Lesson in timely UK visa application for student
September 21 2009 by Matt Jones
Nick Danzinger: UK visa frustration
A PHD student from Ethiopia who helped a famous photographer with an exhibition for the British Council was refused entry because he didn’t obtain a UK visa in time.
Hiluf Berhe acted as a translator and guide for the famous photographer Nick Danziger when he travelled Ethiopia to photograph the Christian community for the British Council.
Danziger said: "I was outraged...it was so bureaucratic. It's very clear the UK Border Agency wants to deter people. It's heart-breaking. The exhibition is as much his work as it is the British Council and mine."
Berhe was granted a French visa, but his UK visa application was made slightly too late. He made his visa application to UK immigration on August 29th but his passport and visa arrived back with him on September 12th, which is day after the exhibition took place. Had there not been a bank holiday, his application would have reached him the day before and he could have made the hop over to the UK from France just in time.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We ask visa applicants to give as much notice as possible. We aim to process applications within 10 working days."
The immigration rules for the UK changed recently to take a more strict approach. The changes have been criticised for assuming foreigners with low income or few qualifications will stay on illegally after their visa has expired.
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