Number of Hong Kong students caught in UK visa delays hits at least 680, but some start receiving documents
Youngsters forced to miss classes and even forgo university places over delays
A number of Hong Kong students waiting for British student visas finally received their documents on Sunday, two days after it was revealed that hundreds were at risk of losing their university places due to unexpected delays, a local lawmaker said.
Ip Kin-yuen, who represents the education sector in Hong Kong’s legislature, on Friday disclosed that at least 220 students had contacted him for help over the visa delays. At 4pm on Sunday he said that number had increased to 680 students.
Ip said some had received calls from Britain’s visa application centre in the city informing them that they could pick up their permits in Causeway Bay from Sunday instead of waiting for mail deliveries.
Several students told him they had received their visas but he said he was not sure of the exact number.
‘500 Hong Kong students’ face visa delays and risk losing places at British universities
“I hope the application centre can handle other accumulated cases as soon as possible to let students get their visas in the fastest way,” Ip said.
