Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Visa Processing Times — [James Gray in the Chair]

14 December 2022 · 4 other contributors · 4,713 words

Opened by Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife

Responding minister: Robert Jenrick

Immigration

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Wendy Chamberlain raised concerns about visa processing times — [james gray in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Wendy Chamberlain expressed concern over long visa processing times, particularly for family visas where applicants have waited over a year for decisions.
  • Chamberlain requested the Minister to clarify the Home Office's criteria for designating cases as private life applications and to set clear target processing times for all visa types.
  • The Minister acknowledged improvements in visa processing but noted ongoing challenges, especially with family visa delays, and emphasized prioritizing work and study visas to support economic recovery.

Key requests to Government

Chamberlain asks the Minister to clarify how the Home Office designates cases as private life applications, set target processing times for all visa types, improve communication with applicants during the waiting period, and address delays affecting skilled workers' visas and academic technology approval scheme (ATAS) certificates.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife

Wendy Chamberlain is concerned about the systemic issues in visa processing times, particularly for families and workers waiting long periods without a decision. She cited cases where applicants have waited over a year for responses on family visas, causing significant stress to individuals and their families. The Home Office's designation of cases as private life applications also adds complexity and uncertainty, often leading to delays beyond target processing times. The lack of transparency in the visa application process further exacerbates these issues.

Other contributors (4)
  • Daniel Poulter Con Stortford

    I have had a case in my constituency of a sixth-form student who was already studying at a sixth-form college but faced difficulties re-entering due to visa rules. Some cases are still taking several months, which interferes with student studies and staff supply.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    The hon. Member highlighted that workers face over eight weeks of wait time for visa extensions, preventing them from staying on to extend their contracts and continue working in the UK, which he argued is mutually beneficial.

  • Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham

    A constituent's husband missed his wife's pregnancy and the birth of their child due to a delayed spousal visa application process. The hon. Member called for a review of service level agreement times and transparency in criteria for expedited cases. I questioned the Minister about the criteria for expedited case handling, noting that a spousal visa example we provided was not deemed worth expediting despite taking 26 weeks.

  • Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park

    A constituent's family faced a three-month wait for visas after the wife's death, despite the case being considered under 'urgent and compassionate' dispensation. The hon. Member questioned whether this timeframe should be regarded as urgent.

Government Response

Robert Jenrick

Acknowledged the concerns raised by MPs about visa processing times, highlighted improvements made in recent months despite challenges posed by the pandemic and Ukraine crisis. Stated that resources were prioritised for work and study visas post-pandemic to support economic recovery and student returns, noting high numbers of processed study visas (590,000) as of September 2022. Mentioned family visa delays still needing improvement with targets set but longer processing times noted. Reassured MPs that the Home Office is working towards meeting or exceeding customer service standards for all visa categories in early 2023.

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