Delay at airport after UK Visas and Immigration wrongly withdrew an outstanding application

Summary 17 |

Ms F had an outstanding application for leave to remain. She travelled abroad but was delayed at the airport when she returned because UKVI had wrongly withdrawn her application.


What happened

Ms F applied for leave to remain. While the application was outstanding, she travelled abroad. UKVI subsequently withdrew her application; however, it has since acknowledged that this was incorrect in her circumstances. As a result of the confusion created by the withdrawal, Ms F was held at the airport for several hours. This was inconvenient and stressful for her. Further, by the time she was allowed to enter the UK, public transport had stopped and Ms F had to pay for a taxi home.

What we found

UKVI's incorrect withdrawal of Ms F's outstanding application for leave to remain caused her problems on her arrival at an airport.

We also found that UKVI handled some of her correspondence poorly.

Ms F also complained about UKVI's handling of her application for leave to remain. However, we did not uphold this part of her complaint.

Putting it right

UKVI apologised to Ms F, reimbursed her for the cost of her transport, and paid her £150 for stress and inconvenience.

Health or Parliamentary
Parliamentary
Organisations we investigated

UK Visas and Immigration

Location

UK

Complainants' concerns ?

Did not apologise properly or do enough to put things right

Result

Apology

Compensation for financial loss

Compensation for non-financial loss