Just left UK after a 3 week holiday. My Filipina wife was on a 6 month visit visa. Question is how do UK Immigration know that she has left the country as there are no Passport Controls leaving UK, so no exit stamp.
Will be following the responses of this one with great interest. I hope Alma has enjoyed our beautiful country. regards John
Thank you John. My wife absolutely loved England, even the cold weather weather didn't dampen her spirits. May have to rethink my retirement plan to include more time back in the old country.
Yes that is true, enough, but will UK immigration bother to check the the record of every airline and passenger ship to ensure that she has left within the allowed period?
I'd of thought (just guessing here) that when the passport is scanned, details thereof are transmitted to some Home Office database.
At check in our passports were not scanned. Emirates Airline checked our passports only to ensure that we had visas for the place we were flying to, in our case resident visas for Dubai. After check we proceeded to the security area where our carry on was X-Rayed. Our boarding passes were scanned at that stage. Maybe the info from there is made available to UK Immigration?
No requirement for "Advance Passenger Information" ? From the Emirates website: https://www.emirates.com/uk/english...enger-information-why-do-i-need-to-provide-it
Yes Dave, when making the original booking and also during on line check in, we provided the API as you say. That doesn't necessarily mean that my wife boarded the flight and actually left UK. I'm sure all airline info is all interlinked with UK immigration etc, but I would feel more convinced if there was an actual exit stamp on her passport.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...sengers-leaving-the-uk/exit-checks-fact-sheet What exit checks will do From 8 April, exit checks will take place at all airports and ports in the UK. Information that is included in passports or travel documents will be collected for passengers leaving the country on scheduled commercial international air, sea and rail routes. The data collected will be provided to the Home Office to give us the most comprehensive picture we have ever had of whether those who enter the UK leave when they are supposed to. The information will improve our ability to identify and further tighten the immigration routes and visas that are most vulnerable to abuse. Exit checks data will help us to target people who have overstayed their visas and are in the UK illegally. For example, we can use new powers under the Immigration Act 2014 to remove their driving licences and prevent illegal overstayers from opening bank accounts. While predominately an immigration and data tool, the checks will also improve security by helping the police and security services track the movements of known or suspected criminals and terrorists, supporting the wider work across government and our law enforcement agencies. How exit checks will work We have worked with industry to implement exit checks in a way which minimises the impact on passengers’ journeys. Most passengers will not notice any significant difference to the usual outbound travel processes. The majority of airlines already provide the Home Office with Advance Passenger Information (API). This is given to airlines by customers when booking their flights. For these passengers, nothing will change and they will not notice the new system in action. Where API cannot be provided – for example on some rail and ferry journeys – carriers and ports will check travel documents and collect data by checking or scanning passports or national identity cards. The checks will be carried out by staff working for the airline, rail or ferry operator. Every port is different and operators may conduct checks in different ways which best fit with their current embarkation processes, but data will be gathered on all passengers – this is the requirement we have set.
I kept a screenshot of my boarding pass for the exit flight and then showed the entry stamp (in return to dubai).
Seems reasonable, but if UKI wanted to be difficult, a boarding pass doesn't necessarily mean that you boarded the flight and entering into Dubai doesn't necessarily mean a stamp in your passport, if you use the eGates. Just saying.......
I know but then I would point out that i in order for me to be entering the uk now, i have left on a flight at some point and all within the 6 month duration of the visa.
How does that prove that you left within 6 months? I'm thinking of when I make the next visa application for her after her current 6 month visa has expired. Presumably UKI will check their records for any previous entry and also to ensure that she left within time and didn't overstay. I'm sure there is a system in place, just interested to know what that is. Would have been happier if there was an exit stamp on her passport when she left.
isnt the onus of proof of overstay on UKVI? if they refuse a future visit app on the grounds of previous overstay--wheres their evidence ? but i suppose they dont have to prove it--as there is no appeal.
