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Imposition of Visitor Visa Regime on Nationals of El Salvador

Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix

CountryUnited Kingdom
Operative dateMay 11, 2022
CategoryBorder control / entry clearance
Policy toolVisa regime classification (visa national list)
Affected groupVisitors and transit passengers

Policy effect

Removed visa-free transit and visiting privileges for nationals of El Salvador, making them visa nationals required to hold entry clearance before traveling to the UK.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Removed visa-free transit and visiting privileges for nationals of El Salvador, making them visa nationals required to hold entry clearance before traveling to the UK.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Explanatory Memorandum has been prepared by the Home Office and is laid before Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. 2. Purpose of the instrument 2.1 This instrument amends the Immigration Rules, made under the provisions of Section 1(4) and Section 3(2) in the Immigration Act 1971, that are used to regulate people’s entry to, and stay in, the United Kingdom. 2.2 The changes being made primarily deliver: a number of amendments as a result of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, to implement the reformed asylum system. imposing a visa regime on nationals of El Salvador. expansion of the electronic visa waiver (EVW) scheme for nationals of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. the introduction of a requirement for parental consent when joining a parent or legal guardian in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme 2.3 This instrument also makes a series of minor changes to other areas detailed (in paragraphs (7.38 and 7.40) in section 7 of this Explanatory Memorandum. 3. Matters of special interest to Parliament Matters of special interest to the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments 3.1 The changes to impose a visa regime on nationals of El Salvador will come into effect at 1600 … stay in the UK for a child seeking to join their refugee relative (not immediate family member), where the current requirement of the Rules is not satisfied. 7.29 Permission to enter or stay granted as a result of exceptional circumstances will be the same duration as their refugee family member sponsor. Changes to impose a visa regime on nationals of El Salvador. 7.30 Salvadoran nationals have been able to visit the UK without obtaining a visit visa before travel. Salvadorian nationals currently make up the highest number of asylum claims at port amongst non-visa nationals. There were 38 asylum claims made by Salvadoran nationals in 2017. This figure has increased by 1750% to reach 703 in 2021. 7.31 Considering the increasing levels of asylum claims, a visa regime is being imposed on El Salvador. 7.32 This change includes a transition period for Salvadoran nationals travelling to the UK without a visa. This transition period will commence at the same time as the visa regime is imposed on 11 May 2022, until four weeks after the imposition date, on 8 June 2022. During this period, Salvadorians who hold a confirmed booking to the UK made before 16:00 BST on 11 May 2022, and where arrival in the UK is no later than 8 June 2022, will be exempt from the visa requirement. Those booking on or after 12 May, or due to arrive in the UK on or after 9 June will require a visa. 7.33 This transition period will prevent operational difficulties, general unfairness, and ensure that people who arranged travel before this announcement do not lose money. The length of the period (four weeks) has been chosen to give Salvadorans enough time to book and receive a visa. The current service-level agreement for processing times for visit visas is approximately 15 working days. Changes to allow the …
UK Home Office / UK ParliamentHC 17 (Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules); UK Home Office, Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules: HC 17, 11 May 2022.; Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules: HC 17Open official source
Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-17-11-may-2022

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

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