Parliamentary Ombudsman Scheme

[bobrussell]

I have been in a very one sided fight with the UKBA regarding settlement visas for my wife and daughter. We have been trying (with the help of my MP) to speed the visa process to allow them to attend a family gathering that was to happen in August - Ha Ha! Little did I know about the crazy world of the UKBA before this summer!

With the help of our MP we intend to put a formal complaint to the Parliamentary Ombusman for maladministration. The main grounds are that families of British subjects, especially if there are children involved should be considered a high priority for visa processing rather than wait the 'regulation' 12 weeks that have been adopted by the UKBA. My daughter has missed 2 weeks of school so far and we clearly will be waiting for a further month for the visas to be processed. There is no guarantee of course that the ECO will not find a 'hole' in the paperwork and refuse as a consequence.

It would seem logical that if others in the same situation can get similar support from their own MP's that other complaints may put the Home Office under pressure to make the system more humane for families.

Comments and ideas (and experiences) would be appreciated as this may help with the evidence gathering.

[orchidofsiam]

Frankly there are so many complaints made via MPs that the UKBA has an entire department devoted to MPs correspondence. Rarely does it seem that the intervention of an MP makes any real difference. The fact that it takes around 12 weeks to process an application is a long and uncofortable waiting period, but they do make it very clear what length of time you are likely to wait for a decision at the outset. I fully understand and totally sympathise with your predicament but unfortunately I do not think you will get very far with a claim of maladministration. I do however wish you every success.

[bobrussell]

Thanks for the reply - of course you are quite right but it will make me feel better!!

If they did their job effectively then they would only need a small dept to deal with complaints. I am sure the UKBA are short of resources but the more complaints people make through the ombudsman the more likely any government will improve things.

I do not expect them to change anything just for me but the system is inhumane (as can be seen from many of the comments on the forum) so on principle I intend to fight irrespective of the outcome of our applications.

I can see why people do not continue to complain as they are probably so ground down by waiting that the relief of getting a visa or the trauma of rejection changes priorities.

Unfortunately we have a 'dead duck' government which has nothing to lose any more so I suspect my grumbles will be less significant than their worries about finding a new job in a few months time!!!

My heart bleeds for them!!!!!