Visit visa for relative - 10 years

[abhijack]

Can I seek your advice, please?

My mother-in-law applied for 10 years visitor visa recently and we paid the appropriate fees.
However, she was only given a 6-month visa.
We emailed UK Visa for clarification and they replied - She didn't qualify for a 10-year visa but didn't give any reasons.

Background:
- She is an Indian Citizen
- She has PR in Germany and applied from Germany.
- She was issued a 10-year visitor visa which expires in June. During that visa period, she visited us in UK several times and never stayed more than 4 weeks at a time.

What are our options now?
1) Do we have any option to get the decision reconsidered?
2) If not do we have the option to get a refund as we paid for 10 years visa and were given only 6 months visa?

Many thanks for your input.

[AmazonianX]

Can I seek your advice, please?

My mother-in-law applied for 10 years visitor visa recently and we paid the appropriate fees.
However, she was only given a 6-month visa.
We emailed UK Visa for clarification and they replied - She didn't qualify for a 10-year visa but didn't give any reasons.

Background:
- She is an Indian Citizen
- She has PR in Germany and applied from Germany.
- She was issued a 10-year visitor visa which expires in June. During that visa period, she visited us in UK several times and never stayed more than 4 weeks at a time.

What are our options now?
1) Do we have any option to get the decision reconsidered?
2) If not do we have the option to get a refund as we paid for 10 years visa and were given only 6 months visa?

Many thanks for your input.

See below threads

general-uk-immigration-forum/applied-fo ... 25803.html

general-uk-immigration-forum/applied-an ... a#p2110497

[abhijack]

thanks a lot...

[abhijack]

We contacted UKVI by email and got this reply which seems to be a generic one...

Dear XXX,

Thank you for contacting UK Visas and Immigration International Contact Centre.

Thank you for your email query. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will be granted the longer visa, gov.uk states: You may be given a shorter visa than requested if UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) believe you cannot meet the eligibility requirements for the duration of the visa you applied for.

Long-term Standard Visitor visas
You can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa if you visit the UK regularly. This visa lasts 2, 5 or 10 years. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit.

If you’re under 18 years old when you apply, your long-term Standard Visitor visa will only be valid for up to 6 months after you turn 18. You cannot get a refund on the fee.

You may be given a shorter visa than requested if UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) believe you cannot meet the eligibility requirements for the duration of the visa you applied for.

You will not get a refund of the application fee if you get a shorter visa or if your application is refused.

Your visa may be cancelled if your travel history shows you are repeatedly living in the UK for extended periods.

xxx
UK Visas and Immigration

Many thanks to the links @vinny posted in the thread started by @Evicra.
UKVI has neither given any cover letter explaining the issue of a shorter visa nor given any explanation in the email response!!

At the end of their email, they say this:
To add additional comments, reply to this email.

[vinny]

Ask them to please specify the eligibility requirements that were not met?

[vinny]

Failing a satisfactory response, complain?

[AmazonianX]

Was any reason given why 6months was granted and not the 10yrs requested. What reason was written for granting her the shorter duration?

[abhijack]

Ask them to please specify the eligibility requirements that were not met?

Thanks...
I am drafting a response email now.
I think in that email I will include her immigration history (which they already know).
i.e she had 10 year visit visa already and she has never stayed more than 4 weeks in one go.

[abhijack]

Was any reason given why 6 months was granted and not the 10yrs requested? What reason was written for granting her the shorter duration?

they didn't give any reason or cover letter.
When we emailed they responded with a generic reply stating in some cases a visa may be given for a shorter duration than applied for. Didnt give any specific reason for our case.

[AmazonianX]

Was any reason given why 6 months was granted and not the 10yrs requested? What reason was written for granting her the shorter duration?

they didn't give any reason or cover letter.
When we emailed they responded with a generic reply stating in some cases a visa may be given for a shorter duration than applied for. Didnt give any specific reason for our case.

You do need to pursue this and get it rectified especially with no previous adverse UK immigration history.

[vinny]

i.e she had 10 year visit visa already and she has never stayed more than 4 weeks in one go.

Moreover, she has a positive immigration history! If they cannot give cogent reasons, then they are being unreasonable.

[abhijack]

Dear Sir/Madam,
My Reference - GWF number: GWFxxxx, Unique application number: xxxx Enquiry reference - xxx

1) I didn't get a cover letter providing clear reasons for the decision to grant a visa for a shorter period than that applied for. I understand from the caseworker guidance document. that, this is a requirement. 

2) I believe I have a good immigration history.
- I was issued 10 years UK visit visa in 2013 - valid from xx to xx. (Visa number - xxx).
- During that period I visited the UK several times to be with my daughter and family and have never stayed more than 2 months at a time.
- I am an Indian citizen and have PR (indefinite leave to remain) in Germany.
- My daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren live in the UK and a long-term visit visa would help me to visit them and spend some quality time with them.
- I will continue to abide by the rules regarding the length of stay as I have done with the last 10 years visit visa you granted me in 2013.

3) I believe I have submitted all documents in support of my 10-year visitor visa application (GWFxxxx).
4) Can you please provide the reasons for issuing a shorter visa in my case if any?
5) If it is a clerical error I politely request you to kindly correct the endorsement as per ECB19.

This is a letter I have drafted for her.
Can you please advise if it needs any corrections? I hope I am not going overboard with the response at this stage as I am not the complaint stage yet..

Thanks for your regular replies @vinny and @AmazonianX ..

[AmazonianX]

Dear Sir/Madam,
My Reference - GWF number: GWFxxxx, Unique application number: xxxx Enquiry reference - xxx

1) I didn't get a cover letter providing clear reasons for the decision to grant a visa for a shorter period than that applied for. I understand from the caseworker guidance document. that, this is a requirement. 

2) I believe I have a good immigration history.
- I was issued 10 years UK visit visa in 2013 - valid from xx to xx. (Visa number - xxx).
- During that period I visited the UK several times to be with my daughter and family and have never stayed more than 2 months at a time.
- I am an Indian citizen and have PR (indefinite leave to remain) in Germany.
- My daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren live in the UK and a long-term visit visa would help me to visit them and spend some quality time with them.
- I will continue to abide by the rules regarding the length of stay as I have done with the last 10 years visit visa you granted me in 2013.

3) I believe I have submitted all documents in support of my 10-year visitor visa application (GWFxxxx).
4) Can you please provide the reasons for issuing a shorter visa in my case if any?
5) If it is a clerical error I politely request you to kindly correct the endorsement as per ECB19.

This is a letter I have drafted for her.
Can you please advise if it needs any corrections? I hope I am not going overboard with the response at this stage as I am not the complaint stage yet..

Thanks for your regular replies @vinny and @AmazonianX ..

Your letter is concise and still on the path of peaceful resolution.

[abhijack]

Your letter is concise and still on the path of peaceful resolution.

Many thanks. Have sent the email to them..

[abhijack]

Update:

We received a reply apologizing for the error.
We submitted the passport this week for correction.

Thanks for your help @vinny and @AmazonianX

[vinny]

Congratulations!

[AmazonianX]

Update:

We received a reply apologizing for the error.
We submitted the passport this week for correction.

Thanks for your help @vinny and @AmazonianX

Congratulations.

[abhijack]

Final Update:
Collected passport this week and can confirm they have endorsed 10 years Visa.

Thanks.

[AmazonianX]

Final Update:
Collected passport this week and can confirm they have endorsed 10 years Visa.

Thanks.

Successful outcome, congratulations on not relenting.