Escalation due to death in the family

Hi everyone.

I applied for ILR back in January and am still waiting for my decision, which isn’t exactly a surprise to me. Sadly and unexpectedly a close family member back in the US passed away on Friday, and so I called the Home Office to see if they could escalate my visa application so I could go to America for the funeral (date TBD).

The person I spoke to at the Home Office passed my escalation to the appropriate team and told me I’d hear back by Tuesday. I have a reference number and email to confirm this. He did, however, tell me I may be required to submit additional documentation.

I spoke to my family about getting the death certificate (assuming that’s what would be required) and we’ve hit a bit of a roadblock with it due to the current situation going on in the world. The death certificate will be issued, but we don’t know how long it’ll take. I called the local office who deals with issuing death certificates and they told me I’d be “lucky” if I had within ten days of the death. I explained my situation to the lady on the phone and she told me to “enjoy” my weekend. I’m a bit stressed by this because I know from reading on here that when the Home Office asks for something they give you a deadline, and it’s usually a very short one.

For anybody who has been through this, what has been your experience like with the Home Office once they contact you? Do they ask for a death certificate? Would something from the funeral director suffice?

Thanks for reading.

My gut instinct tells me that something from the funeral home will suffice.  I doubt even the Home Office wants to give a hard time to the bereaved.  I really don't have any more actual knowledge than you though.

I’m sure something from the funeral home will suffice.  You’ll want that for being able to fly out of the uk as well.

I think everyone knows death certificates aren’t issued until well after the service.

So sorry for your loss.  We were in the same situation in January. My father in law had died back in US and we wanted to go to his funeral.  We were not able to go because at that time if we had flown to the US on arrival in Boston we would have had to go into 10 days of quarantine. This would have meant the funeral would have been over before we could even attend.  We did contact the airlines to find out what information we would need to be able to leave the UK and they would accept a notice of death from the hospital or a letter from the funeral home confirming the date of death and the persons full name and date of birth.  We were also told it has to be an immediate family member who has died not just a relative.  Things may have change by now but please check with the state you are going to about travelers coming into the state and check with your airline exactly what they require for you to leave the UK.  We were waiting on a decision about citizenship so we did not have to contact the home office for expedited processing. Hope things work out for you.

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate all of your input. Sometimes when you’re in a stressful situation having someone else either reassure you or provide you with some guidance really helps. 

No flights are booked yet, but I have spoken to the airline I intend to fly with and they told me as a US citizen I won’t have any issues. I had asked them about the UK’s exit requirements and they again told me I wouldn’t have issues (I suspect they’re not aware of them). Just to be safe, I’ll bring evidence as per the government’s website. The official government guidance is an invitation or a letter.

I had checked the quarantine requirements for the state in question and they had actually updated them earlier in the week that would mean I’d be fine. Perfect timing, I suppose.

Once I hear back from the Home Office I’ll share my experience as it may help someone else. For what it’s worth, the Home Office were very sympathetic. The rep I spoke said he’d have to complete a form for the escalation and my relation to my relative was listed in their drop down, so I suppose they deemed the deceased “immediate.” (I keep using the term “relative” as it’s just too painful for me to see it in writing that they’re gone and “relative” is more vague).

Thanks again, everyone, and enjoy the rest of your weekend. 

I have somewhat of an update (not really, actually). I phoned the Home Office this morning as I was told I'd be contacted by Tuesday (it's now Wednesday). I spoke to a very nice rep who took my details and very kindly told me "I can see that you've been contacted by the Home Office on Friday." I actually hadn't been contacted by anybody on Friday (the day I called), and the system was showing my visa was with a different department. And because of that, there was literally nothing this rep could do to help me. She couldn't see if it had been dealt with or anything, just that the Home Office contacted me on Friday. She told me that if I still haven't had anything in 30 days that I could get my MP involved. 30. Days. She did reassure me that because this was on compassionate grounds it shouldn't take that long.

I told her I'd get on the phone to my MP today and she advised against it, saying something about how because I was the one who made the escalation the MP can't get involved, and they can only get involved if they've made it. Sounds to me exactly how ticketing with airlines works...anyway, I'm not exactly happy. But, the optimist in me is hoping that a nice courier will just show up today and hand me my BRP.

What a palava!

I'm sorry for your loss.

Perhaps the obituary would work as additional documentation, especially if you are named in it as a family member?

Thanks for posting about this.  I will renew my visa in 2022 and I'm concerned about the length of time it will take as my parents' health is tenuous.  Perhaps super priority service will be reinstated by then, but if not it will be helpful to have the details of your experience.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss.

I have somewhat of an update (not really, actually). I phoned the Home Office this morning as I was told I'd be contacted by Tuesday (it's now Wednesday). I spoke to a very nice rep who took my details and very kindly told me "I can see that you've been contacted by the Home Office on Friday." I actually hadn't been contacted by anybody on Friday (the day I called), and the system was showing my visa was with a different department. And because of that, there was literally nothing this rep could do to help me. She couldn't see if it had been dealt with or anything, just that the Home Office contacted me on Friday. She told me that if I still haven't had anything in 30 days that I could get my MP involved. 30. Days. She did reassure me that because this was on compassionate grounds it shouldn't take that long.

I told her I'd get on the phone to my MP today and she advised against it, saying something about how because I was the one who made the escalation the MP can't get involved, and they can only get involved if they've made it. Sounds to me exactly how ticketing with airlines works...anyway, I'm not exactly happy. But, the optimist in me is hoping that a nice courier will just show up today and hand me my BRP.

What a palava!

100% call your MP.

If we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that the call centre knows nothing!

It *does* sound as though your application may have jumped the queue. But definitely call your MP!

I was just about to call my MP, but thought I'd try the Home Office again. I got someone who was far more knowledgable than the person I spoke to this morning. He explained to me that my application has to be re-escalated as the Home Office hadn't contacted me in the timeframe they promised. He didn't understand why his colleague this morning hadn't done that and apologised that she hadn't. He said he can see on his end that they did email me on Friday, which he said was likely a decision. If they needed something for an escalation they would've called. He apologised to me again that I've had to call again and said I'd have something from the Home Office in the next 24-48 hours.

I mentioned to him what I had been told earlier about not calling my MP and he explained what would happen. Again, this guy was far more knowledgable than his colleague. Basically, because I have made the escalation I'm allowed to speak to the Home Office directly. But, if I get my MP to do it, he said the escalation and my application would transfer to my MP and the communication would need to go through them. Now that I've re-escalated it, if that doesn't happen I'll have my MP take over. If I had known that prior to calling last Friday I would've given this to my MP straight off the bat. I'm not kicking myself for not knowing this, as I feel like I've actually learned a lot about the process and feel I could help others who find themselves in this position by sharing my experience.

Thanks everyone for your support and just being so lovely.


Edited to add that after my MP called, we found out it was an email asking for the death certificate. But, I see the call centre rep's logic.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Perhaps the obituary would work as additional documentation, especially if you are named in it as a family member?

Thanks for posting about this.  I will renew my visa in 2022 and I'm concerned about the length of time it will take as my parents' health is tenuous.  Perhaps super priority service will be reinstated by then, but if not it will be helpful to have the details of your experience.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss.

Thank you That's a really great idea, and I would be mentioned in the obituary once it comes out. I really hope that you don't have to go through this. I anticipate that priority will be re-instated by then. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and everyone else who will be applying in the future.

Edited to add they don't accept the obituary as confirmed by my MP (I tried).

I was just about to call my MP, but thought I'd try the Home Office again. I got someone who was far more knowledgable than the person I spoke to this morning. He explained to me that my application has to be re-escalated as the Home Office hadn't contacted me in the timeframe they promised. He didn't understand why his colleague this morning hadn't done that and apologised that she hadn't. He said he can see on his end that they did email me on Friday, which he said was likely a decision. If they needed something for an escalation they would've called. He apologised to me again that I've had to call again and said I'd have something from the Home Office in the next 24-48 hours.

I mentioned to him what I had been told earlier about not calling my MP and he explained what would happen. Again, this guy was far more knowledgable than his colleague. Basically, because I have made the escalation I'm allowed to speak to the Home Office directly. But, if I get my MP to do it, he said the escalation and my application would transfer to my MP and the communication would need to go through them. Now that I've re-escalated it, if that doesn't happen I'll have my MP take over. If I had known that prior to calling last Friday I would've given this to my MP straight off the bat. I'm not kicking myself for not knowing this, as I feel like I've actually learned a lot about the process and feel I could help others who find themselves in this position by sharing my experience.

Thanks everyone for your support and just being so lovely.

I’m so pleased you called and found someone more helpful!  Hopefully you’ll hear your letter box clink any moment!!

Right, I've given up. I've now got my MP involved it's been 48 hours since the last escalation and the post has already arrived today.

Thank you to everyone for your support. 

Note: For anybody in the future who goes through this, just go straight to your MP. I personally feel more comfortable handling the communication, but at this point I believe it's about getting through to the right person and your MP likely has that ability.

Okay, I have a further update. My super-awesome MP just spoke to the caseworker, and apparently they had emailed me asking for the death certificate. So, I'm chasing that up. This is the "email" I had been apparently sent.

For anybody else needing to do this in future, the death certificate is required.

Edited to add that the Home Office will not accept obituaries, funeral service annoucements or anything else but the death certificate. They will not even consider your application for escalation without it (my MP just confirmed this).

Okay, I have a further update. My super-awesome MP just spoke to the caseworker, and apparently they had emailed me asking for the death certificate. So, I'm chasing that up. This is the "email" I had been apparently sent.

For anybody else needing to do this in future, the death certificate is required.

Edited to add that the Home Office will not accept obituaries, funeral service annoucements or anything else but the death certificate. They will not even consider your application for escalation without it (my MP just confirmed this).

An entire week to find that out!

I think requiring the death certificate is unreasonable. As most countries have had big backlogs due to Covid. Just my 2p! 

I’m glad you have someone on side! Keep us posted!

An entire week to find that out!

I think requiring the death certificate is unreasonable. As most countries have had big backlogs due to Covid. Just my 2p! 

I’m glad you have someone on side! Keep us posted!

It's ridiculous! My family said it was issued quite quickly because it legally has to be within a few days of the death, but it wasn't made available to my family right away (which is not normal, but there's a pandemic). So they actually went to their lawyer who pushed for the state to release it to them, explaining that I was "stuck" in the UK and needed it to leave. It worked, obviously, but goodness! And the government guidance says you only need an invitation to leave the country, but no, the HO want something that's difficult to obtain. I appreciate that some people do want to cut corners and abuse the system and that's why these processes are in place, but they really make it difficult for the honest person who just wants to do the right thing.

My MP is really phenomenal and I'm so lucky to have him on my side! And thank you everyone for your support during this nightmare of a week. I really appreciate it.