Immigration officers- they dont know ?

K2004 · Post by **K2004** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:54 pm

Just wondering, for your information guys:

I have been a WP - TWES holder for 6 years, everytime i travel and come back to UK, the immigration officer take my landing card, type something on computer and ask me these same questions:

- What are you doing in UK?
- Are you still with same employer?

then he look at an old home office stamp which has been replaced with another 5 stamps later (due to change of employment), and stamp something and give me back my pasport.

it seems strange that they dont know my situaton in UK, and it seems ok for them if i said that i have changed my employer!!! of course if i changed my employer they should be aware of that.because we have to fill a form and pay money and blah blah blah, so why asking?

So last week I was brave enough, I asked the officer in Waterloo, if he has all the information about me in his computer, ( so i can know how long i am allowed to stay in UK - because I have an old stamp till 2005, which has been replaced by a new wp stamp valid till 2004, ans it seems that they keep looking at the old stamp) - and simply his answer was NO his system dosnt show this information.and i have to wait another hour so his supervisor can check for me. obviously i said , thank you i will do it next time.

vin123 · Post by **vin123** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 4:03 pm

Hi K2004

I too had the same experience like you.
Everytime I landback after a holiday or trip abroad, immigration officers keep repeating the same 2 questions. Only reason that I think they do so is - may be they are not trained to ask any other questions !

Regarding the info you asked in Waterloo, I don't think they will be having your immigration information on their system.

Onething I have noticed in the airport immigration computer system is :
Everytime you enter the country back for example, on a holiday you flew from UK on 10th June and landed back on 20th of June, They do store "20th June 2004" info on your passport number each time they scan your passport at the immigration desk. Like this they will be able to trace your entry points and dates in the country from your passport number.
I dont think they store or have any other information. IND or HomeOffice has still not yet reached the US-level in information sharing between each offices and immigration check points.
for that matter, I think even the landing card info that you fill goes to the waste bin ?

AtW · Post by **AtW** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 4:11 pm

vin123 wrote:I think even the landing card info that you fill goes to the waste bin ?

No - your visa number is on that landing card and this allows to analyse how frequently you entered UK (and thus how many times you left).

Talking of routing questions - people in that kind of jobs get used to specific routine and all answers are expected to be inline with routine, any deviation is like a spark that something might be wrong and further digging is necessary.

So, just answer simple questions and take it easy.

vin123 · Post by **vin123** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 4:33 pm

your visa number is on that landing card

I don't think we enter visa numbers on landing cards. All you enter is your personal/passport information and address of stay in the UK.
Or you mean to say immigration desk officer fill in those details ? - may be.

vin

tvt · Post by **tvt** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 4:35 pm

Moerover, these questions are asked so in the future if it discovered that you lied you can be prosecuted for fraud rather than just for (the less serious) offence of being in breach of the rules.

Kayalami · Post by **Kayalami** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 5:36 pm

vin123 wrote:I think even the landing card info that you fill goes to the waste bin

The landing card is scanned and stored in your file on the HO database - it can then be safely binned after this

.

AtW · Post by **AtW** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:00 pm

vin123 wrote:your visa number is on that landing card

They definately do - I've seen one with my number written on it. There is an opinion that they only hold the last one because of database limitations.

K2004 · Post by **K2004** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:53 pm

thanks for sharing your views guys,

The reason I posted this was really to understand how the immigration officer can distinguish between an old Home office stamp and new one ..

my passport for example has 4 different stammps . the oldest one give me the right to stay till late 2005 and the latest one till late 2004. it seems that they browse the passport, and once they see any stamp they presume is valid, (for my case they only looked at the 2005 and let me in).

so in another words, if you come to uk as a 5 years wp holder and left your job from the first day(or take a 3 yrs 10 month holiday/or work ).(providing that your employer didnt report it).. you are able to move freely in and out uk. and when asked just answer yes i am still with same employer.
and after 3 yrs 10 month go back and continue to work for that employer and you will get an ILR.

Chess · Post by **Chess** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:54 pm

K2004 wrote:thanks for sharing your views guys,

.....and after 3 yrs 10 month go back and continue to work for that employer and you will get an ILR.

Not that simple mate - you need to provide other supporting documentation which can only be obtained when you have actively been working in the UK for the qualifying period

K2004 · Post by **K2004** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:58 pm

The supporting documentation?

you mean FLR(O) ? all what they ask for is a letter confirming that the employment is continuing, and bank statement and passport and police certificate. they dont ask for wage slips anymore. (check the FLR O Guidance).. maybe they will ask, after reading my post.

Kayalami · Post by **Kayalami** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:01 pm

k2004 wrote:The reason I posted this was really to understand how the immigration officer can distinguish between an old Home office stamp and new one ..

Simple really - they have an issue date either handwritten (for ink stamps/ endorsments) or in ink print for vignettes. A corresponding entry is placed on the HO database in case of any future 'confusion'.

vin123 · Post by **vin123** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:36 am

so in another words, if you come to uk as a 5 years wp holder and left your job from the first day(or take a 3 yrs 10 month holiday/or work ).(providing that your employer didnt report it).. you are able to move freely in and out uk. and when asked just answer yes i am still with same employer.

5 years on WP and leave the employer on day 1 ? Get real dude ! why do you have to take pain in joining and leaving the first day. why dont you save the cost of travel/fuel ..dont even bother joining !

and after 3 yrs 10 month go back and continue to work for that employer and you will get an ILR.

on THE sunny day after your 3rd year and 10 month, I wish the employer will be waiting for you on the front door with a bouquet and garland

Excuse me ? I wish I did not read this post. But this is the main reason and explains why immigrants gets less respect in the society. Branding made so easy by the very simple nature and looks of this post !

K2004 · Post by **K2004** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:56 pm

Hi Vin

propably this post doesnt suit your case, but remember that there is millions of people who just want to go out of their country to come and live in Europe,,, they want to avoid wars and national service and other troubles...they need something longer than a six month tourist visa,,, sometimes they do have enough money to support themself.but not as enough to get a business visa,, and other times they are well educated,, but not enough experience or salary to get HSMP... and sometimes they do have political problems but not enough to be on the asylum and refugee list of countries.... so by finidng an employer who can get them a WP ,,, it is their only option...they are not in it for the money or the salary.. they just want to have some choice...if they dont like it they can always go back...

ok i agree with you,,, but after 3 yrs 10 month they can switch their permit to another employer under change of employer application,, they should be able to do that they are more expert now....

vin123 · Post by **vin123** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:34 pm

Dear K2004

If there are millions like you mentioned, we simply cannot keep a converstation on to justify the acts of each one finding flaws in the immigration system.

I strongly feel the main purpose of this forum should be discussion of straight forward immigration rules and sharing/asking personal experiences.

If you are targeting flaws in the system, that is something that you do for your benefit. I know you are not doing anything illegal, but, when you discuss or share them publically I feel the integrity and self discipline of this forum is lost.
I'm sure that this forum provides so much valuable information for a common man who uses internet without needing to pay for a solicitor for the same.

So lets maintain the same discipline while we thank the persons behind hosting and maintaining this site.

Thanks !

vin123

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Immigration officers- they dont know ?

Immigration officers- they dont know ?