Total number of spouse visas processed and refused by selected nationalities, 2016

Author : Steve

A while back I made this Freedom of Information request in response to an online discussion, as I was curious about numbers of rates of refusals for a balanced selection of different nationalities, including some of the most common countries for foreign spouses. The text of the request is here :

I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act.

1. Total number of spouse visa applications processed for the following nationalities from January 1 2016 to 31 December 2016 : 
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United States

2. Total number of refusals for spouse visa applications processed for the following nationalities from January 1 2016 to 31 December 2016 : 
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United States

This was for a whole year, to even out anomalies such as local holidays. The response is in (see link above) and includes data per quarter, with information about applications made, processed, refused, withdrawn, and lapsed.

The table below shows the numbers of refusals divided by the number of applications over the whole year, followed by a percentage of refusals/applications. Note this comes with a few caveats, e.g. withdrawals and lapses are included in the total so don't assume that every visa not refused was processed; however the numbers for withdrawals and lapses are very low and wouldn't make much difference to the overall figures even if excluded. Note also that an application made in 2015 or 2016 may not be processed until 2016 or 2017.

These are included without comment as there is likely more than one reason for the differences. However the results are enlightening and seem to match the lived experience of both BritCits members and members of other online support groups and forums.

Country Refused/Total = Percentage (2016)
Japan 17/272 = 6.3%
Argentina 4/42 = 9.6%
Australia 93/881 = 10.6%
SouthAfrica 99/834 = 11.9%
Russia 70/582 = 12.0%
Canada 73/517 = 14.1%
USA 371/2544 = 14.6%
Brazil 76/480 = 15.8%
Mexico 28/175 = 16.0%
China 222/1071 = 20.7%
Israel 19/87 = 21.8%
Thailand 242/1094 = 22.1%
Turkey 176/787 = 22.4%
Egypt 102/338 = 30.2%
India 1236/3888 = 31.8%
Pakistan 3032/7472 = 40.6%
Nigeria 555/1131 = 49.1%

Note to the reader : You can make your own FOI request at whatdotheyknow.com, and I think an FOI request is something everybody should do at least once in their lives.

Divided families - international roundup (Sunday night reading)

Sources :Vox, Guardian, NPR, CBS, BBC, Sydney Morning Herald, Jerusalem Post, UNHCR

Vox : 'Meet the attorney who got Uganda’s anti-gay law overturned'

http://www.vox.com/2014/8/21/6005841/meet-the-attorney-who-got-ugandas-antigay-law-overturned

'Nicholas Opiyo is a 34 year-old attorney who lives and practices law in Kampala, Uganda. He was appointed to a team of lawyers that was tasked with challenging and ultimately prosecuting Uganda's infamous Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA). In fact, Opiyo was the lead counsel for the issue on which the case was decided. After a four-day trial, the law was officially declared "null and void" by a constitutional court in Uganda on August 1.'

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/01/uganda-anti-gay-law-null-and-void

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Guardian : Florida same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional in federal court

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/21/florida-same-sex-marriage-ban-ruled-unconstitutional

'A federal judge on Thursday declared Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, joining state judges in four counties who have sided with gay couples.'

NPR : Same-sex marriages on hold in Virginia after Supreme Court weighs in

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/20/341944611/same-sex-marriages-on-hold-in-virginia-after-supreme-court-weighs-in

'The decision was widely expected and tells little about how the high court will ultimately rule on the issue. It merely preserves the status quo.'

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/with-virginia-on-hold-same-sex-marriage-cases-await-supreme-court/

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BBC : Arrests at protests against Israeli interfaith wedding

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28831114

'Four far-right Jewish protesters have been arrested at the wedding of a Jewish-born woman who converted to Islam and an Arab Muslim man in Israel.

'Several hundred demonstrators rallied outside the reception hall in Rishon LeZion on Sunday, amid high security. The groom, Mahmoud Mansour, had sought a court order to try to stop the protest from taking place but failed. '

'Right-wing extremists can't break the love of a Muslim man and Jewish woman in Israel' :
http://www.smh.com.au/world/rightwing-extremists-cant-break-the-love-of-a-muslim-man-and-jewish-woman-in-israel-20140818-1058hp.html

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Police-to-be-out-in-force-as-extremists-plan-to-protest-Arab-Jewish-wedding-371338

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UNHCR : Escape to Samos

http://tracks.unhcr.org/2014/07/escape-to-samos/

'Hundreds of Syrian refugees make the treacherous journey to Samos Island in Greece. Only some of them find sanctuary.'

Kristallnacht - 75 years

http://www.britishpathe.com/workspaces/jhoyle/IkZcy84c

British Pathe reminds us where marginalisation and demonisation of minorities can lead.

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