Unfortunately, we have suffered from a serious administrative error from the Home Office but the good news is that everything should be sorted out in time for Asif in time to play his first game on Saturday 13 May.

The email from the Immigration Service below explains the situation in more detail and in simple terms, they approved his visa application at the end of March, but neglected to inform the High Commission in Islamabad until today (3 May). It has been a very frustrating process and we have remained in contact with Asif throughout and please rest assured that we have a very good cricketer who wants nothing more than to get here and win games for us.

The fault lies entirely with the Home Office but I appreciate that the situation has been disappointing. Hopefully, we are very nearly at the end of process and I hope that Asif proves to be a real success.

If you have any questions, Matthew Lambert will be pleased to respond in his usual diplomatic and courteous manner.

Thank you for your patience and your ongoing support.

Paul Shaw - Chairman
3 May 2017

Email from Immigration Service: -
For the attention of Paul Shaw, Chairman, Rastrick Cricket Club

Dear Mr Shaw,

I have been passed your recent e-mail correspondence regarding the visa application made by Asif Khan Afridi. You acted as sponsor.

The current process for handling this category of visa application from Pakistan is that the case is considered in Sheffield by our team and once a decision is made, this is conveyed to the British High Commission in Islamabad who arrange for the visa to be placed in the passport for successful applicants and also arrange for the passport to be collected at the Visa Application Centre where the visa application was lodged in Pakistan. Unfortunately while our records showed that Mr Afridi’s case was considered here in late March, due to an administrative error the decision was not conveyed to Islamabad and the remaining formalities were not completed. I am sorry if you were previously given misleading information to suggest that we had no responsibility for the delay.

This case only came to my attention yesterday and you can be assured there will be no further avoidable delay in completing the formalities.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Williams
Entry Clearance Manager
UK Region
UKVI - International

Home Office
4th Floor, Vulcan House (Iron), 6 Millsands, Sheffield, S3 8NU
T: +44 (0) 114 207 3657
www.gov.uk/home-office

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