Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 33
33
Rejected
Home Office processes most straightforward visa applications within service standards, nearing targets.
Conclusion
The Home Office has performed well when processing ‘straightforward’ skilled worker visa applications.92 These are applications where the applicant has met all obligations and provided the necessary information.93 In 2023 and 2024, it processed 94% of these cases (970,200 out of 1,033,500) within its service standard times of three weeks for out-of- country applications and Health and Care Worker applications, and eight weeks for in-country extensions. This is below its target of 98.5% but, when we took evidence in early May, the Department claimed that it was now meeting this target.94
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the committee's conclusion on processing performance, explaining that complex cases are excluded from published service standards and outlining the reasons for such exclusions and where further details can be found.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
6.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 6.3 Complex cases are excluded from published Service Standards, but there are service level agreements for Skilled Worker visas, and these are published in the department’s transparency statistics. Reasons for complex cases, such as national security or criminal concerns, safeguarding issues, or the need to verify evidence through third parties, are outlined on GOV.UK (Visa processing times: applications inside the UK) and referenced in the NAO’s report.