I am waiting or in a process

I am waiting for a decision

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Waiting is the hardest part and the part with the least information. There are a few things worth knowing while you wait, and a few things not to do.

Where you are · Application

Prepare
Apply
Biometrics
Decision — you are here
Outcome

You are here. The dates that matter are on your letter.

What the words mean

Service standard: The time the Home Office aims to decide within. It is a target, not a promise, and many decisions take longer.
Section 3C leave: If you applied before your permission ended, your permission may continue while you wait. Your rights to work or rent may continue with it.

What to do first

Step 1. Keep your contact details up to date with the Home Office.
Step 2. Do not travel outside the UK while an application is pending unless an adviser has told you it is safe.
Step 3. Keep evidence of the date you applied and any acknowledgement.
Step 4. If your circumstances change — a new job, a new address, a new baby — tell them in writing and keep a copy.

What to gather

Your application reference and the date you applied
Any acknowledgement email or letter
Evidence of anything that has changed since

Who can help

If you are past the published service standard and the delay is causing real harm — a job offer lost, no access to healthcare — an adviser can tell you whether anything can be done to push it.

Find a regulated adviser

Sample content · written for review · not checked by a lawyer or against the Immigration Rules