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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rules Fedex imposes on its acceptance of visa applications for visits to the UK from Pakistan; what arrangements there are where such an application is outside those restrictions; and if he will make a statement. [117765] Mr. Rammell: This information is available on the UKvisas website, the address of which is www.ukvisas.gov.uk. The Visa Section in Islamabad remains unable to accept personal callers and all applications for entry clearance must be made through the courier service, Gerry's Fedex. The High Commission is currently only able to resolve certain categories of application and advises Gerry's Fedex which types of application they are able to accept. The types of visitor application which can currently be considered are: Those who have travelled to the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the USA within the last five years as a visitor. Business visitors with a letter of invitation from a company in the UK who have travelled to the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the USA within the last five years and has evidence of this travel. Persons aged 60 and over going to visit close relatives in the UK. Visitors with urgent and compassionate reasons to travel, who have prior agreement from the British High Commission that the application will be accepted. Someone wishing to undertake urgent medical treatment, with evidence of the referral from a doctor in Pakistan and an appointment letter from a doctor in the UK. Upon receipt of the correct fee, Gerry's Fedex will forward the application to the Visa Section in Islamabad for consideration. Those persons who wish to visit the UK but do not meet the criteria outlined, may apply for a visit visa in a third country. This should be done with the prior agreement of the visa issuing office of the British Mission(s) in that country. Those applications where there are exceptional and compassionate circumstances involved are considered on their own merits. The procedure allows the applicant to fax the visa section, detailing the kind of application they wish to make and why it should be treated as an urgent/compassionate case. If the Visa Section agrees that it can be considered, the applicant is sent a letter to take with their application to Gerry's Fedex where it will be accepted.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

117765; 406 c803-4W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Applications Entry clearances Overseas visitors Pakistan Visas Federal Express

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk