Richard

UK, for now

Angry Voter

"Identity" is not the problem:

I've helped several friends with appeals against refusals of UK student visas - as genuine students paying the full overseas (ie. higher) rate of fees at UK government funded colleges.

Each had (wrongly) been refused a visa; After very lengthy appeals, UK immigration judges have now granted each a visa.

In no case was their "identity" in doubt; none could credibly have been described as "undesirable"; all were well known and respected in their own communities. All will return home to their families and businesses after completing their courses.

The problem was the poor decisions made by UKVisa staff and their contractors, and the frequent loss of important documents; some possibly lost into criminal hands. UKVisa staff and their contractors appeared to have some very strange attitudes to these genuine applicants.

Immigration appeal judges have now ordered UKVisas to issue these student visas, but much damage has been done to the UK's reputation, and to these applicants.

Sadly, the UK media has decided not to report what is being done - supposedly in our name - to applicants for UK visas.

So, rather than crowing about "biometrics," the UKVisas, FCO and Home Office should put more effort into basic administration - including simple filing systems and communications technology - and into better representing the UK's core values overseas.