Immigration enquiry bureau

The immigration enquiry bureau (IEB) can provide information about leave to remain and settlement applications. We also handle enquiries about Tier 1 - highly skilled: general, post study work, entrepreneurs and investors.  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; please read the section about your application type before calling.

Calling us

All telephone calls are recorded for quality purposes.  Callers ringing this number can choose between speaking to a telephone officer to clarify the requirements of the Immigration Rules or to request a progress update.

If you are ringing to request about an existing application please note that we can only provide an update if:

• you have applied under the points-based system and your application was submitted more than 6 weeks ago; or
• you have applied under any other category including student, marriage or settlement and your application was submitted more than 14 weeks ago.

Please note that we are not able to offer processing timescales to callers.

Questions about the progress of your application

Please note that we are unable to confirm receipt of documents on points-based system applications that have been outstanding for less than 6 weeks or on any other application types that have been outstanding for less than 14 weeks as these timeframes are within our published service standards.  If you have sent documents to us by recorded or special delivery, you can confirm receipt by visiting the Royal Mail website. We are also unable to advise you when your case might be decided. General information about current processing times for leave to remain applications is available from the residency waiting times page. 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 those 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 then please write in with that information and your immigration reference number to the address below.

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your passport or travel document for travel before your application is decided, the application will be considered withdrawn.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

Please note we cannot answer questions on the status of individual cases via email for data protection reasons.

For educational establishments only - information about overseas students

The UK Border Agency is keen to receive information about all cases of overseas students (not those from EU countries) who have either accepted a place at your establishment but have never attended, or who have dropped out of a course of study for no apparent reason. You need not notify us in cases where you know the person concerned has transferred to a course at another United Kingdom institution.

You can email us at icc7@ukba.gsi.gov.uk. See the form below for details of the information we need you to include in your email.

Please note: This mailbox is for the use of educational establishments only. Any email received which is not from an educational establishment or which is about any other subject will be deleted without a response.

Anyone wishing to enquire about an individual case that has been outstanding for more than 14 weeks or with a general question about students and immigration should contact the immigration enquiry bureau on the telephone number given below.  

Information about overseas students - required information (21 Kb)

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 - Thursday 0900 - 1645 Friday 0900 - 1630

Nationality contact centre

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.  Our opening times are 0900 to 2100 Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays but you may wish to contact us between the hours of 1800 and 2100 later in the week when we are less busy.

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:  nationalityenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

Opening Hours:  Monday to Friday 0900 to 2100.

Sponsorship and employers' helpline

This UK Border Agency telephone helpline service offers the following dedicated service for sponsors and employers:

Option 1 - sponsorship

This option provides general advice and information about sponsorship under the points-based system.

Option 2 - verification service

This option provides a service to employers who want to verify the entitlement to work for people who are currently awaiting the outcome of an application made to the Home Office.

Option 3 - general information

This options provides general information and advice on the prevention of illegal working, in particular advice about carrying out the document checks necessary to attain a defence against conviction. 

Phone:  0845 010 6677

Work permits customer contact centre

The customer contact centre can answer general enquiries about work permits, the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, the Worker Registration Scheme A2.

If you need to contact a specific business team you should see the work permits business teams contact information.

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.

For e-mail enquiries we aim to respond within 5 working days.

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

Phone:  0114 207 4074

Fax:  0114 207 5861

Email:  wpcustomers@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

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

Opening Hours:  0900 to 1700 Monday to Friday

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 bank holidays) 0900 to 2100