asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what date the appeal submission in the name of Nino Trollope in the case of a visa application by Anna Zurabishvili of Georgia was responded to by the entry clearance officer at the British embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia. [HL1607]

Unfortunately, the entry clearance officer (ECO) at our embassy in Tbilisi has never received the appeal, lodged with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT), against the decision of 31 May 2007 refusing Ms Zurabishvili’s application for a visit visa. The ECO therefore had to review the decision without sight of the grounds of appeal and any additional evidence that the appellant may have submitted. The ECO decided that the refusal should stand. The ECO’s appeal statement was dispatched to the AIT by diplomatic bag on 22 November 2007, which meant that it would be received before the deadline of 12 December 2007. The ECO received the immigration judge’s determination allowing the appeal on 28 January and the visa was issued the next day.