Wait Time for UK Work Permit

Can anyone give me an idea of how long it will take to get a work permit approved? Has anyone else gone through the process and provide any insight? My husband's employer applied for his work permit ...

Canadian Expatriate and Travellers Forum Index -> Canadians in the UK -> UK Visas and Immigration

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rchmphr
Junior Member

Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 13

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:09 am

Can anyone give me an idea of how long it will take to get a work permit approved? Has anyone else gone through the process and provide any insight? My husband's employer applied for his work permit and we've been waiting for 5 weeks now. His employer said it could take up to 8 weeks. We called UK work permits yesterday and the recording said that inquiries aren't permitted until after 14 weeks of an application submission. 14 weeks! That's forever! We checked the UK work permits website each week to see their service standards but we feel like we're in the dark. Any comments are appreciated! We're getting anxious!
Thanks!

Aboot
New Member

Who really knows?

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 2
Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:40 pm

wow 14 weeks seems a bit crazy.shouldn't be longer than 8 I don't think unless they're really being difficult.

toronto75
New Member

Joined: 06 Aug 2008
Posts: 1

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:32 am

I've been waiting for 7 weeks now. I am hoping to hear soon! Apparently it normally takes up to 5 weeks however there are currently back logs.

rchmphr
Junior Member

Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 13

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:04 am

My husband's was just approved and it took 9 weeks. What a long wait!

LGHunter
New Member

Joined: 08 Aug 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Edmonton

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:06 am

It may take you even longer, as the rules are going to change in a couple of weeks. In September, they are changing to a points scale; you have to achieve 70 points on their questionnaire, even if you are sponsored.

They could be waiting until the new scheme comes into effect. Good luck with it; it's a lot more anal now.

I'd give you the web address to try the test, but I can't right now due to posting rules.

[Edit] Sorry, I was just on the website, it's NOVEMBER that the new scheme will be unveiled. I mis-remembered the info. Still, it's a-changin'! You'll have to go through a rigamarole in order to get changed over from the old to the new, so you may want to put off the application for the time being...if you can.

retrobolted
New Member

Joined: 14 Aug 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Toronto

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:41 am

My application was submitted just over 5 weeks ago (on July 9) and I have yet to hear anything.

rchmphr
Junior Member

Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 13

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:33 am

Hang in there.it may take awhile. my husband's took 9 weeks and we didn't hear anything until all of a sudden it was approved. Apparently they're slow approving work permits in the summer because of holidays.