Certificate of Approval - Processing Time

Hi There,
Just thought I would update this a little. I have sent my COA in about 2 months ago. And went onto the website about 2 weeks ago and the COA process is being abolished. It will continue to run until May 9th 2011. But then it is no longer necesary to apply. After May 9th 2011 all applications/passports will be returned.

PurpleMel

Yeah, but by the time they will return the applications after May 9th, my 15 days notice of marriage is up, since we are suppose to give notice today to the register office for our wedding on May 21st. And my visa is about to expire as well. We have given everything beforehand, followed everything through proper channels, still no COA. Our lives are on hold and our decision to marry is in the hands of other people. We couldn't even make a follow up on the application as they will not give information, as if they care at all.
The system is unbelievably useless and discriminating to those who want to get married and settle down. Not to mention the stress that it has caused all of us.

We asked for our passports back on the 19th of April! We did via the form and the email address they provided us!

We haven't got anything back yet! We have our registry office appointment in a couple of weeks and really need the passports back now!

Any ideas?

Thanks.

We asked for our passports back on the 19th of April! We did via the form and the email address they provided us!

We haven't got anything back yet! We have our registry office appointment in a couple of weeks and really need the passports back now!

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Oh dear, hope you get yours soon!
Same here. I sent a form asking to return my passport on the 19th of April and no news since then...I'm considering giving them a call over next week.

Hi Zara1364 and anoushp,

I collected my documents in person from UKBA croydon office yesterday and suggest you contact them and do the same.

I phoned UKBA last week Friday (6th may) and raised an urgent request to collect my passport back for travel. I was told that I would be contacted by them when the documents were ready but was not told when to expect a call. I chased up with phone calls, emails (lots of tears and grovelling) and finally they phoned me 3 days later saying my documents were ready for collection.

The best method seems to be chasing them up but always be polite and calm while impressing on them how urgent this is for you. They are receiving quite a few requests for documents so its taking them a while to work through it so constantly nagging them is the key.

Some suggest that you can just turn up in person at the UKBA Croydon office and tell them its an emergency and collect documents. This does not work, I saw a couple try that yesterday for their COA application and they were turned away and asked to phone in and wait to be contacted.

Hope some of this info is useful!