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Jamaica
Trails Other Caribbean Countries in British Visas |
LONDON (JIS)
Wednesday, November 28, 2007: Improperly prepared
applications and poor documentation have been cited as two
of the most common reasons for the low success rate of
Jamaican applicants for British visas.
Figures for 2005-2006 indicate that while 51 per cent of all
Jamaican visa applicants were successful in their bid to
enter the United Kingdom (UK) the success rate for the rest
of the Caribbean was 93 per cent. In the last calendar year,
there were 18,000 Jamaican visa applications to Britain but
the success rate remains low. |
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This was some of
the information which was disclosed last weekend at a
Jamaica National Building Society-sponsored information
seminar at the Brent Town Hall in North London. On hand to
address the gathering was the Entry Clearance Manager at the
British High Commission in Kingston, Lynn Ballard, who
acknowledged the high refusal rate for Jamaican visa
applicants to the United Kingdom.
She said the data indicated that improperly prepared
applications and poor documentation were major factors for
this high refusal rate. "We are trying to take decisions
objectively and to make our decision to grant visas fair and
reasonable," she assured. She also said that her department
was committed to making the visa application process
transparent.
Also at the meeting was Temitope Olodo, Assistant Director
of Community Cohesion at the Border and Immigration Agency.
He and Ms. Ballard spoke of the changes which have been made
to the visa regime, including new regulations for student
visas and the introduction of a points system for work
permits.
British Solicitor and Immigration Judge, Cordella
Bart-Stewart outlined some of the issues faced by applicants
and their sponsors, and clarified some of the requirements
set out by the UK authorities. She also encouraged the
audience to use the appeals process.
General Manager of the Jamaica National Building Society,
Earl Jarrett said his company had organised the "Immigration
and You" forum to assist members of the Jamaican community
to learn more about the new UK immigration rules and
regulations.
"We believe that it is our responsibility to provide our
members . and the Jamaican community at large with a context
in which they can engage in dialogue with civic and
community leaders, in order to arrive at workable solutions
to the challenges within their communities," he said.
Adding that it was important that Jamaicans remain attuned
to what is happening around them in their adopted country as
well as to maintain close links with home.
He made the point that Jamaicans had contributed
significantly to the economic and social development of the
UK. "Today, many Jamaicans hold public offices from the
local to the national level and represent the voices of our
people in government. They are teachers, nurses, lawyers,
doctors, accountants, and can be counted in all spheres." he
noted.
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