Earlier this week this Paper engaged the out-going Head of Visa Section of British High Commission on questions relating to Visa applications. Below is the unedited version of that interview.

Can you briefly tell me who Mr. Yinka is?

My name is Yinka Dawodu and I am the (outgoing) Head of Visa Section at the BHC Banjul.

When did you take up this position as the head of visa section in The Gambia?

I took up this position on 3 April 2007. I am a Relief Manager who came out to assist the incumbent Entry Clearance Manager (Jenny Fenton) 

Is this your first time in the Foreign Service; If not, where was your last assignment before coming to The Gambia?

 I first joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1999 and my last assignment was the ECM in Doha and Bahrain.

 Now coming to the purpose of this interview, can you briefly explain to me some of the modalities of issuing a visa to the UK?  

Gambians as you know are visa nationals (ie they all need visas to enter the UK). All visa nationals have to apply by filling out an application form (all forms and guidance notes are issued free of charge and can be found on our web site www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/gambia). Applicants are also asked to provide supporting documents (There is no set list of documents, which should be provided as this varies from application to application).
The application is submitted with the correct fee. We scan all applicants’ fingerprints and ensure that we have the correct identity of every single applicant.

The application is then assessed by an Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) and then reviewed by myself, the Entry Clearance Manager. We decide if the applicant qualifies for a visa before they travel to the UK. The visa is then issued to the successful applicant (or refused as the case may be).

Of late many people have complained of being rejected even though they fulfill all the requirements necessary to be given a visa. What is your response to this?

The vast majority of applicants are issued visas. We do refuse some applications but the last 12 months (1 June 2006 -1 June 2007) we have issued 3777 non-settlement visas and 629 settlement visas. This represents a total of 4406 out of 7260 applications, which is 60% of all visa applications received. Those applying for settlement or visiting family members have the right to appeal to an Independent Adjudicator through the Appeals system

Visa applicants have to ensure that they complete the application form thoroughly and honestly. They have to ensure that they tick all the required boxes and fill in all the relevant blank spaces on the form. Yes, we do refuse a number of applications. This is mainly because applicants do not submit the correct supporting documents and some submit forged supporting documents.

We make most of our decisions on what is called the balance of credibility. Basically asking the question for example “Is it credible that a person on a low income the equivalent of £200 a year will spend £1000 on a 2 week holiday?”

The answer 90% of the time is NO! This amount represents 5 years salary. This is unrealistic and so applicants should have realistic expectations when they apply for a visa. We have to look at the circumstances of the applicant as a whole.

Many people are sponsored from the UK. In these cases we have to consider the intentions of the applicant. If we do refuse one of these cases it is not because we doubt the genuineness or the intentions of the sponsor but that we have considered the applicant’s circumstances in The Gambia and understand the temptations that s/he will be exposed to in the UK.

The amount you charge for the visa process is considered by many to be quite exorbitant and non-refundable.

Do you share this view?
 
I would not consider our fees to be exorbitant. The fees are set in the UK and the same fee is charged world-wide. The level of the fees have been set at are aimed at maintaining the UK’s competitiveness as a destination for travel, study, trade and migration.

I do believe that the visa fee should be non-refundable. The fee is not just payment for a visa fee but a processing fee. The fee helps pay for our staff salaries, IT systems and infrastructure as well as to improve our customer service network overseas in order to attract the migrants we want in a competitive international market and we want to deter those who would abuse our systems. The UK Visa service is not subsidised by UK taxpayers. A sizeable number of applications also attract the Right of Appeal, which is free.

Can you explain briefly how students can apply for a visa to study in the UK? What are some of the requirements?

In June 1999, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair launched an initiative to encourage international students to study and train in the UK. The initiative was re-launched in 2006. We need to encourage more international students to seek access to higher education and training programmes. I have outlined the initial visa application stage, but with students, they also have to submit supporting documents like enrolment letters/unconditional letters of acceptance; evidence of funds and or support from their sponsors; their  sponsors last 6 months Bank statements; evidence of the sponsor’s business interests; evidence of their potential accommodation in the UK; original college/school certificates; photocopy of sponsor’s passports and an explanation of how they will benefit from the course.

We have found that while there are credible sponsors who are willing to spend a lot of money on their children’s/relatives education, they would potentially be spending every last penny they had to maintain the child’s education. Sometimes on courses that are available locally. As I said earlier, on balance of probability, this is not credible.

In the past, Gambians travelling to the UK did not require visas. What is responsible for this change of events especially as The Gambia is a former British colony?

The world is moving at an ever faster and changing pace and Government policies change from time to time. The visa regime was implemented in 1994 and as recent as in 2003, we discovered that some Gambian nationals (along with other nationalities) were taking advantage of our immigration system. We therefore imposed transit visa requirements on those travelling through the UK. There are many former British Colonies that require visas - Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Uganda, Sri Lanka. The list goes on.

Sensitization in any aspect is very important. What is your office doing to sensitize the Gambian people (i.e. would-be visa applicants) what they need to do?

We have a website where applicants can access information. We have a leaflet stand at the High Commission. We have checklists for different types of categories. We have a dedicated phone line for applicants to ring up for advice. We would particularly ask that applicant’s note that all forms are issued free of charge. Advice to applicants is also offered free of charge.

We strongly advise applicants not to submit forged/bogus documents. It is dishonest and illegal. I must inform you that we will not hesitate to hand such people over to the authorities.

There are unscrupulous people who will claim that they can help people get visas. This is simply not the case and any attempt to charge for a Visa form, assistance with an application or in any other connection with a UK Visa should be reported to the Entry Clearance Manager at the BHC as soon as possible.

Being a journalist I benefited from a month’s training in the USA in 2004. Why is your country not awarding such opportunities to Gambian journalists in order to widen their knowledge especially that no school of journalism exists in the country?

There are numerous journalism courses available in the UK. We do provide funding for one Chevening scholar and Chevening fellows per year. These are specially selected people whom HMG believes will go on to become the future leaders, decision makers and opinion formers in the country. From time to time we also offer short courses either here or in the UK. The BBC were here recently training radio journalists and NSPCC social workers working with the Child Protection Agency. This opportunity is open to every Gambian citizen. Details are in the newspapers every year.
 
Any last word to the Gambian people?

I would advise all applicants to ensure that they complete their visa applications as thoroughly and honestly as possible. They need to enclose all the supporting documents we request. I implore them not to submit any forged/bogus documents, because we will spot them and the consequences can be hard for them. “Finally, the Gambia is a lovely country and I hope to be back soon.”