Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the average waiting time between application, being granted security clearance and entering the UK is for Afghan interpreters who worked with the British armed forces in Afghanistan.

Since 2015, just over half a million people were offered safe and legal routes into the UK. This includes those from country-specific schemes from Hong Kong, Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, in addition to global routes through the UNHCR and family reunion schemes.

There are a number of complex issues that can impact how swiftly individuals can relocate to the UK, and as such, individual timeframes for decisions can differ considerably. Government departments continue to work collaboratively in order to make casework decisions and ensure visas are issued as soon as is practicable, following appropriate checks including security.

More information on the number of grants of Indefinite Leave to Remain issued to Afghans resettling under the ARAP or ACRS can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data