The Home Office's long-serving director general for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), Sarah Rapson, is leaving the civil service next month, CSW can confirm.
Rapson joined the civil service in 2005 after working in operational roles for retail banking giants American Express and Barclays. She initially served as operations director at the Identity and Passport Service, becoming the chief executive of its successor organisation HM Passport Office in 2010.
In 2013, she was appointed DG with responsibility for UK Visas and Immigration, the part of the Home Office that decides on which overseas visitors have the right to visit and stay in Britain.
UK Visa and Immigration Service “in danger of being overwhelmed” by casework, MPs warn
Interview: Home Office permanent secretary Mark Sedwill on transforming his department, turning around staff morale – and being likened to Darth Vader
Opinion: Rob Whiteman on leading – and abolishing – the UKBA
Rapson – named as one of Cranfield University's "100 Women to Watch" last year – is also on the shortlist for the Championing Gender Award at this year's civil service Diversity and Inclusion Awards.
Her imminent departure from the role came to light in a session of the Home Affairs Committee this week, with the committee's acting chairman Tim Loughton saying it would be her "swan song" in the role. Asked if she was "feeling very demob happy", Rapson replied: "Not yet."
CSW understands that she is leaving the department in October to take up a role outside the civil service, with a formal announcement expected soon.
A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment on whether a hunt for her successor was now underway.
A recent Home Affairs Committee report raised concerns over UKVI's ability to cope with a rising number of asylum applications and legacy cases at a time when staff numbers had been cut.
While the MPs said good progress was being made on cutting the number of asylum applications taking longer than six months for a decision, the UKVI remained “in danger of being overwhelmed by the extent of its asylum casework”.