Anyone know a contact email for Home Office (within the UK)?

Hi All,
So, I have applied for my baby's dependant tier 2 visa (I am main applicant) from within the UK. The website's processing times hasn't been updated since January and still says they are processing applications from Jan 19. I have been checking all the time for updates-and nada.
Getting a little stressed because it should be straight forward-adding a dependant on-application. We are visiting America at the end of the month, so getting really anxious about it all. Baby already had biometrics done on Feb 15.
Anyone have a contact email address that I can get an update? Please!

Hi,

Getting progress updates from the UK Border Agency can be like getting blood out of a stone.

They say this on their website:

You do not need to contact us to check the progress of your application. We will contact you as soon as a decision has been made or if we require further information. Our staff cannot provide any information about your application if you applied less than 6 months ago.

Contact directory can be found here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/contactspage/immigration/

Appreciate that, but I did try calling them already and the line disconnects-says no operators available so it hangs up!
On the tier 2 processing times, it says 90% are done within 4 weeks. But if they don't update their website, I am assuming they are now processing at 7 weeks-maybe? I don't know-but I need this little one's passport to travel. yikes!

That helpline is absolutely useless.

When do you need to travel?

You can ask for urgent consideration but only if you agree to withdraw the application if consideration cannot be given to the application by the date you need to travel - it can be very risky to do that and not something I would usually recommend unless travel is for something very urgent.

we are not traveling until march 28. so, i do have some time-but i hate to leave it until the last minute.
i thought also about getting an emergency limited US passport for baby prior to us leaving, but i don't know how we will reenter the UK!
i agree that it might be too risky to cancel this one and start over-and pricey!

Have you tried your MP?

You can find out who your MP is here: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/  It will give their address and possibly a website but if there is no website, do a Google search for their name and you should be able to find local office / phone details.

You can talk to the MP, explain the situation and then they can potentially make enquiries on your behalf.

I just found a thread from another forum where people are listing their in-country Tier 2 application processing times.

From that thread, it looks like people who submitted their biometrics at the very end of January are just now receiving their visas in the last few days (the most recent posts on that thread: http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=60823&start=420).

Going by those timelines, I would guess that it will probably be another 2-3 weeks before you get your visa.

On the tier 2 processing times, it says 90% are done within 4 weeks.

Remember that this is just the service standards processing time - they aim to get 90% done within 4 weeks... but that doesn't necessarily mean that they do actually get them processed within 4 weeks. There have been big backlogs at UKBA lately, so it's generally been taking longer than the service standards time.

For example, I believe the service standards time for FLR(M) visas is 95% within 6 months... however, due to the massive backlogs at UKBA lately, many people here on UK-Y have waited up to 10 months for their visas recently!

Thanks for that!
Wow, that is cutting it close. I may have to ask my MP-great suggestion Steve.

Yeah, and about the useless UKBA call centre. Back in January when I was making baby's application, I called the UKBA to find out where the dependent Tier 2 form was on the website, for the life of me, I could not find it.
The operator was ridiculously unhelpful. It was just like that old "Who's on first" sketch. It went something like this:
me: Hi, I need to find the dependent tier 2 application online.
him: Yeah, then you need to fill it out.
me: Yes, that's why I am calling. I need to find the form.
him: You find it online.
me: Yes, but where online?
him: It's on the website.
me: I am asking you where to look on the website?
him: you look online and fill it out.

It was dreadful and went on like this for several minutes! He eventually thought I was obviously stupid and said I need to "find someone to help me" and I told him "that's why I am calling you, for help in finding the form!" So, yes, I don't expect much help from them. The whole was was laughable!

That's a good one! Maybe we should start a thread "stupid conversations with UKBA".  Saying that, such a thread might crash the servers, there being so many stupid conversations.

It is laughable but really poor service when it's someone's life, not to mention the money you pay for this "service".

Indeed Steve! It's not as if this whole affiar is cheap and to wait for goodness knows how long is unfair to us. And when they have people who are unwilling to help operating the customer service lines, it's just insulting. 
As for my situation, still no change. I figure I will wait until Monday with fingers and toes crossed to get a ring at the door with a passport for baby. If nothing by Monday, I will contact my MP-maybe that will light a fire!
The website still says 19th of January applications are being processed (for like the 4th week in a row).
I wonder when they finally do send out baby's passport-will they require that I sign for it? I ask because at worst, I can get an emergency travel card from the US embassy for baby and I thought that my neighbour who will be looking after my cat while we are away could possibly sign for the passport and UPS the passport to me in the US, so baby can reenter the UK? Sounds a little weird but I know we can't miss this flight over something that should have been settled by now.

They do usually send it by a signed for service. You'd obviously have to rely on them taking it to a neighbour though. They may just put a card through your door.

I guess, at worst, baby has to re-enter as a visitor while you still wait for the decision from the UKBA.

Thanks Steve!
My neighbour will have a key to my home, to check on the cat, so if a note was passed through the slot for the delivery, she could call for another delivery time.
But, do you think baby would be allowed in the UK as a visitor if the rest of the family has visas? I thought we might get harassed by the border agents.

Oh, and another thing-I looked up my area MP and he happens to be very conservative and has a long history of restricting immigration and trying to enforce stronger immigration control :/ not sure if he is the best bet for helping out in my immigration issues! so, I think I may have to be very careful in wording my letter to him.

Thanks Steve!
My neighbour will have a key to my home, to check on the cat, so if a note was passed through the slot for the delivery, she could call for another delivery time.
But, do you think baby would be allowed in the UK as a visitor if the rest of the family has visas? I thought we might get harassed by the border agents.

It's not ideal but if the trip is unavoidable and things don't go well with progressing the application it may be the only option.  There would be the issue of intention to return but they couldnt refuse entry to baby when mum and dad are being admitted.    The ideal thing to do though would be to apply to the British Embassy in the States for baby's visa. 


Some MPs are great and some are awful. I encountered a particularly nasty one some time ago who was bordering on racism!  To be honest though, as a US citizen on a working visa they may not be as difficult as they would to people from certain other countries.

Just in case anyone stumbles across this thread for a similar problem-I thought I would update my current status now.

Baby got his passport and biometrics card! The biometrics card was received yesterday 21/3/13, simple post delivery waiting for me on the doormat. His passport and other documents were received today and luckily I was home because I needed to sign for these.

In all, the dependant application was received by UKBA on  4/2/13, received biometrics letter and attended biometrics appointment same day on 15/2/13, and everything received today 22/3/13.

Based on this, they are not meeting that 90% processed within 4 weeks mark. Since this was a simple add-on of a dependant born in the UK I assumed if would have been settled quickly. But, hey, we got there in the end and I didn't even have to shout at anybody Just barely made it though, we fly out in 6 days, eep!

Thanks to all that helped!