commence. Applicants should be aware that the service standard period excludes the time required to issue a Biometric Resience Permit (BRP). After your application has been approved, you should receive your BRP within seven working days.
Currently, the following are the Home Office's standard processing times by application type:
- When applying for a visa from outside the UK, the Home Office expects to respond to 90% of non-settlement visa applications within three weeks. Within 6 weeks, 98 percent of applications will be handled, and 100 percent will be processed within 12 weeks of the application date (where one week is five working days).
- Applying for settlement from outside the UK - 98.5 percent of settlement applications will be handled in 12 weeks, and 100% will be processed in 24 weeks (where one week is five working days).
- If you're applying to stay in the UK as a worker, spouse, entrepreneur, or student, regular processing periods can take up to 8 weeks.
- If you apply from within the UK for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or No Time Limit (NTL), your application will be processed within 6 months.
For certain applications filed by sponsors, the following typical processing times apply:
- Organizations interested in sponsoring a worker have eight weeks to do so.
- Organizations wishing to amend their sponsor licence information have 18 weeks to do so.
How to ensure your UK visa application runs smoothly
If your situation is complicated, your application is incomplete, or the Home Office needs further information, your application may not be decided within the regular processing times.
If your application has a difficulty, the Home Office will contact you to explain why it will not be decided within the regular processing dates and what will happen next.
To guarantee that the Home Office can make a decision on your application within the regular processing timeframes, you should make the following preparations:
- Before your existing visa expires, you submit your application.
- Your application has been correctly filled out.
- On the application form, you must include all essential documentation, pictures, and proof of funds if requested.
- By the dates specified, you enrol your biometric information and answer to any requests for additional information.
- If you're using a paper form, be sure it's signed and dated, and that it's accompanied by the necessary paperwork and payment.
