Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many international students living and studying in the UK have not had their passports returned to them by the Passport Office in time to travel abroad before Christmas 2014.

In January 2014 UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) introduced a new set of service standards for fee-paying in-country applications.

Applications from Tier 4 students will be completed within 8 weeks of application provided that the customer has complied with application requirements and has provided the necessary documentation.

Since January, UKVI has processed over 98% of in-country Tier 4 student applications within the 8 week service standard.

Students that applied in good time and complied with all application requirements could therefore have expected to receive their passports back before Christmas 2014.