Andrew Nyamayaro | Over the years the Home Office have frustratingly continued to make delays in making decisions to applications that have been send to them through the post or courier. On average at the moment the Home Office are taking 6 months to make a decision although they are quick to get their payment from your account. After getting money from your account, they are now in the habit of writing a letter which will state that your application raises exceptional and complex issues and the decision will take around six months to be made.

These delays have had negative impacts on applicants. Some applicants have been suspended from work, even though they are still entitled to work. Often a times I have been called by people who work for recruitment agents but are no longer getting shifts whilst the applications are going on. It gets worse! Some people have failed to attend funerals for their loved ones or to go back home to visit ill relatives because the Home Office is holding onto their passports and applications for longer than is necessary.
If you do not want delays with your application, you can book a same day service at a premium service centre. The Home Office has several premium service centres dotted across the UK. The same day service attracts a further fee in addition to the usual Home Office application fee. At the moment it stands at £590 per applicant (not per application) so if it’s a family of four people making the application, the extra fee will be £2360. Due to the delays in the applications, most people are reverting to same day service applications and the appointments are getting difficult to get. You will need to book very early otherwise you risk not finding a slot.
Premium applications are also available if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom. If you pay an additional fee, the Entry Clearance Officer will make a decision quicker. On average entry clearance applications take about 3 to 6 months unless if it’s a visitors’ visa application.
If you have already done a postal application, the Home Office has a facility to make a quicker decision on your case. You need to complete the relevant application form and payment form, email it to the Home Office and they will make a decision in most cases within 2 weeks. This costs you £490 or £590 if you decide to attend a premium service centre.
Assuming you cannot afford to pay for a same day service or to pay to accelerate an already pending application, you can contact the Home Office through your legal representatives, local Member of Parliament or by yourself. The Home Office does not want to be contacted normally if the application is pending for less than six months if you are contacting them to ask for the progress of the application.
Andrew Nyamayaro is the principal of Tann Law Solicitors, a specialist immigration, employment, family, charity and corporate law firm in Coventry. He can be contacted on e-mail [email protected] or office phone 02477632323 or mobile 07421429338.

Visit Tann Law Solicitors’ website at www.tannlaw.co.uk

Disclaimer: This article only provides general information and guidance on immigration law. It is not intended to replace the advice or services of a solicitor. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. The writer will not accept any liability for any claims or inconvenience as a result of the use of this information.