Publication of fifteenth
report by the Independent Monitor for Entry Clearance refusals
without the right of appeal
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release issued by The Government News
Network on 22 November 2007
The Foreign and
Commonwealth Office today published the fifteenth report by the
Independent Monitor for Entry Clearance refusals without the right
of appeal.
Commenting on her report, Mrs Linda Costelloe Baker said,
"UKVisas is rapidly, and successfully, changing the way
applications are handled and determined with the introduction of
biometric data, risk assessments and commercial partnerships."
The report covers refusals issued during the six month period
between 1 October 2006 and 31 March 2007 and is the third report
by Mrs Costelloe Baker, who took up the appointment as Independent
Monitor on 26 April 2006. Copies of the report have been placed in
the libraries in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
Written Ministerial Statements were made by the Foreign Secretary
and Lord Malloch-Brown on 22 November 2007.
Notes for Editors
1. Linda Costelloe Baker succeeded Fiona Lindlsey on 26 April
2006. From 1993 - 2006 Mrs Costelloe Baker held a series of public
appointments in Scotland, most recently as the Scottish Legal
Services Ombudsman.
2. Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 amended by paragraph
27 of schedule 7 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act
2002, Mrs Costelloe Baker monitors visa refusals made by UK Entry
Clearance Officers (ECOs) in cases where there is a limited right
of appeal to check that decisions are consistent and fair. This
report is based on a detailed review of 713 refusals during the
period October 2006 to March 2007 drawn from all Entry Clearance
issuing posts world-wide. The Independent Monitor for Entry
Clearance is required to submit her findings to the Foreign
Secretary in the form of a report. The Independent Monitor is not
an alternative to the appeal system; nor is it a procedure for
applicants or sponsors to have decisions reviewed in individual
cases. The Independent Monitor does not have powers to overturn decisions.
3. Mrs Linda Costelloe Baker makes two Reports a year. Her next
report will cover the period April to September 2007, and will be
published next year.
4. Copies of the fifteenth report can be obtained from the
UKvisas website http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk,
where UKvisas responses to the recommendations made in the Report
can also be found.
Press Office, Downing Street (West), London SW1A 2AL