Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2023 to Question 130066 on Biometrics visa exemptions, what the procedure is for a person to be excused or deferred from having to enrol their biometric information where the case has been determined as urgent.

In most circumstances we require biometrics from everyone who applies for a visa or a biometric residence permit to ensure we protect our national security.

Where applicants have contacted UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to say they are unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to enrol their biometrics, we write to them to explain how they can request an urgent consideration on whether we would predetermine their application or waive the requirement for them to attend a VAC. UKVI will assess the applicant’s particular circumstances to determine whether they are particularly exceptional so that their request requires urgent consideration based on the evidence they provide. Where a request is deemed urgent, they will contact the applicant within 28 days of receipt of their request. If the request is considered to be urgent it will be assessed in line with the published biometric enrolment guidance.