§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current average waiting time in Islamabad is for applicants seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom having married United Kingdom citizens from the point of766W application to the issuing of the visa; and what it was on the same count date in each of the last five years.[137368]
§ Mr. VazAt the end of September waiting time in Islamabad for interview for a spouse settlement visa was 18.5 weeks. Waiting times at the same point in the last two years were 40 weeks (1999) and 16 weeks (1998). The monthly data for the years 1995 to 1997 have not been retained. The waiting times at the end of December 1995, 1996 and 1997 were 13.5 weeks (1995), 18 weeks (1996) and 18 weeks (1997). We also know from correspondence with the High Commission that the waiting time for spouse settlement interviews in September 1995 was 18 weeks. All these waiting times are for interview. The time until a decision to issue (or refuse) a visa may be longer, depending on the circumstances of the case. I have today asked Islamabad for weekly information about queue lengths.