Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place for Colombian nationals applying for visas to the United Kingdom following the reintroduction of a visa requirement on 26 November 2024.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Colombian nationals who wish to apply for a visa for the UK are able to submit their application and upload their supporting documents online before attending an appointment to provide their biometrics at a Visa Application Centre. Customers can apply for a UK visit visa from any country/territory. Those applying via other routes (e.g. study, work, settlement) may be required to apply in the country/territory in which they are currently living. In Colombia, there are 3 Visa Application Centres operated by VFS Global on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration. These are located in Bogotá and Medellín, which are currently open 5 days per week, and Cali, which is open 2 days per week. Once concluded, the customer may either collect their passport in person or have it shipped directly to them by courier.
The reintroduction of the visit visa requirement on 26 November 2024 was accompanied by a 28-day transition period, which allowed Colombian nationals with confirmed travel bookings made before 15.00 on 26 November 2024 to enter the UK visa-free if their scheduled arrival was before 15.00 on 24 December 2024. A transition period was also implemented for Colombian nationals transiting the UK to an onward destination.
Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact on religious gatherings of the provisions relating to public order offences in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
A policy equality statement for the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was published in September 2021 which covers the public order measures introduced in the Bill. This can be found on GOV.UK.
The public order measures in the Bill will improve the police’s ability to manage highly-disruptive protests, enable the police to balance the rights of protesters and the rights of others to go about their daily business, and to dedicate their resources to keeping the public safe.