How to do a Subject Access Request

There's mention of Subject Access Request in various places on this forum. Can someone explain clearly the steps involved in doing one?

Also, can this be made a Sticky thread?

Many thanks.

Requests for personal data

Make a subject access request

Personal information charter

Chapter 24 - Disclosure of information > Section 11 - Subject access requests.

Online application.

What to keep: Home Office guide to managing information

Your right to get your data corrected

Thanks, Vinny.
What documentation is required to prove one's identity? Passport? Driving licence?

I sent them a copy of my passport photo page, and address proof (council tax bill). Along with these, I quoted my original WP reference number and also sent them a copy of it.

All that was to ensure they process my individual case and not a name-sake. However impossible it may seem, there could have been more than one John Galts living at the same address, if you know what I mean.

The letter was just two lines - "... please let me know what information you hold about me...".

Cheers.

Hi all,
I want to apply for 10 year ILR. Can somebody please let me know what all I should be asking in for ILR.
Many thanks
S

saurya,

Just ask HO for SAR in a simple letter. In your letter, provide your address, DOB, HO Reference No.(see your previous correspondence from HO) and sent a cheque for £10 to HO. Also, make sure your signature matches the signature in HO file.The addres detail of Data Protection Unit is in the HO website. My friend is applying for ILR(10yrs Long residence) and has asked HO for SAR. there is no need to mention something specifically. They will send you photocopy of everything on their file. Unless you are missing something in your paasport.
Like, you have got no stamp on your PP when you first entered UK etc etc.

Hi RAJ2007
Thanks to you and other immigrationboards contributors, very helpful forum.I am planning to apply ILR on long residence basis, 10 years in Oct 2009.
My situation is as follows. Please give your opinion, if requesting SAR file from HO useful.

I came to UK as visitor on 28th Octoer 1999 (Visa valid for 6 months, until March 2000). In Nov/Dec in country dependent visa application refused. Existing visitor visa still valid.
From 24 Jan 2000 to 27 July 2006 permit free visa
27 July 2006 till 27 July 2011 HSMP. I will complete 10 years residence on 28th Oct 2009.
I meet all criteria for 10 year long residency (funds, P60 for 10 years, own home, absences within the set criteria, no ground for any general refusal as per imm rules).
My question is, refusal of dependent visa in 1999 will it have any implications for 10 year ILR application ?(Even with refusal of dependent visa, visitor visa was still vilid until I got permit free visa, therfore no gaps). Having SAR file will help to prepare my case better?.

Once again thanks to you and other immigrationboards forum contributors.
nj

still I would say ask for a SAR. It would give you more confidence. You only need to give all your passport when you apply for ILR(10yrs LR) and nothing else.

Dear RAJ2007
Many thanks for your reply and advice.
nj

global gypsy wrote:There's mention of Subject Access Request in various places on this forum. Can someone explain clearly the steps involved in doing one?

Also, can this be made a Sticky thread?

Many thanks.

A request for Personal Data is a subject access request under the Act. However, it may not always be necessary to treat a request for information as a formal request under the Data Protection Act (the "Act"). If the request for information is one which you would normally deal with within the normal course of your business, you should consider whether you need to deal with this as a formal subject access request under the Act.

* Firstly, the data controller must satisfy himself that the person making the request is, in fact, the data subject. The use of a subject access request form is advised, since the greatest breach of a data controller's security is for the data controller to satisfy a subject access request made by a person impersonating the data subject. The use of the form goes towards proving that the data controller has adequate identification and verification procedures in place.
* Secondly, the data controller is entitled to ask the data subject for further information to enable the data controller to locate the information which that person seeks. It should be remembered that the individual is within their rights to request copies of all information held about them. However, you may wish to try to help the data subject to try to narrow their request for information. This is discussed further below.

Just wondering what exactly is mentioned on a SAR File.would appreciate if anyone can post the format.

I have made a SAR a while ago but it was rejected since I did not have HO reference number. Could I provide my National Insurance Number Instead? If not, how can I obtain a HO reference number? Please note that I did not have any correspondence with HO before the SAR.

Thanks
D

A request for Personal Data is a subject access request under the Act. However, it may not always be necessary to treat a request for information as a formal request under the Data Protection Act (the "Act"). If the request for information is one which you would normally deal with within the normal course of your business, you should consider whether you need to deal with this as a formal subject access request under the Act.

A subject access request is an individual's right of access to verify the information held about them on police computers.

A subject access request to the Police National Computer for instance will either provide a certificate stating that there is currently no information held about you on the police national computer, or it will provide a list of all information held on the computer including all convictions regardless of whether they are spent or not and intelligence matters including not guilty verdicts, cautions, reprimands, final warnings, No Further Action decisions and fixed penalty notices for disorder.

denin wrote:I have made a SAR a while ago but it was rejected since I did not have HO reference number. Could I provide my National Insurance Number Instead? If not, how can I obtain a HO reference number? Please note that I did not have any correspondence with HO before the SAR.

Thanks
D

give them photocopy of your current and old passport, the date of entry to uk, the visa ref number if u have on ur passport, copy of any letter from ukba/home office.
the more info you give the better they will be able to give information back to you.

I am an overstayer for 3 years and i had no knowledge because i was cheated by a lady. I have made a subject access request through a solicitor firm but gave my recent address for proof of address. Can ukba arrest me now as i have made the request because they know where to find me and case might become active now.i would want to know what actually happened to my flr(o) application as the whole package was returned to that lady and she denies receiving it. Only concern at the moment is whether ukba will come after me or not.

Thanks

Likely a waste of money especially if you're going back 15+ years. Another scam IMO, but worth a shot at £10 fee + postage if any data held could help you out.

Good luck

I'd like to add the Home Office confirmed they delete immigration files after 15 years of 'last action', whatever that means. Only up to 25 years in 'exceptional' cases.

So before people on here advise others to fork out their time/money on SARs, be aware.

I am going to apply for a Subject Access Request and I have few question about the form. I would like to give them as much information as I can in order to help you in the process.

Section 1 - Home Office Reference.
I did receive DCPR last week and there are few numbers on it. Which is my Home Office Reference Number in the card?

Section 1 - Port Reference.
What would be in this case the Port reference number?

Section 1 - Please list all reference numbers issued by...
Should I put all my reference numbers of my DCPR here?

Section 6 - Previous Immigration Applications
Can I add also here my DCPR application?
Last year I had a daughter and I applied for a British Passport. My wife and Me are EEA exercising the EC Treaty Right for more than 5 year. Should I add this reference too?

Section 6 - Entry into UK
Port: would it be for example Luton Airport?
Method of Entry: would it be for example Flight?


Thanks in advance.

All of the above are just to help HO identify the correct person.

Section 1 - Home Office Reference.
Section 1 - Port Reference.
Section 1 - Please list all reference numbers issued by...

I left all of these blank.

Section 6 - Previous Immigration Applications

I included my DCPR application reference here.

Last year I had a daughter and I applied for a British Passport. My wife and Me are EEA exercising the EC Treaty Right for more than 5 year. Should I add this reference too?

I doubt there's much point.

Section 6 - Entry into UK

I wrote unknown as I genuinely don't know

Thanks ohara. Helpful as usual.

After I receive my DCPR I called the HO to find out which date they put date since when I am entitled to permanent resident but they said they don't hold such information.

I have requested printouts from our case worker database, home office files and landing cards. I am not sure about the last one because I have never done one.

Thanks

I ticked everything. I have never filled in a landing card in my life and when everything came through it just said on the letter that no landing cards were found.

I suggest you stop calling UKVI on the phone, the helpline is completely useless.

I ticked everything a part from the VISA checkbox.

Thanks, Ohara.

Yes, they told me they don't hold that info but if I can prove I acquired it before the date in the DCPR then I can do the Naturalisation.

Today I received my SAR request.
I would like to thank you for your help.

I will share my time line:
SAR document sent: 21/05/2016
SAR document received: not tracked, I guess they received it within few days.
Letter of Acknowledge: 08/08/2016
Money taken: cheque method 23/06/2016
Document received: 09/07/2016
Document dated: 02/07/2016

If you have previously done a DCPR request I can confirm it contains the date you acquired the PR status under section Entitlement.
However, the only information I have received is about my DCPR even if I have asked for everything, do they have data they collect at the airport or something else?

VinGam wrote:Today I received my SAR request.
I would like to thank you for your help.

I will share my time line:
SAR document sent: 21/05/2016
SAR document received: not tracked, I guess they received it within few days.
Letter of Acknowledge: 08/08/2016
Money taken: cheque method 23/06/2016
Document received: 09/07/2016
Document dated: 02/07/2016

If you have previously done a DCPR request I can confirm it contains the date you acquired the PR status under section Entitlement.
However, the only information I have received is about my DCPR even if I have asked for everything, do they have data they collect at the airport or something else?

When did you last see your passport actually getting scanned when you entered an EEA country?

ohara wrote:When did you last see your passport actually getting scanned when you entered an EEA country?

Its not all about passport scans. There are other, ahem, systems in operation.
Some Union citizen members have reported finding interesting results captured in their SARs.