Massive increase in ECO workload in Manila

Incredible. and clearly not isloated cases.

I just imagine what might happen to the backlog if UKIP were voted in. Shudder to think.

Long but interesting read from the UKBA...

"Recommendation 5: We recommend that the UK Border Agency urgently addresses the
backlog of 14,000 cases where an application for reconsideration has been made and
makes an initial decision in the 2,100 temporary migration cases.
UK Border Agency response: partially accepted."


http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/s...s/workingwithus/chief-insp/marriage-civil.pdf

Have you read some of the comments posted for that BBC story? Some are horror stories about lengthy delays in processing ILRs and FLRs. But there are quite a number of overtly racist comments posted also and I am surprised that the BBC moderators have allowed them to be publicised.

Here's a few examples:

On the other hand:

This guy has been waiting almost two years!!

Here's a possible friendly nation for the EEA Route:

The above is just a brief selection of some of the more recent comments and many I find disgusting. What's more disgusting is that the Government is pandering to the opinions of the racist minority and that the BBC should publish their remarks.

Well said.

You know, those of us that live in the Philippines often moan about the Bureau of Immigration chiselling as many Pesos as it can - for example, the "Express Lane Fee" when there's no express lane. But its become very clear to me that the Bureau of Immigration is far more efficient and its charges considerably more reasonable than UKBA.

Cost of a tourist visa extension: £47 (approx)
Time taken to issue an extension: 1 hour.

Cost of 13(a) Temporary (1st year) Settlement Visa: £230 (approx)
Time taken to issue that visa: 4 to 6 weeks

Cost of 13(a) Permanent Settlement Visa (ILR equivalent): £180 (approx)
Time taken to issue that visa: 4 weeks (avg)

At no time does the BoI retain any Passports and whilst it does advise applicants for 13(a) and other settlement visas against travelling abroad whilst they're being considered, if there is a family emergency, BoI can (and will) make allowances and permit travel - for a modest fee.

Exactly. For those that are waiting on FLR for 8 or 9 months with their passport locked up at the UKBA, they (the UKBA) could simply return the passport within a few days of submission, after they have given it a quick look and ticked the right box to say that it is in order. Keeping it for that amount of time is ridiculous.

I applied for a passport for our baby a few days ago. One of the documents I had to submit in support of the application was my passport. They didn't keep my passport, the Immigration officer simply looked at it, ticked a box and gave it to me back, on the spot. Same for my daughter's birth certificate and our marriage certificate. Then he took the application form away for processing which will take a few weeks.

WE are in the same boat too having applied in April 2012, paid a princely sum and the cheque was cashed in no more than a week but still we wait for the outcome. Our local Mp even wrote to the UKBA but got fobbed off as they are using the srictly in date order stock reply which after waiting for more than 8 months is nothing short of shameful.

Earlier in this thread, there was mention that Theresa May may clamp-down on our Article 8 Rights. Here's an extract from a story in 29th December's Daily Telegraph:

Add to which, the Home Secretary has previously indicated she is keen to press for an end to the free movement of EU workers.