UKTI, British Consulate General, New York City Reviews

This is my second time applying for a UK student visa. I applied with the standard processing and did not choose the priority service. I got my visa approved in 5 business days and it was shipped the same day that I got the e-mail that it was despatched from the visa center! I feel like I lucked out for sure. Here's my timeline.

10/8: Online application submitted
10/26: Biometrics appointment. This was the earliest appointment I could get but was in and out within 10 minutes. I shipped off the documents the same day with one day air shipping through UPS. With the return label included, it cost $100 in total. YIKES. You can definitely save if you go with 2 day shipping instead though.
10/27: Application delivered to mail room. The only way I knew was because I checked the UPS tracking. I received no communication from the consulate
11/2: received e-mail from VFS that my visa application was processed and would be despatched to the address on my return shipping label. I checked UPS and it was sent off that evening.
11/3: received my passport with the visa attached!

So relieved that I got my visa within 5 business days without paying premium prices! Kind of weird how they don't send any updates at all though until it's shipped out.

I wish there was a direct way to place info obtained from Google search to contacts.

Worst service in my 65 years of experience in any country. It was better when it was done in person at the consulate then now a days. Worst service for the maximum fees.

They deleted my earlier review. Here is my experience again: I applied for a transfer visa. I could not send my documents first although I paid for shipping on their website. then I paid my own shipping and sent my documents. It was the biggest mistake to send my documents there because they kept my passport there much longer than the time they give on their website. I emailed them many times and never got a single response back. I called their phone number in the UK and I had to pay to be able to talk with their personel. I do not mention the money for international call, this is for their time. I called them twice and could not get any progress. They told me they will investigate on it and email me but they did not. I had to pay for sending an email to them. Thankfully, I got a response back but it was a generic response saying that the process still going on and please be patient. I had to travel much later than that I planned because I received my passport back late. I recommend you to avoid travelling through the UK. I am not planning to visit the UK forever because of my bad experience with these people. It was the worst visa services that I received in my life.

very annoying we in the uk can not contact the British embassy direct why not !

Amazing experience. I got a visa in one week. I got biometric appointment on 1/21/2020, sent all documents by ups at the same day. Received my passport on 1/28/2020. Paid $130 for consulate fee and $40 for ups. No extra fees.

This crazy that I called all of the British embassy and they not giving any kind of information or assistance. they refer you to website which you don't understand that they are saying. I wasn't able to coach the website because of their accents and they say it really fast.

Great experience. My passport got damaged and they gave me an emergency passport for my immediate travel needs. The process was clear and concise. The staff were also very friendly and knowledge. Thank you for your help.

The service is appalling: the phone number that is given in various places doesn't work or one is referred to the website that doesn't answer my query.