§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to raise the fees for entry clearance abroad; to what level the fees for entry clearance for(a) single entry visit, (b) multiple entry visit, (c) business or work, (d) student and (e) settlement will be raised; and which countries have arrangements with the United Kingdom for free visas. [7418]
§ Mr. HanleyThe entry clearance application fee for settlement is due to rise on 1 April 1996. The new fee will be announced nearer the time. No decisions have been taken on changes to other fees.
The United Kingdom waives visa fees for certain categories of applicant in accordance with international custom or law, or on policy grounds.
The United Kingdom waives visa fees for nationals of certain countries of the former Soviet Union under the terms of the 1964 UK/USSR agreement abolishing consular fees on visas. These are Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. The agreement will terminate in respect of nationals of Russia on 27 January 1996. The agreement is no longer in effect in respect of nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what are the present waiting times to first interview for all categories of applicant(a) in each country and at each post in the Indian subcontinent, (b) Bangkok, (c) Manila, (d) Lagos, (e) Accra, (f) Kingston, (g) Addis Ababa and (h) Sana' a; [7659]
(2) how many applications for entry clearance as working holiday-makers have been (a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused in (i) India, (ii) Bangladesh, (iii) Australia, (iv) Canada, (v) Nigeria, (vi) Ghana, (vii) Pakistan, (viii) Sierra Leone, (ix) Gambia and (x) Jamaica during 1994 and 1995 to the latest convenient date; [7658]
(3) how many explanatory statements relate to entry clearance appeals were awaiting typing at each post in (a) the Indian subcontinent, (b) Manila, (c) Kingston, (d) Bangkok, (e) Lagos and (f) Accra, on the latest date for which information is available; how many staff are employed, (i) full-time and (ii) part-time, to type statements; and when he expects backlogs to be cleared; [7419]
54W(4) how long a person applying for entry clearance for settlement at the British post in (a) Manila, (b) Accra, (c) Lagos, (d) Kingston, (e) Nicosia, (f) Cairo, (g) Bangkok, (h) Rabat and (i) each post in each country of the Indian subcontinent on 30 September 1995 or the latest date for which information could expect to wait for (i) interview, (ii) referral of the case to the Home Office and the requested information being received by the post, (iii) decisions and (iv) an explanatory statement prepared by the post in the event of an appeal against a refusal to be despatched to the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom. [7657]
§ Mr. HanleyIn view of the amount of detail needed to answer these questions, I will write to the hon. Member shortly.