§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of cases of applications for permanent residence visas by spouses of UK citizens taking more than eight weeks to process at the latest date for which figures are available. [33972]
§ Angela EagleInformation on the processing times for individual types of application is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only by scrutiny of individual case files, at disproportionate cost. We are currently introducing a new management information system which will provide much better information in due course on all of the applications in the system.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of postal applications for permanent residence visas for spouses of UK citizens are processed in three weeks. [33968]
§ Angela EagleWe do not routinely publish average processing times for individual types of application. We aim to decide all straightforward applications within three weeks, but at present it is taking up to seven weeks due to the exceptionally high number of applications received, particularly in the latter half of 2001, and process changes which are being introduced to improve our longer term performance. We are working to reduce this to three weeks as soon as possible.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data underlies the statement on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website that applications for permanent residence from spouses of UK citizens are taking up to six weeks on average and up to eight weeks in some cases. [33971]
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§ Angela EagleApplications are normally processed in date order irrespective of category. The information on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website, which currently states that initial consideration is taking between five to seven weeks, reflects the current average length of time between the receipt of all postal applications in Croydon and their initial consideration by caseworkers. This information is regularly updated. We are working hard to continue to reduce this period back down to our target of three weeks as soon as possible.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the time taken by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to process applications for permanent residence from people who are spouses of UK residents. [33973]
§ Angela EagleWe have received various representations from hon. Members and from applicants and their representatives about the current turnaround time for considering general after entry casework. No statistics are kept centrally on the number of such representations.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason applicants for permanent residence visas on the basis of being a spouse of UK citizens are advised not to send their applications more than five weeks before the previous visa expires. [33969]
§ Angela EagleOne of the requirements of the relevant Immigration Rules is the completion of a period of 12 months following admission to the United Kingdom, or having been given an extension of stay for 12 months as the spouse of a person present and settled here. People who apply too early cannot meet this requirement, hence the advice in the relevant application form.