To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department issues to entry clearance officers on the registration of the application date in respect of the points-based immigration system. (267451)

Guidance about the date of an entry clearance application is available in the points-based system policy guidance, which is published on the UK Border Agency website.

The current published version of the guidance says that the date an entry clearance application is made is

“the date that the fee associated with the application is paid and the applicant's biometric details taken”.

The UK Border Agency will shortly be publishing an amended version of the guidance which will say that the date of application is

“the date that the fee associated with the application is paid”.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training on the Tier 1 points-based system her Department has provided to (a) entry clearance officers and (b) other employees of (i) her Department and (ii) the UK Border Agency. (268226)

[holding answer 2 April 2009]: Entry clearance officers received full Tier 1 training during April 2008 which encompassed PBS overview and how to consider applications under the new system.

UK Border Agency staff received awareness sessions (248 staff) which covered Tier 1 General. Specifically 70 caseworkers were trained during February/March 2008 to process in-country applications. This involved a three day training course which covered all elements of Tier 1. Further training has been provided as new caseworkers join the Agency.