According to official reports, there is a significant delay in visa processing, even for applicants who have opted for priority visas. Consequently, universities have started withdrawing CAS letters for the January intake, leading to concerns among students.
There is anticipation that affected students may lose their service fees, including non-refundable visa and priority fees. Additionally, they may incur expenses related to transferring tuition fees and managing currency fluctuations. Some students from Pakistan who applied in mid-December are still awaiting their visas as we approach the end of February.
In the academic session 2021–22, the UK welcomed approximately 23,000 students from Pakistan, showing a notable increase from the previous year. Furthermore, universities typically allow a two-week grace period after the term begins for students to arrive late. However, in some cases it extends to three weeks. There are raising concerns about new students facing challenges catching up with coursework.
UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) guidelines stipulate that priority applications should be processed within five working days. The maximum processing time of visa is 30 days. Moreover, refunds for service fees are possible on an individual basis. Refund is possible only if submission of fingerprints and photos is not yet done for identity verification.
Students are being advised to withdraw their visa applications themselves to avoid automatic visa refusal, which could impact their record if they choose to reapply or defer their studies. Furthermore, there are reports of UKVI rescheduling visa interviews. There are no sufficient notice and instances where personnel fail to show up for meetings with authorities in Pakistan.
