Hardwell1

I wondered if there was any more clarity on this question as it seems there is now an option to keep your passport while applying using the VFS Global Premium settlement service, so this may become a more common issue. I am a US citizen working in NYC, and I have two passports. I travel to the U.K. often for work and to visit my now-wife (usually 3-7 day visits - have made in upwards of 20 trips in the last two years). I’ve applied for the U.K. settlement spouse visa in order to live in the U.K. with my spouse. However I have at least 2 trips to the U.K. planned (3-5 day trips) while my application is likely to still be processing. Will I be refused entry if my visa application is still pending? Thank you.

BritInParis

Probably not but if you’re in the UK when a decision is made on your application then it will either be a refusal or judged to be invalid later in the process as you cannot be granted leave to enter the UK as a spouse if you’re already in the UK with leave to enter as a visitor.

Hardwell1

Oh dear. Would it not be possible to leave the U.K. and then pick up my primary passport in the US, and then come back with the primary passport? So basically any sort of entry, they will see it and will jeopardize my application? Thanks

BritInParis

The Home Office is not going to ring you and ask you to leave so they can grant your visa so it’s not worth the risk IMO. If you’ve paid for Super Priority processing then it won’t take long for a decision.

Hardwell1

Ive paid for the priority which I’ve been told is 6 weeks usually (from application or biometrics I’m not positive). I had assumed the next steps in the process after giving biometrics would be that I would get an email saying a decision has been made, and the primary passport that I’ve submitted would be couriered to my residence.

BritInParis

That’s correct.

Hardwell1

I apologize in advance as this is tangential to the topic I initially brought up in the thread. I’ve literally just finished getting my biometrics taken at an ASC in NYC. All they did was take my prints and a photo. This may be a really stupid question, but I was under the impression they would take my passport and send it off, but nope I still have everything I came in with. What exactly are the next steps here? I can’t find anything conclusive online for the Settlement process.

BritInParis

If you paid for the Premium Settlement Service then Keep My Passport is included. You’ll be asked to submit it once a decision is made. Given you have a second passport it’s unfortunately only going to slow down the overall process with no practical benefit.

Hardwell1

No I didn’t pay for the Premium Settlement Service. I only paid for the Priority process, so I don’t have the Keep My Passport option (because as you said no practical benefit). This is why I’m confused as to why my primary passport wasn’t taken at the biometrics session.

BritInParis

Okay, your first post implied you had. In that case I have no idea why they didn’t take it off you.

Hardwell1

Yeah sorry that was my bad. I just got off the phone with the UKVI helpline, not super helpful but they’re telling me an application from the US has a different process and they just take your prints at the biometrics, and then you have to manually send off your passport and application, and all of the supporting documents as well (even though I uploaded them on the VFS website already). Can anyone confirm this process from the US?

spouse of scouse

Find your visa application centre on the attached link and follow the instructions for your visa type https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/us/en#la...ate,Descending

SanDiegogirl

This will help:

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...isa-in-the-usa

Hardwell1

Right thanks. Seems like the rules are a little different for the US. Don’t exactly understand why we’ve got to print out and ship everything we just scanned into the VFS global site but hey I guess that’s just how government works.