uk immigration travel document contact number

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If your visa application is delayed

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland , See advice for Scotland , See advice for Wales

You might be able to find out why your immigration application is delayed by contacting the Home Office, or your local MP. You might want to make sure your passport will be returned in time for a holiday, or simply be worried about how long the decision is taking.

You can do this yourself rather than paying an expensive lawyer or immigration expert to do it for you.

Your immigration status

Your immigration status will stay the same while you wait for your new visa if you make the application in the 28 days before your visa ends.

If you already have the right to work, access education and receive benefits, you'll still have these rights while you wait for a new visa. You won’t keep these rights if you applied after your original visa ends - find out more about overstaying your visa .

If your original visa had ended when you applied

You’ll usually lose the right to work, access education and receive benefits while you wait for a new visa.

The rules are complicated so you should get specialist immigration advice as soon as possible.

You can phone the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre (part of the Home Office) to find out how long your visa will take:

UK Visas and Immigration contact centre

Telephone: 0300 790 6268

Textphone: 0800 389 8289

Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.45pm. Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.

Calls cost 12p per minute from a landline, 3p to 40p from a mobile.

If you’re outside the UK you need to use different contact details. Check how to contact UK Visas and Immigration from outside the UK on GOV.UK .

The service can be busy, so you may be waiting for some time.

You’ll be asked for a Home Office reference number - this is sometimes called a 'unique application number' (UAN). You’ll have received this number when you first applied.

Before you can get any information about your application, you’ll be asked questions to confirm your identity.

Contact your MP

It might be worth contacting your local MP if you've been waiting a long time to hear back from the Home Office. They can find out more about the delay and might be able to help speed up your visa application.

Prepare as much information as possible - it'll help your MP track down your application. For example, you might need:

important dates - like the date you submitted your application

any reference numbers you've received in letters or over the phone

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice  if you need help.

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Page last reviewed on 02 September 2019

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Travel Documents | ICS Legal

Travel documents | home office travel documents.

A travel document is a document used for travel if you are not able to obtain a document from your country of nationality. Do not apply for a Home Office travel document if you have changed your personal details as your application will be refused. You can only apply to the Home Office for a travel document in certain special circumstances. There are 4 types of travel documents, depending on your circumstances and your status in the UK.

Call ICS Legal today on 0207 237 3388 and we can explain which type of travel document you would be required to apply for. If you wish to get some initial legal advice, click here to complete this. 

We charge for our services, and our consultation charge is £60 on the telephone. If you would like us to make a formal submission as a one-off, our fee would be £120. Further costs may apply. 

For most of these travel documents, you must be legally resident in the UK and have permission to stay here for at least 6 months after the date when you make your application.

The Home Office has issued biometric travel documents since 17 March 2008, but existing travel documents can continue to be used until they expire. The biometric travel document has a new design and security features including a tamper-proof biometric chip. The chip contains the holder's personal details (name, nationality, sex, place and date of birth, and signature) as shown on page 31 of the document. No other personal information is included on the chip. The applicant's scanned photograph is the 'biometric' element of the document.

Biometric residence permits

From 29 February 2012 anyone applying for a Home Office travel document must also apply for a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if they do not already hold one. 

How do you qualify for a home office travel document?

To qualify for a Home Office travel document other than a one-way travel document, you must be lawfully resident and present in the UK in one of the eligible groups.

Who qualifies for a home office travel document?

There are five groups. The first two are listed immediately below.

A refugee who has been granted asylum. If you have been recognised as a refugee under the terms of the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status Of Refugees, you may apply for a Convention Travel Document (blue).

A stateless person. If you have been recognised as a stateless person under the terms of the 1954 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, you may apply for a Stateless Person’s Document (red).

The other three groups are at c., d. and e. Please note that if you are in any of these particular groups, you must provide either: documentary evidence that you have applied to your national authorities for a passport or travel document, and that your application has been formally and unreasonably refused.

Or, an acceptable written explanation with any relevant documentary evidence as to why you cannot or should not have to provide such evidence.

The groups subject to these requirements are:

A person is granted humanitarian protection for a limited period following a refused asylum claim. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

A person is granted indefinite leave to remain. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

A person is granted discretionary leave for a limited period following a refused asylum claim. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

One-way travel document

If you are in the UK and are not British, you may apply for a one-way document. Your immigration status is not relevant for such an application but you must provide evidence of your identity. You do not need to apply for a BRP if applying for a one-way document.

Which type of document should you apply for?

You should apply for the appropriate document for the group to which you belong among. The table below sets out the Home Office status letters and documents most frequently-issued to persons who may qualify for a Home Office travel document.

Which countries can you travel to with a Home Office travel document?

Convention Travel Documents (blue) will normally be valid for travel to all countries except those from which asylum was sought and/or your country of origin. Stateless Person’s Documents (red) will normally be valid for travel to all countries. Certificate of Travel (black) will normally be valid for all countries except those from which asylum was sought and/or your country of origin.

However, countries that are party to the Schengen agreement, along with the Republic of South Africa, will not usually accept a Home Office Certificate of Travel as a valid travel document. Before applying for a Home Office travel document, you should check with the embassy of the country to which you wish to travel that they will accept the document.

It is not possible for children to be included in the travel document of their parent or guardian. Children who wish to hold a travel document should apply on a separate application form. If they are aged under 16, they may apply for a child’s document. If they are aged 16 or over, they must apply for an adult document.

Children should normally travel on a British passport if they were born in the United Kingdom:

to a parent who was settled in this country on the date of the child’s birth, or

to a parent who was a British citizen on the date of the child’s birth.

Lost or stolen travel documents

If you are applying to replace a lost or stolen travel document, you must provide a police report and crime reference number, together with full details of the circumstances of the loss or theft. Home Office may need to make enquiries before we can issue a replacement and these may sometimes take a while to resolve. The checks made before issuing a travel document are necessary to prevent the misuse of identities.

Call us today on 0207 237 3388 for some initial legal advice or if you need help on the travel document application. 

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Refugee Travel Document: A Comprehensive Guide

A refugee travel document (also called a 1951 Convention travel document or Geneva passport) is a travel document issued to a refugee by the UK Home Office. Refugee travel document: issued to individuals who have been granted refugee status by the UK government. This document allows them to travel internationally.

A UK travel document refers to various official documents issued by the UK government that allow individuals to travel internationally. These documents include:

• UK passport : The most common travel document issued to UK citizens, allowing them to travel internationally for both tourism and business purposes.
• Refugee travel document : Issued to individuals who have been granted refugee status by the UK government. This document allows them to travel internationally.
• Stateless person travel document : Issued to individuals who are not recognized as citizens of any country but have been granted permission to stay in the UK. This document enables them to travel internationally.
• Convention travel document : Issued to individuals who are recognized as refugees or stateless persons and are unable to obtain a national passport from their home country. This document allows them to travel internationally.
• Emergency travel document : Issued to individuals who have lost their passport or had it stolen while abroad. It allows them to return to the UK or continue their journey.

It is important for individuals to check their travel requirements before embarking on international travel and ensure that they have the correct travel document for their specific circumstances.

Refugee travel document

You can apply for a refugee travel document if either:

• you have refugee status in the UK
• you originally came to the UK on a family reunion visa to join someone who has refugee status

The Basics: What Are UK Travel Documents?

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s start with the basics. UK travel documents are essential papers that grant individuals the right to enter, stay, or transit through the United Kingdom. These documents are a testament to the UK’s commitment to maintaining its borders’ integrity while facilitating legitimate travel.

At Deluxe Law Chambers, we understand the importance of providing comprehensive information to help you navigate the details of UK travel documents. In this guide, we will delve deep into the world of UK travel documentation, ensuring that you have all the information you need to make your journey hassle-free and enjoyable.

How long does it take to get a UK Travel Document?

A: The processing time for a UK Travel Document varies but it usually takes around 3 to 6 weeks from the date of application.

• £75 for adults (it’s free if you were born before 1 September 1929)
• £49 for children 15 or under

Why choose Deluxe Law Chambers to help you with your refugee travel document?

Choosing the right and best immigration lawyer for your immigration needs can be stressful. While it could seem like a difficult choice, let us simplify things for you. Here are a few good reasons why you should choose Deluxe Law Chambers to assist you with your UK visas and immigration matters.

Our commitment to affordability means that you can receive expert advice without straining your finances. Our success hinges on transparency. We believe in keeping you informed about every step of the process, ensuring that you understand your options and the potential outcomes.

• REGULATED – We are regulated and approved immigration lawyers by The Office Of The Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).
• EXPERIENCE – Our firm rests on specialist immigration lawyers and solicitors with years of experience. Our well-earned experience distinguishes us from others.
• EXPERTISE – As your immigration lawyer, we offer unparalleled expertise. We don’t just understand and interpret the law, we keep an eye on the slightest changes.
• AUTHORITY – Our authority isn’t just about legal powers but is gained through genuine care and successful outcomes for our clientele. So, why choose just a lawyer when you can choose a trusted authority?
• TRUST – Our commitment to uphold your trust is unwavering. Our transparency and ethical conduct are treatments for the trust placed in us by our clients.
• DIRECT ACCESS – At Deluxe Law Chambers as your immigration lawyers, you will have direct access to your qualified lawyer 24/7.
• AFFORDABLE – We are a law firm with an affordable and fixed fee plan. We offer two installments to ensure you can pay easily.

A combination of our rich experience, deep-rooted expertise, trust authority, and unwavering commitment to our clients makes us your best choice.

So, why wait? Take your first step towards a successful immigration application with us.

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Expedite Requests

ALERT:  If you are a healthcare worker or a childcare worker

If you are a healthcare worker or a childcare worker

• Who has a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, initial application, which has been pending for over 90 days; OR
• Who has a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, renewal  application and whose Employment Authorization Document (EAD) expires within 30 days or less, or has already expired:

Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) to request expedited processing based on your position as a healthcare worker or a childcare worker with an EAD application that meets the above criteria.

To determine whether you are a qualifying healthcare worker, see this  DHS advisory memorandum (“Healthcare/Public Health” section, pages 7-9) (PDF) .

To determine whether you are a qualifying childcare worker, see the  Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)  code 39-9011, which includes workers who “attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions” and “perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.” (Note that this definition does not include preschool teachers or teaching assistants.)

Be prepared to provide evidence of your profession or current or immediate prospective employment as a healthcare worker or a childcare worker and current valid immigration status. If the evidence you provide is not sufficient, we may not accommodate your request for expedited processing of your Form I-765.

You may request that USCIS expedite the adjudication of an application, petition, request, appeal, or motion that is under USCIS jurisdiction.

We consider all expedite requests on a case-by-case basis and generally require documentation to support such requests. The decision to expedite is within the sole discretion of USCIS. Expediting your case generally means that we would adjudicate your benefit ahead of others, including those who may have filed earlier, so we carefully weigh the urgency and merit of each expedite request.

Relevant criteria or circumstances that may be considered in determining whether to grant an expedite request include, but are not limited to, the below:

• Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for urgent action is not the result of the petitioner’s or applicant’s failure to timely file the benefit request or to timely respond to any requests for evidence;
• Emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations;
• Nonprofit organization (as designated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)) whose request is in furtherance of the cultural or social interests of the United States;
• Government interests, including cases identified by the government as urgent because they involve the public interest, public safety, national interest, or national security interests; and
• Clear USCIS error.

Not every circumstance that fits under the criteria or examples above will result in expedited processing. See more information below on expedite criteria and circumstances. For USCIS’  expedite policy guidance , see Volume 1 of the USCIS Policy Manual.

Note:   The processes and requirements for requesting expedited adjudication are different for some application types and circumstances. Refer to the chart in the Specific Procedures section of this page for more information about expedite requests related to:

• Appeals or motions
• Refugee status
• Petition for refugee/asylee relative
• Humanitarian parole
• T nonimmigrant status
• U nonimmigrant status
• Other benefit requests pending with offices outside the United States

A company can demonstrate that it would suffer a severe financial loss if it is at risk of failing, losing a critical contract, or required to lay off other employees.

Job loss may be sufficient to establish severe financial loss for a person, depending on the individual circumstances. The need to obtain employment authorization, standing alone, without evidence of other compelling factors, does not warrant expedited treatment.

Examples may include:

• A medical office that may suffer severe financial loss if a gap in a doctor’s employment authorization would require the medical practice to lay off its medical assistants.
• A person who would lose critical public benefits or services.

In the context of an expedite request, an emergency or urgent humanitarian situation is a pressing or critical circumstance related to human welfare. Human welfare means issues related to the well-being of a person or group. Examples include, but are not limited to, illness, disability, death of a family member or close friend, or extreme living conditions, such as those caused by natural catastrophes or armed conflict.

NOTE:  Certain benefit requests, such as asylum applications, refugee applications, and requests for humanitarian parole, by their nature involve urgent humanitarian situations. Therefore, filing a humanitarian-based benefit, standing alone, without evidence of other time-sensitive or compelling factors, generally may not warrant expedited treatment under this criterion.

Examples of emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations may include:

• A vulnerable person whose safety may be otherwise compromised.
• Healthcare workers who are needed during a pandemic.

Travel-Related Requests

USCIS considers expedited processing of an Application for Travel Document ( Form I-131 ) when there is a pressing or critical need for an applicant to travel outside the United States.

Expedited processing of a travel document may be warranted when there is an unexpected need to travel outside the United States for an unplanned event, such as for a funeral. Expedited processing of a travel document may also be warranted when there is a pressing or critical need to travel outside the United States for a planned event, but processing times prevent USCIS from issuing the travel document by the planned date of departure. When there is a request to expedite processing of a travel document for a planned event, we will consider whether the applicant timely filed  Form I-131 or timely responded to a request for evidence.

NOTE:  A benefit requestor’s desire to travel solely for vacation generally does not meet the definition of a pressing or critical need to travel.

We generally require documentation to support an expedite request. Examples of evidence that may support travel-related expedite requests are outlined in the following table.

Examples of a pressing or critical need to travel outside the United States may include:

• A requestor who has a pressing or critical need to travel outside the United States to obtain medical treatment in a limited amount of time.
• A requestor who has a pressing or critical need to travel outside the United States due to the death or grave illness of a family member or close friend.
• A requestor who applied for a travel document 5 months ago when they learned of the event, but their case remains pending, and they must travel for a pressing or critical professional, academic, or personal commitment, which is now in 45 days.

A nonprofit organization seeking to expedite a beneficiary’s benefit request must demonstrate an urgent need to expedite the case based on the beneficiary’s specific role within the nonprofit in furthering cultural or social interests (as opposed to the organization’s role in furthering social or cultural interests).

• A professional who is urgently needed for research related to a specific U.S. social interest.
• A university professor urgently needed to participate in a specific and imminent cultural program.
• A religious organization that urgently needs a beneficiary’s specific services and skill set to continue a vital social outreach program.

This includes cases identified as urgent by a federal, state, tribal, territorial, or local government of the United States because they involve public interest, public safety, national interest, or national security interests. The request must be made by a person who has authority to represent the agency or department, such as an official, manager, supervisor, or tribal leader, on the matter for which expedited treatment is being requested. The request must demonstrate that the interests are pressing and substantive.

Where a federal agency or department is able to state a federal government interest in accordance with these criteria, we generally defer to that federal agency or department’s assessment.

If the request relates to employment authorization, the request must demonstrate that the need for the applicant to be authorized to work is critical to the mission of the requesting agency or department, and goes beyond a general need to retain a particular worker or person.

• A noncitizen victim or witness who is cooperating with a federal, state, or local agency and needs employment authorization because the respective agency is seeking back pay or reinstatement in court proceedings.
• A noncitizen scientist whose contributions are needed by a government lab or grantee.

USCIS may consider an expedite request based on clear USCIS error when a requestor establishes an urgent need to correct the error.

An example may include:

• An applicant who receives an Employment Authorization Document with incorrect information that prevents them from being able to work may request a replacement document on an expedited basis if we caused the error.

You generally may request we expedite your case after you receive a receipt notice. (The process to request an expedite is different in some circumstances. See the Specific Procedures section below.)

Before submitting an expedite request, you should:

• Check current  case processing times to determine whether you need an expedite.
• Check your  case status online . If there is an action on your case pending with you, such as submitting biometrics or evidence, you should complete these actions before submitting an expedite request.
• Check whether  premium processing service is available. We will not consider expedite requests for petitions and applications where premium processing service is available, unless the petitioner is designated as a nonprofit organization by the IRS and filing for a beneficiary whose services are needed to further the cultural or social interests of the United States.

Please make only one expedite request to reduce duplicate efforts and help us use our resources for quicker processing. Multiple requests may delay USCIS’s ability to expedite processing.

Expedite Requests for Travel Documents

If you are requesting expedited processing of a  travel document , you generally need to apply for and obtain the document before you leave the United States. You should make your expedite request on your pending application at least 45 days before you plan to leave the United States. (If you must travel within the next 15 days, see the  Emergency Travel page.)

For most cases, you may request an expedite by contacting the  USCIS Contact Center or by asking Emma.  (You can access Emma by clicking on the Ask Emma icon on the top right of this page). You need to explain why you need expedited processing. You also generally need to provide your receipt number to the USCIS Contact Center so they can send your request to the office that has your application or petition. If you have a USCIS  online account and have access to secure messaging, you may select “expedite” as the reason for your inquiry and submit your request there.

You generally need to justify your expedite request with evidence. When communicating with the Contact Center, you will be asked about supporting documentation. You should be prepared to supply this to the office processing your case.

If you have a USCIS  online account , you should upload evidence through your online account to support your expedite request in addition to calling the USCIS Contact Center. If you send a secure message, we will ask you to confirm that you have uploaded evidence in your account. If we receive an expedite request without evidence to support it, we will send you instructions on how to submit the evidence.

Note: The processes and requirements to request expedited adjudication are different in some circumstances. Refer to the chart under Specific Procedures below for expedite requests related to:

• Appeals/Motions

Some programs and circumstances have their own processes and requirements for requesting expedited adjudication and may have different expedite criteria. You should follow the specific procedures referenced below for requesting an expedite in the following circumstances:

We receive a large number of expedite requests. We generally send a response to expedite requests that are submitted through the Contact Center. However, to increase efficiency in processing expedite requests, we generally do not provide justification for expedite decisions.

A decision on an expedite request is not an approval or a denial of your underlying benefit request. The expedite decision simply determines whether we will take your benefit request out of order and try to issue a decision (approval or denial) faster than the normal processing time. We cannot make a decision on your benefit request until all processing requirements have been completed.

Some circumstances may prolong or inhibit our ability to expedite certain benefit requests. Examples include, but are not limited to, when:

• The benefit requestor must perform a certain action or submit additional documentation or evidence related to their benefit request, such as attend a biometric services appointment, be interviewed, or complete any required   immigration medical examination ;
• There is a required background check that remains pending with a third-party agency;
• An application or petition requires an on-site inspection; or
• An application or petition depends on the adjudication of a principal’s application or petition.

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• Entering and staying in the UK
• Immigration adviser services

Immigration Rules

Immigration rules appendix visitor: visa national list.

List of nationalities requiring entry clearance prior to travel to the UK as a Visitor, or for any other purpose for less than six months

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia Herzegovina
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• People’s Republic of China*
• Côte d’Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
• Guinea Bissau
• Korea (North)
• Myanmar (formerly Burma)
• North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia)
• Philippines
• São Tomé and Principe
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa*
• South Sudan
• Timor-Leste
• Turkmenistan
• (b) stateless people; and
• (c) people travelling on any document other than a national passport, or, in the case of a person to whom paragraphs 11A and 11B of these rules apply, a national identity card, regardless of whether the document is issued by or evidences nationality of a state not listed in VN 1.1. (a), except where that document has been issued by the UK.

Exceptions to the list of visa nationals

Holders of specified travel documents.

• VN 2.1. It is not necessary for a Transit Visitor to hold an entry clearance before they travel to the UK if they are travelling on an emergency travel document issued by, and evidencing the nationality of, a country not listed in VN 1.1.(a) and the purpose of their transit is to travel to the country in which they are ordinarily resident.
• (a) nationals or citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold a passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or
• (b) nationals or citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold a passport issued by the Macao Special Administrative Region; or
• (c) nationals or citizens of Taiwan who hold a passport issued by Taiwan that includes in it the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan; or
• (d) people who hold a Service, Temporary Service or Diplomatic passport issued by the Holy See; or
• (e) DELETED
• (f) DELETED
• (g) DELETED
• (h) nationals or citizens of Turkey who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Turkey; or
• (i) DELETED
• (j) DELETED
• (k) nationals or citizens of South Africa who hold a diplomatic passport issued by South Africa; or
• (l) nationals or citizens of Vietnam who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Vietnam; or
• (m) nationals or citizens of Indonesia who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Indonesia.
• (n) DELETED
• (o) nationals or citizens of Dominica, Honduras, Namibia, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu, who hold confirmed bookings to the UK made on or before 15:00 BST 19 July 2023 where arrival in the UK is no later than 16 August 2023.
• (a) visiting the UK to marry or to form a civil partnership, or to give notice of marriage or civil partnership, unless they are a “relevant national” as defined in section 62 of the Immigration Act 2014; or
• (b) seeking to visit the UK for more than 6 months.

Exception where the applicant holds an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) Document (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates nationals or citizens only)

• VN 3.1. DELETED
• VN 3.2. DELETED
• VN 3.3. DELETED

Obtaining an Electronic Visa Waiver Document

• VN 4.1. DELETED
• VN 4.2. DELETED
• VN 4.3. DELETED

Validity Requirements for an Electronic Visa Waiver Document

• VN 5.1. DELETED
• VN 5.2. DELETED
• VN 5.3. DELETED
• VN 5.4. DELETED
• VN 5.5. DELETED
• VN 5.6. DELETED
• VN 5.7. DELETED

Use of the Electronic Visa Waiver Document

• VN 6.1. DELETED
• VN 6.2. DELETED
• VN 6.3. TDELETED
• VN 6.4. DELETED
• VN 6.5. DELETED

Exception where the Visitor is a person aged 18 or under on an organised trip from a school in France

• VN 7.0. Nationals or citizens of any country who are aged 18 or under, studying at a school or educational institution in France registered with the French Ministry of Education and seeking to enter the UK as part of a school party of 5 or more pupils organised by that school or institution, do not need entry clearance before they travel to the UK as a Visitor.

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