UK visitor visa refusal, need help

Hello everyone,

My family have been refused for UK visitor visa to attend my graduation with this note:

Part 9.7.2. states that an application for entry clearance, permission to enter or permission to stay must be refused where the decision maker can prove that it is more likely than not the applicant used deception in the application.

• The declaration at the end of your application form states that by sending your application, you confirm that to the best of your knowledge and belief that the information relating to your application and your supporting evidence is correct. It also states that by doing so, you understand that if false information is given, your application can be refused and you may be banned from the UK and prosecuted.

• In support of your application, you have submitted a confirmation of study from XX. Checks conducted by this office and recorded in a Document Verification Report (DVR) have concluded that this document is not genuine. I am therefore satisfied that you have submitted a non-genuine document in support of your current application. This false employment letter directly relates to your purpose of travel to the UK and I am therefore satisfied that you have used deception.

• Your application is therefore refused under Part 9.7.2 of the Immigration Rules.
• As your application falls for mandatory refusal under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, the
general grounds of refusal, your application is therefore refused under Appendix Visitor paragraph V3.1 and as such, it has not been assessed further under Appendix V4: Immigration Rules for Visitors.

• I am also satisfied that you have used deception in this application. This means that any future entry clearance applications may also be refused under the Immigration Rules for a period of up to 10 years depending on the type of application you make. The period of 10 years starts from the date that the deception was used in this application for a visa.

I was really shocked with this refusal reason, as I don’t know how official letter from uni can be categorised as “non-genuine”. In our application I submitted 2 letter, combined in a single document, which are:

1. Expected graduate letter from university student services, stated that I am expected to graduate on 11 December 2023
2. Study letter from my faculty, stated that I am registered as a student, have completed my course and are waiting for final mark, and will have my graduation in December 2023

Is there any way I could challenge this decision? As this refusal will affect my family for their future visa application. Please give me some advice..

On side note, I have submit complaint form through UKVI Website to explain everything. I have also sent an email to provide the evidence on how I obtained my letters. Not sure it will help though. I will really be appreciate if anyone gone through the same could share something.

Right now, I am waiting for the passport to arrive at out home. Strangely (or maybe not) the refusal email came 2 weeks after it was produced.

You should not modify documents or merge them. You should submit documents as they are and independent of each other. Checks will be done with your university to ensure the documents submitted are in fact genuine and issued by them. It is very likely that your university did not confirm the authenticity of the letters you submitted. You should liaise with your university and get them to give you a letter of confirmation that those documents were in fact genuine and confirm their authenticity.

Then apply for a reconsideration: https://www.gov.uk/visa-and-immigration ... n-requests

Sandara wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 10, 2023 1:34 am

• In support of your application, you have submitted a confirmation of study from XX. Checks conducted by this office and recorded in a Document Verification Report (DVR) have concluded that this document is not genuine. I am therefore satisfied that you have submitted a non-genuine document in support of your current application. This false employment letter directly relates to your purpose of travel to the UK and I am therefore satisfied that you have used deception.

This is very confusing, how a 'confirmation of study' letter was seen as an employment letter? or were these documents mixed in a single file?

You might be able to apply for a reconsideration as mentioned above. There's been cases where UKVI made wrong decisions to applicants to visit visas and had to reconsider.

zimba wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:28 pm

You should not modify documents or merge them. You should submit documents as they are and independent of each other. Checks will be done with your university to ensure the documents submitted are in fact genuine and issued by them. It is very likely that your university did not confirm the authenticity of the letters you submitted. You should liaise with your university and get them to give you a letter of confirmation that those documents were in fact genuine and confirm their authenticity.

Then apply for a reconsideration: https://www.gov.uk/visa-and-immigration ... n-requests

Hi, thanks for the reply. I uploaded the documents in a single file, but clearly stated in the documents name (a and b letter) and explained it in the cover letter. I filled my complain to UKVI and explain everything, also emailed them some proof. I'll try to get some legal advice too while waiting for UKVI answer. Because I don't think complaint only will work.

lolo2 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:55 pm

Sandara wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 10, 2023 1:34 am

• In support of your application, you have submitted a confirmation of study from XX. Checks conducted by this office and recorded in a Document Verification Report (DVR) have concluded that this document is not genuine. I am therefore satisfied that you have submitted a non-genuine document in support of your current application. This false employment letter directly relates to your purpose of travel to the UK and I am therefore satisfied that you have used deception.

This is very confusing, how a 'confirmation of study' letter was seen as an employment letter? or were these documents mixed in a single file?

You might be able to apply for a reconsideration as mentioned above. There's been cases where UKVI made wrong decisions to applicants to visit visas and had to reconsider.

No employment letter mixed with study letter. The study letter come from me, as the inviter, to proof that I completed my course and will graduate next month. I hope complaint and PAP will work, I don't have the budget for judicial review..

Sandara wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:10 am

zimba wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:28 pm

You should not modify documents or merge them. You should submit documents as they are and independent of each other. Checks will be done with your university to ensure the documents submitted are in fact genuine and issued by them. It is very likely that your university did not confirm the authenticity of the letters you submitted. You should liaise with your university and get them to give you a letter of confirmation that those documents were in fact genuine and confirm their authenticity.

Then apply for a reconsideration: https://www.gov.uk/visa-and-immigration ... n-requests

Hi, thanks for the reply. I uploaded the documents in a single file, but clearly stated in the documents name (a and b letter) and explained it in the cover letter. I filled my complain to UKVI and explain everything, also emailed them some proof. I'll try to get some legal advice too while waiting for UKVI answer. Because I don't think complaint only will work.

It is not about more legal advice. It is about satisfying the UKVI that the documents are genuine. If your university refuses to verify that, more legal advice will not help you

zimba wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 13, 2023 1:31 pm

Sandara wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:10 am

zimba wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:28 pm

You should not modify documents or merge them. You should submit documents as they are and independent of each other. Checks will be done with your university to ensure the documents submitted are in fact genuine and issued by them. It is very likely that your university did not confirm the authenticity of the letters you submitted. You should liaise with your university and get them to give you a letter of confirmation that those documents were in fact genuine and confirm their authenticity.

Then apply for a reconsideration: https://www.gov.uk/visa-and-immigration ... n-requests

Hi, thanks for the reply. I uploaded the documents in a single file, but clearly stated in the documents name (a and b letter) and explained it in the cover letter. I filled my complain to UKVI and explain everything, also emailed them some proof. I'll try to get some legal advice too while waiting for UKVI answer. Because I don't think complaint only will work.

It is not about more legal advice. It is about satisfying the UKVI that the documents are genuine. If your university refuses to verify that, more legal advice will not help you

Hi Zimba, talked to my university today. They will help me to verify this. Faculty said they didn’t received anything or notice from UKVI to ask about my document, so not sure what did actually happened

Probably a mix up somewhere as the decision letter referred to employment document which does not come into the picture at all.
Also your faculty stated not receiving any enquiry...maybe the larger school administration them? As CW claimed checks were conducted and recorded in DVR.
Let your school/faculty confirm things....it is not unusual for UKVI to get things wrong and or muddled up.

Sandara wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:12 am

lolo2 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:55 pm

Sandara wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 10, 2023 1:34 am

• In support of your application, you have submitted a confirmation of study from XX. Checks conducted by this office and recorded in a Document Verification Report (DVR) have concluded that this document is not genuine. I am therefore satisfied that you have submitted a non-genuine document in support of your current application. This false employment letter directly relates to your purpose of travel to the UK and I am therefore satisfied that you have used deception.

This is very confusing, how a 'confirmation of study' letter was seen as an employment letter? or were these documents mixed in a single file?

You might be able to apply for a reconsideration as mentioned above. There's been cases where UKVI made wrong decisions to applicants to visit visas and had to reconsider.

No employment letter mixed with study letter. The study letter come from me, as the inviter, to proof that I completed my course and will graduate next month. I hope complaint and PAP will work, I don't have the budget for judicial review..

Then it seems UKVI didn't do a proper assessment of the application/supporting documents... or at least that's what the decision letter suggests.

That factor (assessing a university letter as an employment letter) together with the confirmation from the university, might allow you to apply for reconsideration. I think this process can be lengthy so your parent might not receive a visa on time for your graduation date but it will help to lift the 10-year ban.