OISC, Website Aim & Disclaimer
The aim of the information contained within the UK Visas and Citizenship pages of the Naval Families Federation Website is to assist Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and their families, the Chain of Command and Supporting Agencies to navigate their way successfully around the UK’s Immigration Rules. Specifically, Appendix HM Forces of the Immigration Rules without making any costly errors or errors which could result in significant implications for future immigration applications.
Disclaimer
The information contained in the UK Visas and Citizenship section of the Naval Families Federation Website is for general guidance only. The information is provided by the Naval Families Federation and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of the Naval Families Federation. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, the Naval Families Federation takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
OISC information
The Naval Families Federation (NFF) is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). The following members of staff are authorised to provide immigration advice and services at the levels listed below. Other NFF staff are not authorised and are therefore only able to pass on information from the authorised advisor or signpost to the website for further information.
Advisers: Peter Hawley and Sophie Raza
Level and Categories: Level 1 All categories
Who we offer advice to
NFF will only take on cases/enquiries from serving military personnel or their families. We will also assist veterans and their families who are still under the HM Armed Forces/ Armed Forces Immigration Rules.
Levels and areas of advice
Peter and Sophie are authorised to provide immigration advice for all applications within the Immigration Rules within the following categories at Level 1:
- Applications for entry clearance, leave to enter and leave to remain for visitors and family members,
- Nationality and Citizenship,
- Some aspects of EU and EEA immigration law
They will not advise on enquiries relating to student or work visas as these are outside the scope of the NFF.
Peter and Sophie are not authorised to provide advice and services at Level 2 for immigration connected to the Armed Forces Rules. If any Level 2 advice is required, this will be referred to one of two agencies dependent upon the circumstances. These are Katherine Houlston of the Army Families Federation (AFF) who is qualified to Level 2 and Joanne Sullivan from GBS UK Immigration. This advice includes:
- Assistance and advice with applications for settlement on the grounds of domestic violence
- Assistance and advice with applications to extend or settle under the Armed Forces/HM Armed Forces rules
- Assistance and advice with applications for settlement on the grounds of long residence
- Human rights applications for spouses of soldiers
- Representations to UKVI in support of cases
- Drafting client statements
- Lodging notices of appeal and statements of additional grounds
Both NFF and AFF are unable to represent clients at the Immigration Tribunal or make applications for Judicial Review. Should the case require work to be undertaken which is outside the work permitted, you will be referred or signposted to a higher level adviser within 3 days.
Signposting and referrals
NFF is committed to giving people timely service from an appropriate source as soon as possible, if necessary by signposting or referral.
More information
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner: Digital badge verification (oisc.gov.uk)
Complaints procedure
If at any stage you have any concerns regarding the conduct of your case, please raise them to Peter or to Nicola Thompson, the Director of Operations and Families Engagement, preferably in writing.
Click for full details of the complaints procedure. If we are unable to resolve matters to your satisfaction or you wish to pursue your complaint through other channels, you are entitled to contact the OISC at any time. The OISC is the public body, which regulates immigration advice and services within the UK. Their address is: The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, 5th Floor, Counting House, 53 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QN.
Your file
The OISC requires us to keep a copy of your case file for up to 6 years after your case is closed. After that this maybe destroyed, unless you make arrangements to collect it from us thereafter. Unless you specifically tell us otherwise, your file may be reviewed by the OISC in the course of their duties. If you have any concerns about this, please discuss this with Nicola Thompson.
**Video filmed on: 27th May, 2020
