HANGES ANNOUNCED BY THE HOME OFFICE - 17th JUNE 2003

The Home Office has announced two important and significant developments in the on-going battle to tackle Immigration Fraud. The announcements will affect every foreign national (other than European Economic Area (EEA) and European Union (EU) Nationals and their families) seeking to enter the UK for any purpose.

· From September 2003 the use of ink stamps, which the Home Office deems  easy to forge, will be phased out and replaced with high security stickers. These will be common throughout Europe to ensure all EU Countries share the same security standards.

· From 13th November 2003 those travelling to the UK from outside the EEA for periods of 6 months or more will be required to apply for permission to do so before they travel. This scheme will be phased in over a two year period and the Home Office has stated that this change will speed up the arrival of passengers through UK ports of entry.  The first phase of nationals to be affected will be those from the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea and Hong Kong.  Special arrangements will be put in place in Hong Kong for the holders of British National (Overseas) passports.

In practice, this means that a work permit holder from a non visa national country will now be required to obtain entry clearance before they travel rather than merely presenting their passport and work permit to an Immigration Office on arrival at the port and being issued with leave to enter the UK.