UKVI says your application is not straightforward
- Amir Nikfekr
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
UK Visas & Immigration may notify you by email that your visa application is ‘not straightforward’ or complex. This will usually mean a longer processing time than first expected, but does it also mean your application is more likely to be refused? The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
While notification that your application is not straightforward does not automatically mean refusal, it does indicate that your application has triggered additional scrutiny due to specific factors that require closer examination. This post will explain what exactly a not straightforward notification is, why it may have happened, and what it could mean for your visa.
Standard processing times
All UK visa applications have a standard processing time, which you can use to estimate the time it will take to receive an outcome. These times vary depending on the type of visa and whether the application was made from within the UK or abroad.
The waiting time for your application officially begins once you have attended your biometric appointment at a visa application centre or when you have verified your identity using the official UK Immigration ID Check app. Your application will not be considered valid until either of these requirements has been met.
For example, if you are inside the UK and you submitted an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain on 1st June 2025 but did not attend your biometric appointment until 1st July 2025, the standard processing time of 6-months would end on 1st January 2026, not 1st December 2025.
Receiving an update that your application is not straightforward will automatically exclude your application from its standard processing time. See below to find out if you may be eligible for a refund of the priority or super-priority payment.
The official wording used in these situations is:
Unfortunately, the processing of your application has not been straightforward and we will be unable to decide your application within our customer service targets. We are continuing to work on your application and aim to make a decision as soon as possible.
Why is my application not straightforward?
If you have received a notification from UKVI stating that your application is not straightforward, you can expect it will be for one of the following reasons:
Let's consider each of these in more detail.
Processing delays
In recent years, UKVI has experienced backlogs in various immigration and asylum routes. The 2020 pandemic, Brexit, and international conflicts like the war in Ukraine have increased the number of applications and increased processing times, particularly for applications with already lengthy wait times. These fluctuations in processing can have significant effects on applicants. Recent reports point to considerable backlogs in asylum claims.
Another factor is the time of year an application is made. The summer months typically see an increased number of student visa applications for those seeking to enrol and begin their studies in September.
On occasion, UKVI will suspend the availability of priority and super-priority services, which normally allow applicants to obtain a much faster decision for an additional fee.
Unfortunately, if your application is delayed due to processing, there is little that can be done to speed things up.
Your supporting documents need to be verified
Each visa category has its own list of mandatory and optional documents to be used in support of your application. This can include bank statements, English language certificates, and other official documents issued by government bodies (e.g. birth, marriage and divorce certificates, title deeds, and criminal record certificates). If there is any doubt or difficulty with the verification of these documents, UKVI will require additional time to verify their legitimacy.
You need to attend an interview
For some applicants, the not straightforward email is a precursor of an interview invitation. Where this is the case, UKVI will send a second email requesting your attendance for an interview to check certain aspects of your application. This will give you the opportunity to provide further information about documents you have provided or explain aspects of your application which do not have supporting documents or are difficult to verify.
Common reasons for an interview include:
Complicated immigration history
If your immigration history involves visa refusals, removals or deportation from the UK or any other country, or if your history is otherwise unclear, inconsistent, or complex, you can expect UKVI to delay the processing of your application and to ask you to provide more information during the interview.
Unclear employment history
If your employment history involves working for a government department, agency or other state organisation, UKVI may ask additional questions to better understand your role and responsibilities.
Unclear financial information
When your financial documents are held jointly or under another person's name - whether a parent, friend, or sponsoring organisation - you might need to submit supplementary verification or provide alternative documentation to satisfy the financial criteria for your immigration route. Should UKVI be unable to verify your submitted documents, they will notify you if their attempts to reach the relevant financial institution have failed.
Insufficient evidence of your relationship
Whether you are applying to come to the UK to visit family members or you are seeking to enter the UK as the partner or spouse of a British citizen, you can expect UKVI to undertake checks to confirm your relationships are genuine. Where there is a requirement to prove your relationship as part of your application, such as with various types of family visas, there will be greater scrutiny. You could be asked relevant questions to verify information you are expected to know, such as where and when you got married, or how long you have been together.
Unclear travel purpose
You will be scrutinised if there is any doubt about the purpose of your intended travel to the UK. This can apply to any visa, but more often applies to those applying for a visitor visa or other short-term visas, such as temporary work visas or short-term study visas. If it remains unclear why you have applied for your particular visa, what you intend to do whilst in the UK, or if you will return to your home country after your visa expires, your application may be refused.
English language concerns
If there is doubt as to a qualification or the certificate you have provided in support of your English language ability, you can expect to be asked questions about the institution you obtained it from, what you had to do to obtain your certificate, or other general questions to ascertain whether your spoken English matches the level which you claim it is.
Academic history concerns
UKVI may need to verify your academic certificates. You could be asked about the institution you studied at, the modules you took, the type of assessments you completed, or anything else relating to your course or grades.
Additional security checks
If you are applying from a country involved in political tensions or with a history of ties to terrorist activity, UKVI may take more time to conduct necessary security checks. This also applies if you have a history of criminal convictions, including non-custodial sentences such as bans, fines or community service.
Applications made from outside the UK will normally involve an online or telephone interview. Applications made from inside the UK could be in person. In either case, your interviewer will be someone who works for UKVI and is involved in some capacity in the decision-making process for your application. This person could ask you questions related to any of the points mentioned above, or about any of the answers in your application form.
Each application to UKVI will be considered on its own merits. The timeline for one applicant may vary considerably from another's, so it is important not to panic if you have been notified that your application is not straightforward or you have been told you need to attend an interview. You should remember to check your emails (including your spam/junk folders) for any updates about your application, as interview requests are normally communicated by email rather than telephone. Once your interview has been completed, most applicants should not have to wait too much longer for a decision.
Your personal circumstances require more consideration
If your circumstances are more complicated than those of most people who have applied for the same visa, UKVI will normally extend the time taken to consider your application. This may be because there are exceptional or extenuating circumstances which make your eligibility more difficult for the decision maker to assess. In some cases, you may also be asked to provide additional information to help UKVI make a decision.
It is important to note that any application may be subject to further checks, regardless of whether it is a standard, priority, or super priority service application. If you have paid extra for a faster decision, you may seek a refund of that payment only if UKVI has not informed you that your application is not straightforward within the expected timeframe.
Does this mean my application is more likely to be refused?
Receiving notification that your application is not straightforward or does not fall within the standard processing time is not an indication that it will be refused. It simply means, for one or more of the reasons stated above, it will take longer to decide.
I paid for priority or super-priority. Will it be refunded?
Unfortunately, if you paid for a faster decision through the priority or super-priority service, you will not normally be entitled to a refund of those fees. The only circumstances in which you can request a refund are if you were notified that your application was not straightforward after the 1 or 5 working day window in which you were expecting the decision.
What can be done?
Extended processing times can be frustrating and inconvenient. Visa applicants typically submit their applications while juggling busy schedules, often having already planned specific itineraries for their transition to the UK. Applications considered not straightforward can significantly disrupt these plans.
If you are unhappy with the length of time it has taken to process your application after you have been told your application is not straightforward, we can contact UKVI on your behalf to request an update and explain how the delay is impacting you. If we do not receive a satisfactory answer after the first attempt, we can lodge a formal complaint to the relevant department, which will then conduct an investigation of your application and the reason for the delay.
If your complaint is not upheld and you live in the UK, we may then consider contacting your local MP for assistance on your behalf. MPs can intervene and request further information directly from UKVI. If your MP is unable to speed up the decision, or you live outside the UK (and therefore are unable to enlist the help of an MP), the final step would normally involve taking legal action against UKVI.
No matter what stage of the application process you are at, contact us for expert immigration advice to professionally and efficiently deal with your case. We have seen numerous clients succeed in getting their desired outcome with our help.
