Immigration enquiry bureau

Please note that for the next three months we will be undergoing important building work to improve the current outside waiting facilities. This building work will not disrupt our service, but we would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience that this building work may cause.

The immigration enquiry bureau (IEB) can provide information about applications to remain or settle in the United Kingdom. We also handle enquiries about applications to work or study under the points-based system. 

If you are an employer or education provider sponsoring someone under the points-based system, you should call our Sponsorship and employers' helpline on 0300 123 4699.

There is a high demand for our service, and it is often easier to get through later in the day. Many common questions are answered on this website, so please read the relevant section for your application type before calling. You can find information on popular categories by following the links below:

• Marriage
• Working in the United Kingdom
• Studying in the United Kingdom
• Transfer of conditions
• Settlement
• Knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom

We are unable to book public enquiry office appointments for November 2009 for applications that do not require biometric details to be taken. You should book an appointment using the online appointment booking service, make your application by post in the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom and apply for entry clearance.

Some public enquiry office appointments are available in November 2009 for applications that do require biometric details to be taken.

Calling us

All telephone calls are recorded for quality purposes. You can speak to a telephone officer to clarify the Immigration Rules' requirements or to request an update in the progress of your case. (For data protection reasons, we cannot answer questions on the status of individual cases via email.)

If you are calling to ask about an existing application, we can only provide an update or confirm that we have received your documents if:

• you applied more than 14 weeks ago for further or indefinite leave to remain under a category that does not require biometrics; or
• you applied under a category that does require biometrics, and you provided your biometric information more than 14 weeks ago.

(If you have sent documents to us by recorded or special delivery, you can confirm that they have been delivered by visiting the Royal Mail website.)

We are unable to advise you when your case might be decided. If you are applying for permission to remain in the United Kingdom, you can find information about our published service standards in the UK Border Agency's customer charter. Please note that a number of cases will fall outside those service standards - we are unable to discuss the reasons why individual cases might fall outside the service standards.

If your case is being considered and you want to give us additional relevant information that may help us to decide your case, please write to us at the address below, enclosing the additional information and your immigration reference number.

We advise you not to make any travel plans (such as holidays) until you have received your passport or travel document. If you ask us to return your passport or travel document for travel before we have decided your application, your application will be considered to be withdrawn. If you need your passport or other documents urgently, please phone us in the first instance on 0870 606 7766.

The email address below is for applicants in the United Kingdom with general enquiries about applying under the Immigration Rules or the points-based system. For data protection reasons, we cannot answer questions about the status of individual cases via email. If your enquiry is about an application which is being made overseas, please visit the visa services website. If your enquiry is about any other matter, please see the appropriate section below for details.

Phone:  0870 606 7766

Textphone:  0800 389 8289

Email:  UKBApublicenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

Address:  UK Border Agency, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY

Opening Hours:  Monday to Thursday 0900 to 1645. Friday 0900 to 1630.

Nationality contact centre

Please note that from 16 November the opening time for the nationality contact centre will be 0900 - 1700

The nationality contact centre can provide information on British citizenship and right of abode only.

The centre is currently experiencing high call volumes which may lead to a delay in your call being answered.

Before calling us, you should read the British citizenship section. This section aims to answer all frequently asked questions on British nationality law and contains full details of:

• what British citizenship is;
• the different types of British nationality;
• the requirements you need to meet to become a British citizen;
• how to make an application;
• the cost of making an application;
• the nationality checking service;
• where completed application forms should be sent;
• the current waiting times for nationality applications; and
• citizenship ceremonies.

Phone:  0845 010 5200

Email:  ukbanationalityenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

Opening Hours:  Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) 0900 to 1700.

EEA residency enquiries

Please note that from 16 November the opening time for the EEA residency enquiry line will be 0900 - 1700

You can contact the European Enquiries Contact Centre if you are a national of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and you have a query regarding:

• registration certificates for yourself or a family member;
• a residence card;
• a family member residence stamp; or
• confirmation of permanent residence in the United Kingdom.

You can also contact us if you are member of an EEA or Swiss national's family, but you are not a national of the EEA or Switzerland yourself.

If you are a Bulgarian or Romanian national and are enquiring about working in the United Kingdom you will need to contact the Work Permit Contact Centre, listed below.

If you make an application but do not provide the correct supporting evidence, the application will not be accepted and it will be returned to you. Please read the guidance notes on applying under European law for clear guidance on what evidence you will need to supply.

To request the return of your passport, please read the guidance on the making your application page. 

Phone:  0845 010 5200

Email:  UKBAeuropeanenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

Opening Hours:  Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) 0900 to 1700.

Sponsorship and employers' helpline

This UK Border Agency telephone helpline can provide:

• information for employers and education providers about sponsorship under the points-based system;
• a service to employers who want to verify the entitlement to work for people who are awaiting the outcome of an application made to the Home Office; and
• advice to employers about preventing illegal working, and particularly about carrying out the document checks necessary to attain a defence against conviction.

Calling us

All telephone calls are recorded for quality purposes. The contact centre is currently experiencing high call volumes as there is a high demand for our service. Many common questions are answered on this website; you should read the section on For employers and education providers.
 
(Please note that the email address below should only be used for sponsors' enquiries about the sponsor application process for Tiers 2, 4 and 5 of the points-based system. If you are not a sponsor and your enquiry is not in relation to these subjects, you will not receive a response. We cannot answer general or specific enquiries about how migrants apply under the points-based system - this information can be obtained from the immigration enquiry bureau. We aim to respond within two working days.)

Email: sponsorshipPBSenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

For queries regarding visits to your organisation, email: sponsor.visits@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

If you wish to make a complaint about the sponsorship and employers' helpline please email us at contactcentre.complaints@ukba.gsi.gov.uk.

Phone:  0300 123 4699

Opening Hours:  Monday to Friday 0900 - 1700 - Please note on Wednesday 25 November the helpline will close at 0900 for staff training and will re-open at 1000.

Work permits (before November 2008) and Accession State customer contact centre

The customer contact centre can answer enquiries about residual work permits, the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme applications (before February 2008), as well as general enquiries about the A8 Worker Registration Scheme and A2 Bulgarian and Romanian work permits/accession worker cards.

Please be aware that the customer contact centre is currently experiencing very high call demand and therefore you may experience difficulties in contacting us. Please may we apologise for this and for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Full information on all of our schemes and programmes is available on this website.

If you wish to make a complaint about the work permits and accession state helpline please email us at contactcentre.complaints@ukba.gsi.gov.uk.

Phone:  0114 207 4074

Fax:  0114 207 5861

Address:  Customer Contact Centre, UK Border Agency, PO Box 3468, Sheffield, S3 8WA

Opening Hours:  Monday to Friday 0900 to 1700. Please note on Wednesday 25 November the helpline will close at 0900 for staff training and will re-open at 1000.

Asylum support customer contact centre

The asylum support customer contact centre can answer general enquiries from supported asylum seekers in relation to their weekly cash support, accommodation or emergency cash payment requests. Advisors can also provide information in relation to discontinuation of support enquiries and to failed asylum seekers who are supported under section 4.

Phone:  0845 602 1739

Opening Hours:  Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) 0900 to 1700.