Key Points
- Outside the UK: usually within 12 weeks.
- Inside the UK: usually within 8 weeks if the financial and english requirements are met.
- Allow several weeks to prepare documents properly.
- Time runs from biometrics, not from submitting the form.
Before you apply
Financial evidence is the usual bottleneck. Employees may need to wait for six months of payslips. Self-employed sponsors may need to wait for the tax year to end and the return to be filed. Savings must sit for six months.
After you apply
Once biometrics are done, the standard decision time begins. A request for more information pauses things until you answer, so respond quickly and completely.
What slows an application down
- Missing or unclear documents
- Previous refusals or immigration breaches
- Criminal record checks
- Verification of marriage or financial documents
- Seasonal peaks at the visa application centre
Can it be faster?
Priority services exist for some applications.
Official Sources
This page is general information, not legal advice. The rules and figures are set by the Home Office and can change.