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Sixth Report Session 1998-99
Volume 2
OCTOBER 1998 - MARCH 1999
The full report of selected cases
Summary of selected cases
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Mishandling of an application for entry clearance for a child
A woman sought entry clearance for one of her children who was living in Africa to join her in the United Kingdom. The British Embassy in the country concerned asked that the child be brought to the Embassy to undergo DNA tests to prove the relationship. In June 1997 the woman travelled to Africa and took the child to the Embassy, but they refused to carry out the DNA test at that time, apparently on the grounds that they had not been instructed to do so by the Home Office. The woman therefore had to make a second journey to Africa. The Ombudsman found that in dealing with the woman's application in June 1997 the Embassy had overlooked the fact, which earlier correspondence had made plain, that contrary to normal routine the case had already been identified as one in which DNA testing was necessary. The Embassy's failure to ensure that all parts of the application process which had been identified as necessary were completed during the complainant's first visit to them had been largely responsible for the fact that she had needed to make a second journey to Africa. FCO agreed to make the woman an ex gratia payment equivalent to two thirds of the cost of the journey.
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