Suspended College or UK Visa Office Mistake?

[Ifza]

Dear Forum Members,

I had applied in a college with A rating in December 2009 and applied for Entry Clearance from my home country on 20th January 2010. After waiting for about two months I have emailed UK Visa and yesterday got a scary reply, I am pasting the cutting of the email

'' Dear Madam,

Thank You for your enquiry. Unfortunately the college is still suspended and your application will not be processed further until the results of the suspension are out. Until then your application will be on hold. At this point you can choose either one of the following options

1. Wait the results of the suspension

2. Withdraw your application. Please find attached the withdrawal form

Please bear in mind that should you choose to withdraw your application; you will not be entitled to a refund.

Visa Correspondence Team''

I am very confused at the reply of Visa Office. When I applied in the college the rating was A and in January 2010 the rating was downgraded to B. I am continuously checking the Tier4 register colleges list issued by UKBA and apart from downgraded to B ranking I didn't notice any suspension. What I am trying to say is that the college was always on register and as of at 23rd March 2010 yesterday's list issued by UKBA my college is still there with B ranking.

Furthermore I have contacted my college and they have confirmed me that college is still registered and running and not suspended.

Please advise me what I should need to do now.

Thanks,

[John]

That is rather worrying! If I were you I would reply to their email, attaching a link to the latest Register, as per :-

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... seducation

-: and inviting them to look at the college's name on the Register.

[Ifza]

That is rather worrying! If I were you I would reply to their email, attaching a link to the latest Register, as per :-

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... seducation

-: and inviting them to look at the college's name on the Register.

Hi John,

I did as you suggested and today I have recieved this email and this time reply is from ECO not from corssponse team

Dear Madam

Thank you for your enquiry. Unfortunately according to our records the college is still suspended and we cannot proceed until it has been returned to the approved list.

Regards

Please can you suggest what my next should be because college is still insisting that they are registered and I can find them on Tier4 colleges list with B rating, I have no clue what I should do next my course is starting on 17th April and I have paid them about £4000.

Please can you clarify is B rating means suspension of college? Is there any other source where I can find out if college is still registered or not, if you can provide any helpful contact numbers.

Thanks,

[John]

A B rating does not mean that the college is suspended. It means that UKBA are keeping a particular watch on the college, in order to ensure that it does what a holder of a Sponsor Licence is required to do.

Another source of the Register? No, but what better source than the UKBA website. Surely if we can't trust the Register as on the UKBA website, well what can we trust?

If I were you I would reply to that email, saying that you simply do not understand why they are continuing to insist that the college is suspended, when it is clearly listed on page (insert page no.) of the Register downloadable from the UKBA website.

Please do post about their reply to that.

[Ifza]

Thanks John I am replying and will update forum what Visa Office will reply, I really appreciate your help.

[Ifza]

Dear John,

I have replied to ECO as you suggested on 28th March but did not have received any reply till today. My college has sent a fax to ECO requesting to process my visa and confirmed that college is not suspended.

My course is starting on 19th April means I only have 5 working days I am very stressed and not sure what’s going on and I don’t understand what to do. John are these ECO’s or visa processing team have any kind of accountability, these people are wasting my academic year and they are not bothered at all.

Please advise me what I should do now, can I contact anybody in visa department to help to process my visa because I suspect that ECO will refuse after 19th simply saying course is already started so my application is not valid.

Sorry for this grumpy post but honestly I am very stressed and frustrated

Regards,

[John]

Ifza, I think you are being treated very badly. Assuming the college is still .... now ... on the Tier 4 Sponsor register ... what on earth is the ECO playing at?

Sorry I am at a loss of what to suggest now. Other suggestions very welcome.

[Ifza]

Thank for your kindness John, i really appreciate your help.

I have emailed ECO as my last try and requested to process my visa let's see if I'll receive any reply but I am loosing believe on fairness of UK visa system and it looks like that there isn't any accountability for them

[Ifza]

Dear John,
I have received the decision from UK High Commission today and finally got the visa.
I am really relieved and feeling good as everything went ok in the end but I really want to raise the question here that the stress and frustration I have gone through was needed? Point based visa system supposed to be quick and straight forward but anyway end is well all is well.
And thanks again for your valuable advice I really appreciate your help. Just wondering, if those applicants receive the same results that do not follow their application progresses but I wish if everybody will be treated equally and fairly.
Thanks,

[John]

Ifza, I am very pleased to hear that. Your course starts Monday, and currently the UK's (and lots in Europe) airports are closed, thanks to the volcano in Iceland!

If I were you I would do this. Currently the UK has no MPs. We are having a General Election. But after the election, and after it is clear in which constituency you will be living, suggest you write to your MP and put him/her in the picture, and try to get an apology for the disgraceful way you have been treated.

Enjoy your studies in the UK.