Visit refusal letter

[owon]

Hi my Partner, was refused a visitor visa this morning, and I have attached the response in the hopes you guys can help me avoid a second rejection.


The first point they make about the university logo, my partner is in the process off having this corrected right now.

The second point when they state we have not demonstrated family or economic ties, did they put that in the application, due to the problem with the university letter, or is this something separate we need to provide its not very clear.

When we completed the first application we stated my partner has no income as she is in full time education, and sent money gram, and western union records showing I support her completely.

I would really appreciate any help you give.

Regards

You have applied for a visa to visit the UK.

In deciding whether you meet the requirements of Appendix V: Immigration Rules for visitors
(https://www.gov.uk/government/collectio ... tion-rules) , I have considered:

• your application, and any additional relevant information you have provided with it
• your immigration history

The decision
I have refused your application for a visit visa because I am not satisfied that you meet the
requirements of paragraph 4.2 of Appendix V: Immigration Rules for Visitors because:
• You have stated that you intend to travel to the UK for 6 weeks to visit your partner.
• I note that your partner has agreed to pay for this trip and has evidenced his ability to do this
but I also have to consider your circumstances when assessing your application. The
evidence that you have provided with your application does not demonstrate your own
circumstances. The letter from Cavendish University has a distinctly different logo from that
on their website, the telephone number on the headed paper is not answered and the
person named on the letter as the dean of studies is not on the University's website. These
lead me to doubt that this is a clear and accurate account of your personal circumstances.
• On the balance of probabilities I am not satisfied that you have demonstrated that you have
strong family and financial ties to your home country which would encourage you to return
should you be granted entry to the UK.
• In light of the above and on the balance of probabilities, I am not satisfied that you are
genuinely seeking entry as a visitor for a limited period not exceeding 6 months or that you
intend to leave the United Kingdom at the end of the visit as required by Appendix V 4.2 (a)
and (c) of the Immigration Rules.

Future Applications

Any future UK visa applications you make will be considered on their individual merits, however you
are likely to be refused unless the circumstances of your application change.

[CR001]

They are two separate issues.

Is the university letter genuine? I hope for her sake it is.

The ties to home country is the most important aspect of convincing an ECO that you are a 'genuine visitor' and have reasons to and will leave the UK. By not providing documentary evidence (family, work, financial, etc) of her circumstances in home country and declaring she is visiting her partner,

[owon]

The letter is real, they updated the logo about a month ago, and the Dean of studies is not listed on the website, the letter is being re written by another member of staff member who is listed on the webiste with the updated logo, and contact details.

I financially support my partner which was stated in the letter along with western union money gram records.

[owon]

We did send a letter from the lanlord showing my partner had not giving any notice to leave the property. We thought that with a proof she was in a mid semester break from university would be enough proof of her return. Is that not the case?

[CR001]

Does she not have family in her home country, part time job, any other ties?

A single letter from her landlord is not sufficient unfortunately. Did she submit any of her own bank statements etc?

[owon]

She supplied 6 months worth of bank statements, but the amounts are inconsistant. I send her monery by western union, and sometimes she uses the bank to store the monies for safe keeping. Part time jobs are almost un heard of in Uganda. She has relatives, no children, what wuld be the best forms of proof in these curcumstances.

[CR001]

If direct family like siblings/parents, birth certificates, letters/affidavits etc anything that proves family ties.

Look at it from the ECO's point of view :

Miss X applies for a visitor visa for 6 week holiday and the circumstances are :

1. Unemployed
2. Student, with a questionable university letter
3. Not provided any evidence of family or social ties
4. Wholly financially supported by a partner in the UK
5. Bank statements with inconsistent pattern of funds
6. A partner in the UK who is settled/employed

ECO thinks, what reason would she have to leave the UK and what is the chance/risk of her not leaving at all as not proof of any reason to return to Uganda which is poorer than the UK being a third world country.

It is unfortunate that visitor visas are being scrutinised more closely and being refused more in recent months due to a history of abuse of this route with migrants disappearing into the 'wherever' once here as a 'visitor'.

[owon]

To correct this issue with the university, we are getting a new letter from the vice chancellor of the university, he will confirm the change of logo, he is on the website, and will send a photocopy of his identification.

Yes the funds thing has always been a concern for us, then family members we did not think was an important part, as most people that have not retuned from the UK probably had family ties in these countries, but opted for a better life.

From what I read on the website the only take the closest family members into account for exmaple spouse or children.

[CR001]

The website uses 'examples'. HO take all evidence into account and base decision on each applications merits. The onus is always on the applicant to prove the circumstances and that they are genuine visitors.

Many UK sponsors assume that if they are 'sponsoring and paying for the holiday' that it is sufficient, which it is not.

as most people that have not returned from the UK probably had family ties in these countries, but opted for a better life.

Most of these people do have 'close' family and some eventually do try to bring their family to the UK at some point if they manage to regulise their immigration status which is difficult and a long process. One example of this is the sham marriages with EU citizens for example, they get the right to stay under the EU regulations and only have to be married for 3 years to obtain retained rights of residence and then permanent residency, at which point they can then sponsor their 'foreign' family.

[owon]

Yes I think you are right, most of the application focused on proof of relationship, financial support, suitable accommodation, and itinerary.
We have now corrected the issue with university, now we are going to focus on family ties.

I hope the below list will satisfy the eco.
Letter from the vice chancellor explaining the change of logo, and copy of his ID.
Student ID
Transcripts from school
Letter from landlord, and tennacy agreement.
Letter from my partner explaining are long term goals, talking about her strong family comittments, and another reason for her to follow immigration rules, as we plan to apply for a spouse visa in the future.
Letter from me explaining, are future plans, talking about her family commitment, along with photos of me my partner, and various family members together.
Younger brother, and sisters birth certificates.
Letter from her sister explaining, my partner role in her life.

I cant think of any other proof we can provide, the financial support has always been a tricky situation, again all I can do is send those records showing I support my partner along with an explanation in the covering letter.

[owon]

Wondering if you can offer abit of advice, they refused the visa due to the issue with the university letter, but me and my partner have discovered alot of mistakes in the eco letter, and we were wondering if we can have this decison overturned.

The first point they mention is the logo on the website does not match the logo on the letter.

They are currently phasing out the old logo, but 5 minutes on the university website, and I have discovered the old logo is still displayed on many different webpages, and is on the top of the page were it lists all the staff members including the Dean of studies.The eco also said they were unable to contact the school as well, the visa was refused on the 12/05/2016. All the universites were closed for the uganda presidential inauguration on the 12/05/2016.

I am getting a strong impression the eco that dealt with are application just could not be bothered, as a result we have wasted all the weeks, and money.