On Sun, 2006-06-18 at 16:04 -0500, David Moreno Garza wrote: > How would the Edinburgh guys work this out to get visas for these > nationals? What could be the best way to get these visas?
To begin by stating the obvious, people need to apply as early as possible in their home countries. http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/ has information for each country, including the form that needs to be filled out so you can see what information needs to be provided. People attending DebConf only need a "visitor" visa (not business/student/ working), which is the easiest kind to get. According to government statistics, the main reasons given for visa refusal (there can be more than one reason) are: 65% Doubts over intention to return to home country/insufficient economic or family ties in home country 54% Inadequate funds for trip 47% Doubts over credibility of applicant 33% No evidence of financial circumstances 22% Lack of knowledge of United Kingdom/course 14% Forged documentation Source: National Audit Office Report (HC 367, 2003-04): Visa Entry to the United Kingdom: The Entry Clearance Operation (Full Report) http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/NAO%20Report%20170604.pdf As conference organisers, we should help the process as much as possible by providing letters stating that the person will be attending DebConf, and where appropriate stating what financial/travel/accommodation/food sponsorship we are providing to them. Attendees should in turn make clear in their applications that they have the money to, and intend to, return to their home countries after DebConf. There's more information on what sponsors can/can't do at http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1006977150088 Here are the refusal rates for 2004-2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) by region, for all non-settlement visa applications. There should *not* be read as predicting the outcome of new applications from DebConf attendees, but more documentation may be required to support an application from a region where there are many refused visas. Applications Refused Australia & South Pacific 46337 339 0.7% Central Europe & Former Soviet Union 298197 25754 8.6% Equatorial Africa 390884 157116 40.2% Far East 203921 23672 11.6% Latin America 29000 2946 10.2% Middle East 217611 15679 7.2% Near East & Northern Africa 105211 10651 10.1% North America 129390 3560 2.8% South Asia 584758 175359 30.0% South East Asia 129513 11338 8.8% Southern Africa 78007 15676 20.1% Southern Europe 72911 3644 5.0% UKvisas, London (diplomatic) 795 0 0.0% West Indies & Atlantic 28588 10259 35.9% Western Europe 139031 9759 7.0% Source: UKvisas Global Statistics 2004-05 http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/GlobalStats2005,0.pdf (The full report has the figures broken down to individual countries also.) -- Moray http://www.morayallan.com/ _______________________________________________ Debconf-team mailing list [email protected] http://lists.debconf.org/mailman/listinfo/debconf-team
