Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce digital IDs for migrants seeking to work in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Home Office has no plans to introduce digital IDs for migrants seeking to work in the UK. However, as set out in the Government’s White Paper on the future skills-based immigration system published on 19 December 2018, individuals will use online services to demonstrate their immigration status to employers, landlords and other service providers. These online services will enable individuals to view an online record of their immigration status held by the Home Office, and to share it with others, securely and in real time. Online services are being rolled out now to those who hold a biometric residence document, and those who apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
A decision on an individual’s immigration status is determined by suitably trained Home Office staff. To ensure that applications for leave to remain and enter are processed as efficiently as possible, UK Visas and Immigration digitally streams applications to the relevant team. Streaming does not determine the outcome of an application; rather it ensures appropriate checks are made against requirements of the Immigration Rules by suitably-trained decision makers. The streaming system drives efficiency by ensuring decision makers have the relevant applications as quickly as possible. It is regularly updated to reflect any changes in policy. Online status services simply surface information based on the immigration product an individual has already been granted.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the estimated cost is of introducing a digital ID system for migrants seeking to work in the UK.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Home Office has no plans to introduce digital IDs for migrants seeking to work in the UK. However, as set out in the Government’s White Paper on the future skills-based immigration system published on 19 December 2018, individuals will use online services to demonstrate their immigration status to employers, landlords and other service providers. These online services will enable individuals to view an online record of their immigration status held by the Home Office, and to share it with others, securely and in real time. Online services are being rolled out now to those who hold a biometric residence document, and those who apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
A decision on an individual’s immigration status is determined by suitably trained Home Office staff. To ensure that applications for leave to remain and enter are processed as efficiently as possible, UK Visas and Immigration digitally streams applications to the relevant team. Streaming does not determine the outcome of an application; rather it ensures appropriate checks are made against requirements of the Immigration Rules by suitably-trained decision makers. The streaming system drives efficiency by ensuring decision makers have the relevant applications as quickly as possible. It is regularly updated to reflect any changes in policy. Online status services simply surface information based on the immigration product an individual has already been granted.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the use of algorithm-based software in the determination of immigration status for migrants seeking to (a) work and (b) visit the UK.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Home Office has no plans to introduce digital IDs for migrants seeking to work in the UK. However, as set out in the Government’s White Paper on the future skills-based immigration system published on 19 December 2018, individuals will use online services to demonstrate their immigration status to employers, landlords and other service providers. These online services will enable individuals to view an online record of their immigration status held by the Home Office, and to share it with others, securely and in real time. Online services are being rolled out now to those who hold a biometric residence document, and those who apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
A decision on an individual’s immigration status is determined by suitably trained Home Office staff. To ensure that applications for leave to remain and enter are processed as efficiently as possible, UK Visas and Immigration digitally streams applications to the relevant team. Streaming does not determine the outcome of an application; rather it ensures appropriate checks are made against requirements of the Immigration Rules by suitably-trained decision makers. The streaming system drives efficiency by ensuring decision makers have the relevant applications as quickly as possible. It is regularly updated to reflect any changes in policy. Online status services simply surface information based on the immigration product an individual has already been granted.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of the priority service is for visa applications to the UK in each country in which they are issued.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The fees for the priority visa application services for applications made outside the UK are:
£573 for priority settlement service,
£220 for priority visa service (other than settlement), and
£956 for super priority visa service for decisions within one working day
These fees are applicable equally across all countries, irrespective of where the application is made.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost is of the priority service for visa applications to the UK in New Delhi.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The fees for the priority visa application services for applications made outside the UK are:
£573 for priority settlement service,
£220 for priority visa service (other than settlement), and
£956 for super priority visa service for decisions within one working day
These fees are applicable equally across all countries, irrespective of where the application is made.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost is of the super priority service for visa applications to the UK in each country that those visas are issued.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The fees for the priority visa application services for applications made outside the UK are:
£573 for priority settlement service,
£220 for priority visa service (other than settlement), and
£956 for super priority visa service for decisions within one working day
These fees are applicable equally across all countries, irrespective of where the application is made.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost is of the super priority service for visa applications to the UK in New Delhi.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The fees for the priority visa application services for applications made outside the UK are:
£573 for priority settlement service,
£220 for priority visa service (other than settlement), and
£956 for super priority visa service for decisions within one working day
These fees are applicable equally across all countries, irrespective of where the application is made.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have applied for the (a) priority service and (b) super priority service for visa applications to the UK in each of the last five years.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The specific information requested is not published, however Home Office published information on in-country visa performance is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/in-country-migration-data-may-2019
The Home Office does not publish information on the out of country Priority and Super Priority visa service. Published information on the international visa operation is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-may-2019
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have applied for the (a) priority service and (b) super priority service for visa applications to the UK at the British High Commission in New Delhi in each of the last five years.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The specific information requested is not published, however Home Office published information on in-country visa performance is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/in-country-migration-data-may-2019
The Home Office does not publish information on the out of country Priority and Super Priority visa service. Published information on the international visa operation is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-may-2019
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who have paid for the priority service for a visa application have received a decision on their application within five days in each of the last five years.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The specific information requested is not published, however Home Office published information on in-country visa performance is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/in-country-migration-data-may-2019
The Home Office does not publish information on the out of country Priority and Super Priority visa service. Published information on the international visa operation is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-may-2019