sine

Hi all,

My husband is staying with me in Scotland for a couple of months at the moment, but will return to the US to file the application in January (when my six months at my job come around). My question is - once it's filed, is he permitted to rejoin me here in Scotland again while we await the result? Or does he have to stay in the US until we find out?

Thanks,

Nora_

No, he cannot come to the UK but go to almost everywhere else (assuming he will use keep passport service).

BritInParis

Your husband needs to be outside the UK when the decision is made so he should not travel to the UK in case it leads to a refusal on this basis.

sine

Ah, gotcha. Thanks for the replies. I'm still in preliminary research stage, but I'm trying to determine if the Settlement Premium Package on VFS , that states it makes your application super priority, has actually proven to be any quicker than the cheaper options?

spouse of scouse

Super Priority processing is not available for a spouse visa application from the US, the package you refer to offers Priority only.
If your application is straightforward (you don't have an adverse immigration history, criminal record etc) then in most cases Priority seems to work. There's always the odd example of it not working though, and people waiting months for their visas. If you can afford it I'd go for it, but it's up to you.

SanDiegogirl

Doesn't the applicant still have to provide their passport when submitting the visa application?

Or has this gone away now with the uploading of documents?

sine

So the Settlement Premium Package isn't available for the spouse visa? Sorry to be slow. I was thinking the one he will file is the Family of a Settled Person visa, is that different from the Settlement visa?

sine

My understanding is that you can pay an extra fee to retain your passport when you apply? But the point is moot now, since I learned he won't be able to be in the UK when the decision is made anyway.

spouse of scouse

You're not being slow, it's a complicated business. Yes, your husband will be applying for a Family of a Settled person (husband) visa. I was just making the distinction beween Super Priority processing (which isn't available) and Priority processing, which is part of the Settlement Premium package you mention and is available from some VFS centres. Which centre are you using?

spouse of scouse

It depends, some centres offer the Keep My Passport service but not all do.

sine

He would use the Chicago centre if the Settlement Premium Package really did seem to offer expedited service. Otherwise he would use St Louis. I only said 'super' priority to distinguish between the Silver or Gold package, and the Settlement package - they all mention putting the application at the front of the queue - and I assumed the most expensive one gave the most expedition? You're right that this is confusing! We are trying to minimise the time he is back in the States while me and the kids live over here. If paying 2 grand really makes a difference, ok. But if they're all much of a sameness, I'd rather save it. Thanks for your help :-)

Rosy2016

spouse of scouse

See post 10