HC Deb 03 March 1998 vol 307 c512W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time for a Chinese passport holder to receive a United Kingdom visa from the Embassy in Beijing; and what percentage of applications were refused in the last available year. [31958]

Mr. Fatchett

Where an application is straightforward, a Chinese passport holder applying for a UK non-settlement visa in Peking could expect to be issued with a visa on the same day. Where a further interview is required, the applicant may have to wait up to 12 weeks for an appointment. Where an application is for settlement, there is also a 12 week queue for an interview appointment.

In 1997, the non-settlement refusal percentage was 9.13 per cent. and the settlement refusal percentage was 7.75 per cent. The overall refusal percentage was 9.1 per cent.