Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how credibility interviews for Student route applicants are recorded; and whether those records are verbatim transcripts, audio recordings, or notes typed by the interviewing officer.

Applicants are not routinely provided with the interview record before a decision is made. They may request a copy by making a subject access request

The Home Office does not routinely publish the proportion of Student route applicants, by nationality, who are required to attend a credibility interview. The information could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Interviews are currently conducted by video call and are not audio-recorded or automatically transcribed. Further information is available in the published Student and Child Student caseworker guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/student-route-caseworker-guidance/student-and-child-stud…

UK Visas and Immigration may conduct a credibility interview when assessing whether a Student route applicant is a genuine student from all nationailites. This may include consideration of the applicant’s reasons for studying in the UK, knowledge of their course, career plans and English-language ability.

Information on the number of Student route entry clearance refusals withdrawn following representations from Honourable Members is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost. An eligible refusal decision may be challenged through an administrative review.