HC Deb 08 March 1989 vol 148 cc558-9W
Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how long a person applying for entry clearance on 31 March or the latest convenient date at each post in the middle-east, including Israel and Turkey, could expect to wait in each queue, for(a) first interview, (b) referral of the case to the Home Office and the requested information being received by the post, (c) decision after first interview and (d) the explanatory statement prepared by the post in the case of appeal against refusal to be despatched to the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom;

(2) what are the present waiting times to first interview for entry clearance for all categories of applicant in each country in the middle-east, including Israel and Turkey.

Mr. Eggar

The majority of visa applications received are straightforward and require no interview. In such cases visas are normally issued within 48 hours.

The information sought at (b) and (c) is not available. Processing times vary from case to case.

As to (a) and (d) the position for all categories of applicant as at 28 February is set out in the table. Column (d) represents the time lapse from the date of receiving notice of appeal from the applicant. The distinction between residents and non-residents at Dubai, Istanbul and Nicosia reflects a high volume of applications from non-resident foreign nationals.

(a) (d)
Abu Dhabi 7 days 1 month
Aden 2 weeks 2 weeks
Amman 3 days within 3 months
Baghdad 2 days 1 week
Bahrain 3 days 4–6 weeks
Beirut 2same day 1
Cairo same day 3 weeks
Damascus 3 same day 1
Doha 5 days 2 weeks
Dubai
Residents 4 weeks 1 month
Non-residents 5 months 1 month
Istanbul
Residents same day 3 months
Non-residents 3½ months 3 months
Jedda 2 weeks within 1 month
Jerusalem 4 days 2 weeks
Kuwait 1 day 1 week
Muscat same day 1 month
Nicosia
Residents same day 1 week
Non-residents 1 week 1 week
Riyadh 4 weeks 8 weeks
Sana'a 1 week 1 week
Tel Aviv same day 1 week
1A limited visa service is in operation; cases involving lengthy interview and/or possible refusal are directed to nearby posts.
2Straightforward cases only.
3Urgent medical and compassionate cases only.

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