Visitor Visa rejected 2nd time with absurd reasons

[damnmad]

Hello all,

I've recently applied Visitor visa for my parents for the 2nd time (1st time rejected), attached 46 supporting documents (1st time with 35), but received a rejection letter with the below statement :

• You state that your son will help you towards your trip for your maintenance and
accommodation. However no documents have been supplied to support your
application. (Attached 18 documents covering council tax, gas & elec, water, dvla, visas, passports, emp ref, payslips, bank statements, invitation letter)
• You state that you are unemployed and have declared that you have income of
xxxx annually. You state that your monthly expenditure is xx
(£xx). In the absence of any supporting documents, I cannot be satisfied that your
circumstances are as you have set out. (Attached 16 documents covering bank statements, bank passbooks, rental agreements on assets, fixed deposit documents)
• You state that you will be travelling with your spouse to the UK. The information
provided does not demonstrate the whereabouts of any remaining family members in
your country of residence and the information provided demonstrates that you are
travelling with your entire immediate family, I am therefore not satisfied that you that
you have demonstrated family ties that would necessitate your departure from the UK. (attached 12 items covering passports & visa of siblings (1 in home country and other outside of country), immovable assets with translations, family health card when we were together)
• Given the above I am not satisfied that you are genuinely seeking entry for a purpose
that is permitted under the visitor route and that you will leave the UK at the end of
your visit. Your application is therefore refused under paragraph V4.2 (a) and (c) of the
Immigration Rule

I'm not sure what should be the next move, as we have covered all the points raised during the 1st application, addressed them and added the required documents, can see them being listed in the appointment letter, yet their response states that no documents have been supplied instead of pointing us to the problem. Cannot tell how frustrating this is.

Any comments/suggestions? Thanks.

[Ticktack]

It's always a hard pill to swallow. Sometimes, it's not the best to add many unnecessary documents. One utility bill should have been enough, pay slips and bank statements (6 months), document showing UK immigration status. And of course letter of invite.

For you parents, similar documents, if still working, letter from employer, if retired, letter of retirement.
Always nice to not overinflate the monthly expenditures (it's a trap), also how much you intend to spend in the UK. You have to look at their monthly and work the maths to like 25% max. There must always be something to go back home to.

A simple statement of where siblings are located should normally suffice (all the passport, and govt. documents and paperwork from them is unnecessary in my opinion). Personally, I don't think most people can get their siblings to part with all that document.

Sometimes, you can have all and visa is still rejected. At times, not much, it's just plain luck!

[damnmad]

Follow-up to this, I made a complaint in different places back in July, received a response in August for some documents and then that conversation went into oblivion, even after after few follow up emails were sent from us.

Out of blue, last week, we received an email from 'visa.abudhabi@fcdo.gov.uk' quoting my father's application reference number that they want to reconsider their applications again, asking us to send the latest version of supporting documents.

First of all, it went to a spam folder, a week after a follow up came through inbox.

I'm still skeptical whether that email is a genuine one or not as I haven't seen that email before! Can anyone shed some light regarding this?
Mind that my parents applied from India!

Any response is appreciated, thanks.

[AmazonianX]

Follow-up to this, I made a complaint in different places back in July, received a response in August for some documents and then that conversation went into oblivion, even after after few follow up emails were sent from us.

Out of blue, last week, we received an email from 'visa.abudhabi@fcdo.gov.uk' quoting my father's application reference number that they want to reconsider their applications again, asking us to send the latest version of supporting documents.

First of all, it went to a spam folder, a week after a follow up came through inbox.

I'm still skeptical whether that email is a genuine one or not as I haven't seen that email before! Can anyone shed some light regarding this?
Mind that my parents applied from India!

Any response is appreciated, thanks.

Ref to application in India email from UAE, won't be surprised that due to overload of applications at a particular location, some could be shifted to another not so busy office or location.

Provide latest documents as requested and hope for the best on the reconsideration.

[java_noob]

It's probably worth sending the documents again. We went through a very similar experience with the rejection letter appearing to imply that no supporting documents were submitted.
I sent a complaint through the UKVI complaints page and shortly after that received an email requesting all the supporting docs again. Once sent the rejection was quickly overturned.
The official response to the complaint (which I got later) said there may have been an admin or technical error which caused the documents to be lost, but as the ECM could see from the checklist that everything had been submitted it prompted the above reconsideration process.

[damnmad]

Follow-up to this, I made a complaint in different places back in July, received a response in August for some documents and then that conversation went into oblivion, even after after few follow up emails were sent from us.

Out of blue, last week, we received an email from 'visa.abudhabi@fcdo.gov.uk' quoting my father's application reference number that they want to reconsider their applications again, asking us to send the latest version of supporting documents.

First of all, it went to a spam folder, a week after a follow up came through inbox.

I'm still skeptical whether that email is a genuine one or not as I haven't seen that email before! Can anyone shed some light regarding this?
Mind that my parents applied from India!

Any response is appreciated, thanks.

Ref to application in India email from UAE, won't be surprised that due to overload of applications at a particular location, some could be shifted to another not so busy office or location.

Provide latest documents as requested and hope for the best on the reconsideration.

Thanks for your reply. So, you reckon, it is indeed a genuine email address?

'visa.abudhabi@fcdo.gov.uk'

We plannned to submit the documents soon, but wasn't sure how/where to drop the passports (asked them in the email).

[AmazonianX]

I do know there is the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and using .gov.uk domain probably, won't know for sure till you try.
Engage in mail correspondence. Was there a time limit stated within which you should respond as sometimes such matters are time bound.

[damnmad]

It's probably worth sending the documents again. We went through a very similar experience with the rejection letter appearing to imply that no supporting documents were submitted.
I sent a complaint through the UKVI complaints page and shortly after that received an email requesting all the supporting docs again. Once sent the rejection was quickly overturned.
The official response to the complaint (which I got later) said there may have been an admin or technical error which caused the documents to be lost, but as the ECM could see from the checklist that everything had been submitted it prompted the above reconsideration process.

That is interesting to hear your similar experience, thanks for your reply and sharing it.

We've requested to extend the deadline, so we can send the updated supporting documents, planning to send them soon. Never heard such scenario, so just cross checking here if it is a genuine one or not!

[damnmad]

I do know there is the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and using .gov.uk domain probably, won't know for sure till you try.
Engage in mail correspondence. Was there a time limit stated within which you should respond as sometimes such matters are time bound.

Yeah, there was a limit. For the 1st email they gave 7 calendar days (that went into spam)
2nd follow came to inbox, which we responded asking to extend the deadline, which they responded today confirming the extension of deadline. But didn't answer about how/where to submit our passports though, sent another follow up asking recently but either way preparing the documents to sent across prior to the deadline.

[AmazonianX]

I do know there is the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and using .gov.uk domain probably, won't know for sure till you try.
Engage in mail correspondence. Was there a time limit stated within which you should respond as sometimes such matters are time bound.

Yeah, there was a limit. For the 1st email they gave 7 calendar days (that went into spam)
2nd follow came to inbox, which we responded asking to extend the deadline, which they responded today confirming the extension of deadline. But didn't answer about how/where to submit our passports though, sent another follow up asking recently but either way preparing the documents to sent across prior to the deadline.

Sometimes it is after reconsideration and overturning/changing the earlier decision that you will then be informed of where to send passport for visa vignette.

Good luck.

[damnmad]

Thanks all for your replies.

We've received this email earlier today

"Dear XXX XXX,

We are pleased to inform you that your application has been processed on 21/11/2023

Kindly submit your passport to Visa Application centre, XXX . Please bring this letter which you should present at the Centre with your passport.

You are reminded that you should avoid making travel plans until you have collected your passport with a visa, as the outcome of your visa application is not final until you receive your passport.

Please ensure you check the details on your visa when collecting your passport."

My questions or thoughts;


* I'm not sure if that means visa is approved or not but at the same time questioning self why would they need the passports if it is rejected already!?

* Since it says processed on 21st (let's assume they approved it), no matter when we drop our passports, the visa validity will starts from 21st only? or when we actually dropped our passports? The reason I ask is, we were aiming for Summer travel from the initial application thinking more about the next summer visit context (2024).

* Does the applicants need to provide biometrics again? I also mean, applicants only can drop the passports as a walk-in? Since no timings were provided as an appointment?

* The mail says, please bring this letter but there is no letter attached, do they mean that email printed?

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks

[AmazonianX]

Thanks all for your replies.

We've received this email earlier today

"Dear XXX XXX,

We are pleased to inform you that your application has been processed on 21/11/2023

Kindly submit your passport to Visa Application centre, XXX . Please bring this letter which you should present at the Centre with your passport.

You are reminded that you should avoid making travel plans until you have collected your passport with a visa, as the outcome of your visa application is not final until you receive your passport.

Please ensure you check the details on your visa when collecting your passport."

My questions or thoughts;


* I'm not sure if that means visa is approved or not but at the same time questioning self why would they need the passports if it is rejected already!? Logical thinking, however you won't know for definite till you get the passport back.

* Since it says processed on 21st (let's assume they approved it), no matter when we drop our passports, the visa validity will starts from 21st only? or when we actually dropped our passports? The reason I ask is, we were aiming for Summer travel from the initial application thinking more about the next summer visit context (2024).

Won't know till you see the visa vignette in the passport, if 6months then most probably summer 2024 is out of it except if you had managed to indicate preferred new visa start date when you were submitting what was requested of you.

* Does the applicants need to provide biometrics again? I also mean, applicants only can drop the passports as a walk-in? Since no timings were provided as an appointment? No biometrics, simple do what the mail states

* The mail says, please bring this letter but there is no letter attached, do they mean that email printed? Of course yes, the letter@

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks

[damnmad]

Thanks for your replies, I understand and agree with them.

We did not request any new date in the recent conversations as it was more about them requesting us to submit the latest supporting documents. So not sure how it shapes out. I think it's better to go with the flow.

Out of curiosity question, let's say if an applicant wants to travel in Feb, they apply within 90 days prior to the travel date they intended to, assume if it is processed on 29th Nov, will they get visa starting in Feb close to the planned travel date or they get it from any date closer to 29th Nov or above?

[AmazonianX]

Thanks for your replies, I understand and agree with them.

We did not request any new date in the recent conversations as it was more about them requesting us to submit the latest supporting documents. So not sure how it shapes out. I think it's better to go with the flow.

Out of curiosity question, let's say if an applicant wants to travel in Feb, they apply within 90 days prior to the travel date they intended to, assume if it is processed on 29th Nov, will they get visa starting in Feb close to the planned travel date or they get it from any date closer to 29th Nov or above?

If you have not indicated a preferred date it will be the issue date that will be start of visa validity.
Do note that some applicants request particular Start dates and still don't get their wish.

[damnmad]

Thanks again.

We haven't dropped our passports yet.

Is it worth sending an email response to the latest communication (as mentioned above) asking for a future start date as this is reconsideration of the previous application and hence wasn't able to provide a start date in our previous communication and ask for a mid Feb start date?

I want to send this type of requesting email but only thinking if it puts them off (as this is their 1st time visiting).

Thoughts?

I know that you said it may not work but just checking the possibilities. Thanks.

[AmazonianX]

Thanks again.

We haven't dropped our passports yet.

Is it worth sending an email response to the latest communication (as mentioned above) asking for a future start date as this is reconsideration of the previous application and hence wasn't able to provide a start date in our previous communication and ask for a mid Feb start date?

I want to send this type of requesting email but only thinking if it puts them off (as this is their 1st time visiting).

Thoughts?

I know that you said it may not work but just checking the possibilities. Thanks.

At tjis point May work or may not. No harm in trying.