Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to accelerate the provision of visas to the 35 Afghan Chevening scholarship students.

The Government worked tirelessly to support the evacuation from Afghanistan, up until the UK’s final withdrawal on 28 August. All 35 Chevening scholars were contacted and the Afghan Chevening Scholars who arrived in the UK were given conditions of permission which allow them to start their course of study.

We are aware that there a small number of scholars who are currently in a third country overseas and we are working to find the best solution for them to come to the UK to start their course, unless they choose to defer their studies until next year. Those overseas in a third country can make a visa application as normal.