Mrsd11

Hello

Timeline of my spouse application dated 14 04 2017. No help with solicitor.

Date of application 14 04 2017
Biometrics date 20 04 2017
Vfs manila, determined @ sheffield UK.
Received " NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD" email 14 07 2017 day 60 from biometrics.

Countless efforts we made to find out what was going on....with the help of our MP but to no avail.

Fast forward to day 124.
Received email for passport collection 13 10 2017
Received passport 16 10 2017

Visa: refused

Reasons of refusal:

1. Financial requirements not met

due to a supposed bank statement doesn't match 2 current wage slips.
Note : my husband's annual salary exceeds the minimum requirement.

2. English language certificate
that had been registered as for education rather than visa purposes.

Note : used an academic ielts. My fault.

ECO not satisfied.

2nd application made soon after we updated our documents and provided an up-to-date bank statement and the correct english test which is A1 life skills ielts test.
* With solicitor's help
We were advice to 're apply .

Timeline

Date of application 25 11 2017
Biometrics date 01 12 2017
Projected timeline given 12 weeks
Confirmation email from UKVI 05 12 2017
Documents delivered back to UK address 19 01 2018

My husband went home here in Philippines for 3 weeks holiday December 2017.

Day 57 received "NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD" email ....again for the second time. 23 02 2018.

I feel lost and emotionally drained at this point of our application.
In tears whilst typing
we are assured by our solicitor that the Home Office would have no grounds to refuse the application. As such, the application should be straightforward to process and determine. I do not know what else to think as why is this happening again, if it will be refusal , if the HO will give us silent treatment like last year and wait for 6 months just to find out the decision.
Day 60 is still not till the end of February.
Is there any delays currently for settlement application?

Any advice or help will do and appreciated . As i am at my wits end thinking what's going.

Sgur

Hello MRSD,
I am a exact similar case as you. My first application also got refused, as I applied on 21st april 2017, got Not straightforward email after 60 woeking days and got refused on 23rd october 2017, due to financial requirement.
We were advised to reapply and we reapplied on 16th November and Got Not straightforward email on Day 59 and an enquiry call after the email. I also had a same feeling , felt drained and lost totally, but still hopeful to get a positive reply this time.
Did you also got enquiry calls for second application?
My best wishes with you.

Mrsd11

Hello,

No, we haven't received any enquiry call, or we haven't made any calls yet to the HO centre.
My husband is planning to get a meeting with our MP in person this time around. We also got in touch with our solicitor and informed him about the email. We were told that they've been seeing that kind of email around more frequently.
However I try to keep positive. I just hope things will be okay soon.

What kind of enquiry call you received?

Many thanks Sgur.
Hope things will be okay at your end too.

Sgur

My husband and his Manager got enquiry calls regarding his employment on 19th February. They asked questions relating to his job.Since then we are just waiting for answer. Ww are also planning to approach MP, but will wait a week or so as we recently received enquiry call. Hopefully we both should hear soon.
Can you keep me posted , whenever you will get decision.

Good luck. Thanks

BritInParis

I wouldn't read anything too much into the 'not straightforward' email. It has been widely used to excuse poor performance by the Home Office in assessing applications in a timely manner. If you made the same application as before but corrected the reasons for refusal then you shouldn't have a problem.

londoner007

@Sgur did your husband apply showing 2 jobs?

Sgur

Hello,
Yes my husband applied using two jobs .