Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for reading this because I am really at my wits end and don’t know what to do.
Background:
My partner’s sister is coming to visit the UK from the Philippines for three weeks later this year, for a christening and general family visit. I filled out a standard tourist visa form, paid the fee, sent it off, and got an appointment in Manila for 6th of June.
Initial problem:
Shortly after finalising the application, it was discovered (by my partner of course) that I had written the date of the applicant’s mother’s D.O.B. wrong (30th instead of 13th!). Disaster.
I had already read that once submitted, an application can not be changed, and that it must be cancelled and a new application made if any details need to be altered. The visa website (on the post-application screen) also said that if the application is cancelled BEFORE attending the appointment, you can get a refund of your application fee, and said that the only way to cancel the appointment was to contact them either by phone or email service, and they provided links for both.
I filled in their email form detailing my issue (and asking whether I should cancel or whether 30th/13th was a forgivable mistake!), and the site said I would receive a reply in one working day.
That was a week ago.
The problem grows:
Today, after realising that my email request was not going to receive a reply, I attempted to call the phone number on the UK immigration, the number that was next to the email link I had used earlier.
This is when I discovered that as of yesterday (June 1st) that line is defunct, and all enquiries are now being handled by a new company (Sitel UK).
I called this number, and had a very difficult time.
The person I spoke to was very polite, but wasn’t really able to help me.
After putting me on hold a few times as he couldn’t confirm my GWF number, he basically told me “All we can do is check your status here, theres not much else we can do”
Remember that I am following the instructions from the UK Visa website to try to cancel my application and re-apply, I tell him this but he says there’s no way to cancel the application by calling this number and that I’ll need to go to my closes Visa Application Centre.
The applicant is due at the application centre (in Manila) on the 6th of June anyway, for an appointment I’m trying to cancel anyway!
Summary:
Applied for visa, got a detail wrong (mother’s DOB), need to cancel application before 6th june, and re-apply. Can’t find out how to cancel as have been told to do it via the immigration phone line, but they say they can’t do it, and they have only had their outsourcing contract since YESTERDAY and so were not very informative.
I am at my wits end. I don’t know how to cancel the application, I can’t find out who to speak to, the only line I can call costs pounds a minute and won’t tell me anything, please help me. I would appreciate any advice at all about what to do.
Goals:
1. Cancel application/appointment to get refund
2. Reapply (I know how to do this!
Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this!
