I don't know why these people can't just use the online status checker.
I find it quite annoying that they bang on about not knowing when there's more readily available information about immigration status than you can shake a stick at.
https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizen
Phil,
I think part of the problem is a number of them aren't too bright, nor are they IT literate.
Reading some of the case studies produced in the press, the problems seems to have arisen because those affected can't be bothered, or are finding it too difficult, to complete the necessary documentation and return it. Illiteracy means they do need person to person support to get through the process.
The politicians are muddying the water by repeating quite implausible stories, take the one repeated, by Vince Cable, on Question time last night (an example that was about how difficult it is to get in the Country). A women of West Indian decent, who's lived here for 40 years, who is dying of Cancer, was having difficulty getting a man, who she claimed was her Common Law husband, into the country to care for her. So, so many, implausible things here, for example, how can someone be a Common Law partner when the aren't and have not been cohabiting?