How to Get a Faster Decision on Your UK Visa Application

Can I speed up the processing of my UK visa application?

Making a visa application can be time-consuming, and the wait for a decision is often frustrating. Whether you can expedite your application depends on the type of visa, where you are applying from, and whether a priority or ‘super priority’ service is available in your location.

Expedited (Faster Decision) Services in the UK Visa System

In-country (within the UK) applications

If you are already in the UK and applying to extend or switch your visa, or seeking settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain), the Home Office provides the option of paying for a faster decision under certain visa or immigration categories. The priority service costs £500, in addition to the standard visa or application fees, and usually results in a decision within five working days from the point your biometrics are enrolled or your identity is verified. The super priority service costs £1,000, also in addition to the standard fees, and typically provides a decision by the end of the next working day after your identity has been verified.

However, it is important to note a few caveats. Not all visa or settlement categories are eligible for the super priority service, and availability can depend both on the type of visa and the method used to verify identity, whether in person or through the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. For family or settlement applications, the number of super priority slots available each day may be limited. Applicants must also select the priority or super priority option at the time of application or shortly thereafter, as it is not always possible to convert to these services later. Finally, even when using priority services, delays may still occur if the Home Office requests further evidence or decides to carry out additional checks.

Out-of-country (from overseas) / Entry-clearance applications

If you are applying for a UK visa from abroad, the ability to speed up your application depends largely on the country where you apply and the local visa centre (VFS or TLS). Premium and priority services offered overseas are less consistent than those available within the UK. Where the priority service is offered, it usually allows applicants to receive a decision more quickly than under the normal processing time, but the cost and exact timeframe vary depending on both the country and the type of visa. In some locations, a super priority service may also be available, providing a decision by the next working day for an additional fee. However, this service is rarely offered for family or dependent visa applications submitted from overseas.

In certain countries, local visa centres enable applicants to select the priority service at the point of booking an appointment or paying the visa centre’s service fee. That said, it is important to note that priority decisions on overseas family and settlement visas can still take considerably longer, sometimes up to 30 working days, compared with the five-working-day timeframe typically offered for many in-country applications.

Switching an existing application to super priority

If you already submitted an application and later find you need a faster decision, in some cases you can switch to the super priority service (if that service is eligible for your visa route and available). This involves:

1. Submitting a new application with the same visa category, choosing super priority this time.

2. Providing the same (or updated) supporting documents.

3. Enrolling biometrics again (e.g., another UKVCAS appointment).

4. The ‘application date’ for requirements (for example, financial evidence) will be based on the date of the second application.

   
   

You should receive the new decision within 24 hours of enrolling your biometrics. Because the application was a variation of your previous application, and you have paid two sets of fees, you should receive a refund of the first set of fees you paid, though this sometimes takes some time (and often involves chasing, by lodging a complaint).

There is one catch- super priority slots may be limited (for example, only a handful of slots daily). Some people report trying to catch the moment when new slots are released (for instance, just after midnight) to secure them. 

Contacting your local Member of Parliament (MP)

If you are in the UK and cannot afford or do not qualify for super priority, contacting your local MP (Member of Parliament) may sometimes help. MPs can make ‘casework enquiries’ on behalf of their constituents, asking the Home Office to look into delays. It is not guaranteed to succeed, but it is sometimes used as a means to escalate a stuck or delayed case. We can help you with drafting a letter to your local MP.

Using the UKVI Paid Enquiry Service

If you need to contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) from outside the UK, you can use the paid enquiry service. This service allows applicants and their representatives to raise questions directly with UKVI, but it comes at a small cost. Each enquiry costs £2.74 (GBP), which covers both your initial message and any follow-up correspondence about the same matter. Payment is made by credit or debit card, and the fee is charged once upon submission of your message. UKVI aims to provide a response within five working days, although this can sometimes take longer depending on the complexity of the enquiry. It is important to note that the contact centre staff who reply to these messages do not make visa decisions, they can only provide information and updates.

The paid enquiry service can be useful in a few situations. For example, if you have submitted an application and your case has exceeded the standard processing time, making a paid enquiry can prompt UKVI to check on the progress and provide you with an update. It might be helpful if you have received an email from the Home Office informing you that your application is ‘not straightforward’.  It is also a helpful option if you suspect that your application has been misplaced or delayed in the system. While the enquiry team cannot alter the outcome of your application, they can at least confirm whether your file is moving forward.

That said, applicants should be aware of the limitations of the service. A paid enquiry will not speed up your case if it is delayed due to additional security checks or because the Home Office has requested further evidence. Nor can it override general backlogs caused by high application volumes. For these reasons, it should not be seen as a substitute for using priority or super-priority services, which are the only official ways of expediting a visa decision.

We can help you to prepare your paid enquiry or submit it on your behalf.