Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will consider the potential merits of implementing service standards for visa applications expedited in cases of compassionate circumstances.

Visa, Status and Information Services have a range of premium services including; the Priority Services and Super Priority Services for visa applications where needed: Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application: Applying for a faster decision - GOV.UK. Visa applications are assessed on their individual merits and caseworkers will consider any compassionate grounds raised as part of the application assessment. Published policy guidance for each visa route will factor this where relevant. Caseworker guidance for each visa type can be found here: Visas and immigration operational guidance: Immigration staff guidance - detailed information - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)

Those seeking to raise compassionate grounds to expedite their application should still apply and pay for their visa application online in the normal way. They should alert their request to their chosen Visa Application Centre or by contacting UKVI here: Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help - GOV.UK. Where a case may contain individual factors which make it compelling or compassionate then the case will be expedited by UKVI staff and considered under its own merits. The Department does not have a separate customer service standards for these cases, and if expedited they will be concluded as quickly as possible. Further information relating to Visa waiting times can be found on GOV.UK: Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)