How do I track my UK visa status?

How can I track the progress of my UK visa status?

The process to track your UK visa status is different depending on whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.

Checking your status inside the UK

It is not possible to track your visa application online but it may be possible to contact the relevant department processing your application.

To check your status, you may contact UK Visas and Immigration ((UKVI) the Home Office body in charge of processing visas in the UK).

You can ask about the progress of your application but you cannot receive information or advice about your personal circumstances.

The phone number for UKVI is 0300 790 6268. The phone service is available from Monday to Thursday 9:00 – 16:45 and Fridays 09:00 – 16:30. Calls cost between 16p – £3.60 per minute.

Checking your status outside the UK

If you submit your visa application from outside the UK, you will be required to attend a visa application centre in the country where you are resident.

You will have to submit your biometric information at your local visa application centre, but UKVI will issue the decision on your application.

You can contact UKVI for a decision on your application but there are costs involved in checking this information.

If you wish to contact them by email, you can use this contact page to get in touch. You will be charged £2.74 for your initial email and any related follow-up emails.

Alternatively, you can phone an English-speaking helpline on +44 (0) 300 790 6268. You can phone the helpline Monday – Friday, and it is open for 24 hours a day. Calls cost 69p per minute.

What do you need to track your visa status?

To track your status by contacting UKVI, you will need the provide the following information:

Your Case Identification Number or ‘CaseID’

This should be included on all letters you have received from the Home Office and should be an 8 digit number, for example, 12345678.

Payment Reference Number

After you have submitted payment for your application, you should receive a payment reference number that you can use to track the status of your UK visa application. It should follow this format: AG1234567890/123

Your Unique Application Number

This is a 16-digit number that will be on all letters and emails you receive from UKVI.

Your Biometric Residence Permit Number

This is a combination of letters and numbers and can be found on your biometric residence permit number.

Your Immigration Health Surcharge number

If you had to pay the NHS immigration health surcharge when making your application, you should receive a number after payment. It will be a combination of numbers and letters in the following format, for example: IHS123456789

Can I speed up my UK Visa Status?

If you have used any of the following forms, you may be able to get a decision on your visa within 5 working days. This service only applies to the following visas:

• SET (AF)
• SET (F)
• SET (LR)
• SET (M)

You will need to download and fill in these request and payment forms from the Home Office. Only the first 5 requests received each day between 8 am and midday between Monday and Thursday are accepted.

The cost for this service is £490 per person, in addition to the main application fee.

When individuals submit their UK visa application to the Home Office, one of the most frustrating parts is the waiting time.

A quick search online for the processing times for your particular visa will bring back very frustrating search results.

Reports from other applicants will vary, from those saying they received confirmation in a matter of weeks to other reports of visa applications taking months and months.