UK visa from Lebanon

[Newlywed84]

I'm waiting for my closest friend to get a tourist visa from Lebanon - usually it's quick, standard wait is 3 weeks, we've had it come through before much more quickly.

Right now - we are at six weeks of waiting. There's no way to contact for an update, we've tried everything.

The plan was for him to be here for my surgery - he's now missed that by three weeks 😑

Any one have any info on visa processing times at present ? Is the conflict in the Middle East the likely cause of the delay?

We are hoping it's not a refusal as they come quickly. But as he has applied for several tourist visas in the past few years, maybe he is under closer scrutiny?

I have no clue! I just want and need my best friend here and would appreciate any inside info/experience

🙏🏻

What do you mean by 'usually?'

Do you often help with Middle Eastern visas?

Surely the respective consulate will deal with this?

I mean in the past when he has applied for a six month tourist visa which has been twice in the last two years, and once a work sponsored visa.

That's what I mean by usually - all of those came through within three weeks

Maybe the government is being a bit jittery given the situation in the Muddle East. Have you spoken to the consulate of your frown’s country?

Sorry… ‘friend’s’ not ‘frown’s.’

Hmm, visit visas.

Chances of success are entirely based on your friend proving that he will be returning to Lebanon. If they - the Home Office - believe that’s there’s a tiny chance that he may stay (ie claim asylum), he will face refusal.

As there are no legal routes to claim asylum in the U.K., many - most! - are applying for visit visas and then claiming asylum once here.

I expect more and more visit visas will be refused, particularly from ‘unsafe countries.’

He normally has no issue, he has proof of employment and plenty of savings in Lebanon - plus letter from his employer. Usually refusals come through really quickly - it's this looong wait and zero reply that is puzzling. 😑

The fact that he has applied and been granted several visas may or may not work in his favour.

He keeps coming back here so the Home Office may be ‘suspicious’.

Bottom line - the current government doesn’t want anyone to come here. Period.

I suspect 3 visas in 2 years is raising suspicions

Yeah that's my worry too - even though they've been for valid holidays, to stay with friends and mr family during Christmas etc.

Urgh 😔

I don't have any advice sorry but last month, my relative obtained a ten year visitor visa from Lebanon. The turnaround time for their visa was just under three weeks so I don't think there are any system wide delays. It might just be particular to your friend's case.

Thank you - yep that's the usual turnaround time. Amazing that you got a ten year one? Is that for relatives only?

That's helpful to have a recent positive! Makes me more suspicious of his six week delay

It doesn't state that it's for relatives only but I suppose it might have helped the application as they were able to prove legitimate reasons for visiting alongside the fact that we are able to support them during their visits. We've sponsored them over the past ten years on repeated shorter visas (combination of 1 & 5 year visas) so there's a noted history of compliance with entry/exit regulations. I assume your friend has a similar positive history?

Hopefully you hear back soon but I understand the frustration in not being able to speak to anyone. I don't suppose the VFS centre in Beirut is able to confirm that the application is still being processed and not "lost" in the system?

I see, that's interesting thank you. Yep, I have previously provided invitation letters which confirm that he stays at my family home, and each time he has had a six month visa, he hasn't taken advantage - so he will come for a couple of weeks, maximum a month out of the full six months, and he has only done multiple entry twice for short stays.

So I'm hoping that shows that he isn't using it to spend six months here ! Plus he has confirmation of his employment back in Beirut.

He has called visa centre - but they essentially give him the same info that's on the tracking screen. Not overly helpful by the sounds of it!