HC Deb 16 February 1999 vol 325 cc744-6W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current waiting times in each queue for entry to the United Kingdom in(a)Bombay, (b) New Delhi, (c) Islamabad and (d) Dhaka. [70395]

Mr. Fatchett

The latest available figures show that in Bombay, New Delhi, Islamabad and Dhaka an average of 97 per cent. of applicants for non-settlement visas, whose applications are straightforward, receive their visas within 24 hours of applying.

The current (10 February) waiting times for an interview in connection with an application for settlement in the United Kingdom, in Bombay, New Delhi, Islamabad and Dhaka are as follows (figures are in weeks):

Dependent relatives over 65; compassionate cases Spouses children under 18 Fiance(e)s other settlement categories Re-applied
Bombay nil 8 8 8
New Delhi nil 14 23 29
Islamabad 7 27 28 32
Dhaka 16 28 32 36

The current waiting times for an interview (Tier 3) in connection with a non-settlement application is as follows (in days):

Days
Bombay nil
New Delhi nil
Islamabad 115
Dhaka nil
1 Wherever possible urgent compassionate cases are interviewed on day of application

Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average length of time a person applying for entry clearance for settlement at each post in the Indian subcontinent and in (1) Manila, (2) Bangkok, (3) Lagos, (4) Abuja, (5) Accra, (6) St. Petersburg and (7) Moscow who was interviewed in (i) December 1997, (ii) June 1998 and (iii) December 1998 waited before interview, in each queue; and how long a person who applied in (A) June 1998, (B) September 1998, (C) December 1998 and (D) January 1999 can be expected to wait, at the same posts and in each queue. [70743]

Mr. Fatchett

The statistics that are collected centrally could not provide accurate figures to reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's question. A comprehensive reply could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The statistics requested in the second part of my hon. Friend's question are as follows.

Post average waiting time for settlement interview at the end of each month (in weeks)
June 1998 September 1998 December 1998 January 1999
Islamabad
Q1 10 6 7 7
Q2 17 17 26 27
Q3 26 24 28 28
Q4 30 28 32 32
Karachi 17 16 11 6
Dhaka
Q1 14 15 16 16
Q2 16 18 22 28
Q3 14 14 14 n/a
Q4 20 22 32 36
Calcutta 5 1 0 n/a
New Delhi
Q1 0 0 0 0
Q2 15 17 12 12
Q3 23 25 25 24
Q4 30 32 32 20
Bombay
Q1 0 0 0 0
Q2 10 12 12 8
Q3 10 12 12 8
Q4 10 12 12 8
Madras 4 3 5 5
Colombo 4 7 4 2
Manila 8 6 6 n/a
Bangkok 8 7 3 7
Lagos 6 11 5 3
Abuja 3 12 7 5.5
Accra 20 17 3 7.2
St. Petersburg 5 1 2 n/a
Moscow 1.5 2 4 0

Notes

Q1 = Dependent relatives over 65; special compassionate cases

Q2 = Spouses, children under 18

Q3 = Fiancé(e)s; other settlement categories

Q4 = Reapplicants

n/a = Not applicable