UK Visa Delay for Indians in 2022 | Processing Times

Following a resumption of international travel after almost two years of a pause due to the COVID-19 situation, Embassies and visa application centres worldwide are finding it difficult to deal with a high volume of visa applications. Indians are facing long visa delays for the UK, Europe, and the US.

Under usual circumstances, the processing time for non-settlement visas for the United Kingdom is anywhere from within three to a maximum of 12 weeks.The present waiting times, however, have extended beyond the generally 3-week processing standard.

A reason for the delay has been, as per a May 17, 2022 tweet by UK in India, “UKVI continues to prioritise Ukraine Visa Scheme applications in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the invasion of #Ukraine, so applications for study, work and family visas are taking longer to process.”

While apologizing for the delays being experienced by the UK visa applicants, a spokesperson speaking on behalf of the British High Commission assured that they were working urgently towards reducing the processing time “as quickly as possible”.

What are the current processing times for UK Student visas?

UK Student visa applications are currently taking on average 5 weeks to process.

What are the current processing times for UK Skilled Worker visas?

As of now, UK Skilled Worker Visa applications are taking on average 6 weeks to process.

What are the current processing times for UK Visitor visas?

Currently, UK Standard Visitor Visa applications are taking on average 6 weeks to process. Transit visa applications are also being processed in 6 weeks.

According to UK Visas and Immigration “We are working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard”.

Can I get priority processing for my UK visa from India?

Meanwhile, the vast majority of Super Priority and Priority visa applications are being processed within their service standards. Super Priority service offers next day collection, that is, the end of the next working day. Priority services, on the other hand, involve a decision on your UK visa application within 5 working days of your Visa Application Centre (VAC) appointment.

Available at an additional cost, Super Priority and Priority services can be availed if being presently offered in the country that you are applying from. Indians can avail priority services as the services are being offered by UK VACs in India despite being paused elsewhere.

The UK has its largest network of VACs globally right here in India. Indian students make up one of the largest groups of international students in the UK. Indian professionals are the top nationality in the skilled work category.