Dear James Bolden,

Thank you for your email dated17/03/10. This falls to be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I have listed your question for reference.

Over the past 6 months, what percentage of Long Residence (10 year) applications were decided within 6 months (postal applications ONLY)?

*70% of applications were decided within 6 months.

In keeping with the spirit and effect of the Freedom of Information Act, all information is assumed to be releasable to the public unless exempt. The Department will, therefore, be simultaneously releasing to the public the information you requested together with any related information that will provide a key to its wider context.

If you are dissatisfied with this response, you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request.  Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the UK Border Agency sending a substantive reply to your original request and should be addressed  to:

UK Border Agency
Central Freedom of Information Team
11th Floor
Lunar House, Short Corridor
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY

This is management information only and not a national statistic and is therefore subject to change.

During the independent review the department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours sincerely

Yours sincerely,

Freedom of information team