United Kingdom: Increasing Processing Delays for Out-of-Country Immigration Applications

• Delays.
  • Standard applications. Standard service applications for work visa applications for all applicants from all countries, which typically take 15 business days to process, are taking up to and now beyond six weeks or more to process. These delays seem to be increasing.
  • Family applications. Family settlement applications now have a published service standard of 24 weeks to process, up from the typical 12 weeks.
  • Visit visa applications. UK visit visa applications now have a published service standard of six weeks, up from the typical three weeks.
  • Testing. Tuberculosis testing locations and visa application centres in Russia face lengthy appointment wait times; and English language testing (required for Skilled Worker visa applications) is largely suspended in Russia, causing limited available spots and corresponding delays.
  • Processing suspensions. ‘Priority’ and ‘super priority’ services are still suspended and it is not clear when they will be reinstated.

Foreign nationals seeking UK immigration services from outside the United Kingdom are being impacted by these delays. Work start dates, meeting dates, project dates and residence plans are being interrupted.

Impacted individuals are advised to start their document gathering and application processes well in advance of expected assignment and work start dates to account for delays.

Delays in the United Kingdom due to prioritisation of Ukrainian citizens’ applications were first reported in March 2022, and have only increased in recent months.

It is not clear when the delays will subside. Affected applicants should work with their immigration advisor to plan for upcoming trips and assignments.