Securing the UK Border

Our vision and strategyfor the future

Home Office March 2007

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Contents

Foreword by the Minister for Nationality, Citizenship and Immigration and theParliamentary Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2

Chapter 1: The UK’s new borders 3Wider checks abroadA new offshore border controlA stronger UK borderThe Border Operating Model: stages of the control

Chapter 2: Threats and challenges 6Key challenges to the border

Chapter 3: Wider, tougher checks abroad 8A new visa regime: the Visa Waiver TestAn accessible visa service for legitimate travellersWelcoming visitorsRationalising the visitor categoryTargeting areas of abuseStreamlining and expediting appeals processesGlobal alliances to manage migration

Chapter 4: Our new offshore border control 16Electronic bordersJuxtaposed controlsAirline Liaison Officers

Chapter 5: A stronger UK border 19Biometric capturePowers and joint working at the borderCommon Travel Area and movements of small craftNew skills, new processesExit controls – counting people out

Chapter 6: Making it happen 23PartnershipsFuture funding

Annex: Summary milestones 25

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The exponential growth in global movement brings great opportunity for the UK but creates new challengeswhich demand a new doctrine for the national border.

Border control can no longer just be a fixed line on a map. Using new technology, particularly biometrics, andnew approaches to managing risk and intelligence, we must create a new offshore line of defence, checkingindividuals as far from the UK as possible and through each stage of their journey. Our aim is to makelegitimate travel easier, yet prevent those who might cause us harm from travelling here. We want the UK tobe attractive and welcoming to business, tourist, student and family visitors, skilled migrants and returningnationals and residents, but halt those with no right to come to this country well away from our shores.

This approach cannot be taken forward by a single government department acting alone. It requires co-ordinatedsupport of government, international partners and industry to succeed. We will consult those who can assist in theinitiatives outlined in this paper as we proceed and develop new mechanisms for co-operation.

This strategy is a part of the radical reform of the UK immigration system begun last July. It provides a visionfor the future for our border and visa operations and sets out practical steps as to how we will get there. It is partof our wider migration message, whether in-country or abroad, of supporting those with entitlements andpenalising those without.

A strong border is good for travellers, good for industry, national security and the economy.

A strong border is what the public demand and is what we will deliver.

Liam Byrne MP Lord TriesmanMinister for Nationality, Parliamentary Under Secretary of StateCitizenship and Immigration

…more people, more quickly, more securely…

Liam Byrne MP Lord Triesman

Foreword by the Minister for Nationality, Citizenship andImmigration and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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Chapter 1:The UK’s new borders

1.1 The border has traditionally been understood asa single, staffed physical frontier, where travellersshow paper-based identity documents to passthrough. This twentieth century concept can besubject to abuse, with controls often geared tofairly crude risk indicators such as nationality.

1.2 This philosophy will not deal effectively withthe step change in mobility that globalisationhas brought to our country. We believe a newdoctrine is demanded, where controls begin off-shore and where we use information, intelligenceand identity systems to allow scrutiny at keycheckpoints on the journey to and from the UK.

1.3 Managing identity is fundamental to deliveringthis new approach. Using biometric technologywe can permanently link people to a uniqueidentity. We can check this against other recordsthat can reveal, for example, if someone poses asecurity risk, has previously committed crimes inthe UK, or has tried to enter the country underfalse pretences. It provides us with confidencein who we count in and out.

1.4 We want, therefore, to fix people’s identities atthe earliest point practicable, checking themthrough each stage of their journey, identifyingthose presenting risk and stopping themcoming to the UK. By the time a passenger hasbeen identified at the border as posing a threat,it can be too late – they have achieved their goalin reaching our shores. Off-shoring our bordercontrol is the keystone of our border defence.

1.5 This new approach will change the way wegrant permission to come to the UK, increasechecks on those in transit and strengthen theUK border itself. We are putting in place aborder security system which makes life easierfor legitimate travellers but stops those whowould cause harm. This model will not beachieved by the Border and ImmigrationAgency alone. We will work closely withother border agencies, wider government,international partners, industry and the publicto deliver our objectives.

Main ports of entry to the UK by passenger numbers (percentage of passengers – 2005)

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Wider checks abroad1.6 We will change the way we decide who to check

in depth before they visit the UK.

� All non-EEA countries will be subject to aVisa Waiver Test. This will be anassessment against a series of benchmarks, bywhich we will consider whether a visa regimeshould be maintained, lifted or imposed. Thetest will be run over the remainder of 2007with any consequent changes taking placein 2008/09;

� Consult on new measures to combat forcedmarriage, including a Code of Practicefor interviews with couples, raising theminimum age of the spouse and sponsorto 21, and examine the case for theintroduction of an English language testbefore entry for spouses who intend to settlein the UK;

� Overhaul the rules for visitors coming tovisit the UK for less than six months. Wewill consult on options in 2007, makingchanges in 2008. This will be in parallel toour reform of routes for workers and studentsthrough the Points Based System; and

� Introduce biometric visas worldwide by 2008.The biometrics of increasing numbers ofother lower-risk non-EEA nationals coming tothe UK for more than six months will becaptured through biometric immigrationdocuments, issued from 2008, and throughregistered traveller schemes.

A new offshore border control1.7 Working closely with our international

partners, we will introduce offshore bordercontrols covering all modes of transportworldwide. Specifically, we will:

� Introduce an Authority to Carry schemethat will allow us to refuse a carrier theauthority to bring passengers to the UK,based on real-time checks againstgovernment databases. This will beintroduced from 2009;

� Strengthen our network of overseas bordersecurity advisers to help airlines deal withpeople who may not have the necessarydocuments for travel and to stop those whodo not from boarding; and

� Enhance our juxtaposed controls in Franceand Belgium.

A stronger UK border1.8 We will:

� Strengthen the powers for immigrationofficers and more widely for the Borderand Immigration Agency through the UKBorders Bill, introduced in January 2007.We will make the physical UK border andstaff more visible, and improve skills andequipment for staff. As co-operation deepensacross the border security network throughthe Border Management Programme (theBorder and Immigration Agency, HMRC,police, SOCA and UKvisas) over 2007 and2008, we will ensure that powers are in placeto facilitate further collaboration between theborder agencies;

� Complete our commitment to a unique,secure ID for all non-EEA nationals by2011, by collecting the biometrics of allremaining non-EEA nationals not previouslybiometrically registered in the UK on arrival;

� Strengthen the Common Travel Area,covering the UK and Ireland, and improvethe control of small ship and aircraftmovements. This will not affect the intra-Irish land border; and

� The majority of passengers will be checkedin and out of the UK by 2009 and 95 percent by 2011.

IND Review: “extend exit controls in stagesbased on risk, identify who overstays, andcount everyone in and out, while avoidingdelays.”

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Chapter 1:The UK’s new borders

The Border Operating Model: stagesof the control

Current model

Future model

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Key challenges to the border2.1 After a decade of uninterrupted growth,

Britain is the world’s fifth largest economyand one of the world’s great trading nations.A greater share of our GDP is traded than anyother nation in the OECD. This strategy forSecuring the UK Border sets out what weintend to do over the next decade to respond tothe principal strategic threats and challenges toour borders, against the background of greatgrowth in Britain’s global trade and traffic.

� International air traffic is increasing:passenger numbers entering and leavingthe UK through our airports could reach320 million by 2015, almost double theirlevel of five years ago;

� Freight traffic is growing at 2.9 per centa year (and around 6 per cent throughthe major Kent ports). Eurostar destinationsare also likely to increase, raising passengertraffic; and

� Over 2,500,000 visa applications werereceived in 2005/06 and over 2,000,000 visasissued. Demand has grown by 45 per centsince 2001/02. Provisional figures for thefirst ten months of 2006/07 show almost9 per cent growth over the same period inthe previous financial year.

2.2 The UK’s border system must, therefore, meetthree challenges:

� Process rapidly increasing numbers oftravellers;

� Keep out or monitor the travel of thoseindividuals who could cause harm to theUK; and

� Facilitate legitimate travel in the interestsof Britain’s people and economy.

2.3 The British economy continues to benefit fromglobalisation. It is important for the UK tooffer a positive welcome to tourists, students,business travellers and legal migrants.

� Continued growth has come frominternational trade and investment, and fromthe ability of British business to fill gaps inthe labour market that cannot be filled fromour own workforce. Engineers, teachers andother experts from abroad fill these gaps,making important contributions to the UKthrough tax and revenue, as well as developingour links with foreign countries;

� Britain remains the destination of choicefor many visitors from overseas. In 2005,11.8 million non-EEA travellers enteredthe UK – 3.9 million from the USA, themajority as tourists or short business visits.People from overseas spent £14.2 billion inthe UK in 2005, with the tourism industryalone directly employing 1.4 million people;

� Overseas students in UK further and highereducation, English language and independentschools contribute an estimated £5 billionannually to the UK economy. Students asindividuals also contribute substantiallytowards the economy. The UK is secondonly to the USA as a global leader in theinternational provision of education; and

� The travel industry itself is an importantpart of the British economy. Carriers, in ahighly competitive market, need to be ableto meet the public’s demands for secure andrapid travel with minimum necessaryhindrance.

2.4 A minority, however, travel to work illegally inthe UK, engage in criminal activity or eventerrorism. Due to its very nature it is difficultto fully estimate the precise scale of abuse.

IND Strategic Objective 4: We will boostBritain’s economy by bringing the right skillshere from around the world, and ensuring Britainis easy to visit legally.

IND Strategic Objective 1: Strengthen ourborders, use tougher checks abroad so that onlythose with permission travel to the UK, andensure we know who leaves so that we can takeaction against those who break the rules.

Chapter 2:Threats and challenges

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Chapter 2:Threats and challenges

� As the number of legitimate travellers to theUK increases, so it is likely that the numbersof those who try to enter the UK illegallywill also grow, driven by pull (opportunity,media images, communal and family ties)and push factors (poverty, environmentaldegradation, political instability, andconflict);

� While some individuals break UKimmigration law through, for example,submitting fraudulent applications forvisas or by seeking to enter the UKclandestinely, illegal entry is increasinglyconnected in some way to organised crimesuch as human trafficking and peoplesmuggling. The number of transnationalcriminal gangs providing transport and falsedocuments and operating to circumventimmigration control has grown. Up to 75 per cent of illegal entry is facilitated byorganised crime;

� British and foreign criminals exploit thejurisdictional and bureaucratic boundariescreated by international borders; and

� Terrorism poses a severe threat. Planning,training and facilitation of a terrorist plotcould be carried out by any national andfrom any number of countries abroad beforeimplementation is attempted in the UK.

2.5 Specifically, there are four principal methodsof entering the UK illegally which we mustcombat: fraudulent use of a travel document orvisa; travelling on a legitimate or illegitimatedocument or visa to the UK, but destroyingthese means of identity before arrival;clandestine entry; and entry through theCommon Travel Area covering the UK, Irelandand the Crown Dependencies.

� Certain travel documents or visas areattractive to criminals and abusers, eitherbecause they carry prestige and entitlements,or because they and their issuing processesare weak. During 2006, over 4,000forged/counterfeit documents were detectedat our ports. UK passports are highly prized,

but, due to security features and processes,they are difficult to forge or counterfeitsuccessfully. EEA documents, including IDcards, which allow freedom of movementthroughout Europe, are also valuable, as areother documents of nationals not subject toUK visa control;

� Undocumented passengers arrive atUK immigration control having destroyed ordisposed of their travel documents, or handedthem back to an agent. These people generallyalso use forged/counterfeit documents atboarding: knowing that false identity willimpede asylum, re-documentation and returnprocesses. During 2006 we caught over 2,000undocumented passengers trying to enterthe UK;

� Clandestine entrants circumventimmigration controls through concealmentin cars, lorries, containers or ships. We havealready had major success in reducing illegalentry to the UK through the introductionof juxtaposed immigration controls inFrance and Belgium, including through theuse of New Detection Technology. The risksposed by small ports and airfields aremonitored by the border agencies andtargeted on an intelligence-led basis; and

� The Common Travel Area (CTA) consistsof the UK, Republic of Ireland and theCrown Dependencies and allows for themovement of all CTA nationals withoutbeing subject to immigration control.However, there are also risks of illegal entry.To counter these, we work closely with otherCTA authorities and run intelligence-ledenforcement and security controls on inboundtraffic from other parts of the CTA.

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A new visa regime: the Visa Waiver Test3.1 We will change the way we check people before

they come to the UK. Traveller information isfirst collected through the visa system. Since2002 we have embedded risk assessmentthroughout our visa network to identify abuseof the visa system and enhance decision making.By mid-2008 Risk Assessment Units will coverover 75 per cent of all visa applications, co-ordinated through the UKvisas RiskAssessment Operations Centre. This facilitatesworldwide, real-time exchange of intelligencebetween border agencies and individual posts tosupport the development of analytical andprofiling tools and watchlists. Entry ClearanceOfficers (ECOs) use these tools to scrutiniseapplicants according to the type and level ofrisk posed.

3.2 Fixing individuals to their identities andchecking against biometric databases is vital.Through the visa system, we already capturefingerprint and facial biometrics for individualsfrom over 60 countries before they travel to theUK. We will enrol the biometrics of all visaapplicants by 2008. This gives ECOs significantadditional information on which to basedecisions. Already over 280,000 applicantshave provided biometrics: over 2,700 of these

Since October 2004 the Risk Assessment Unitin Accra has been working closely with local policeto arrest and prosecute those submitting forgeddocuments in support of their visa applications.Around 2500 individuals have been arrested andtheir applications refused. This has had a significantdeterrent effect, reducing the number of applicationscontaining forged documents by 75 per cent. Wewill expand this initiative to other key posts by mid-2008.

Chapter 3:Wider, tougher checks abroad

Key: Visa nationals Non-visa nationals

Visa and non-visa nationals worldwide

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Chapter 3:Wider, tougher checks abroad

have matched fingerprints taken in the UK inconnection with previous immigration mattersor asylum applications.

3.3 Nationals of over one hundred countries – three-quarters of the world’s population – mustapply for permission (or visa) to come to the UK.Nationals of over sixty countries outside the EEAonly need clearance if they intend to be in theUK for longer than six months or are cominghere on a basis that requires a visa – for example,for work or study. Visa regimes have traditionallybeen imposed on a largely reactive basis as aresult of detection of immigration abuse bypeople bearing a particular passport. We willchange this approach by introducing a VisaWaiver Test.

3.4 The test will consist of a set of criteriadetermining the overall level of harm posedby travellers from a particular country. Thepresumption will be that all non-EEA countriesfailing the test will, unless risks can be mitigatedsatisfactorily, be subject to a visa regime, whilethose meeting the specified benchmark will not.Criteria for this test will include:

� Issuing a secure passport, maintaining securepassport application, production, storage anddelivery processes and reporting lost or stolentravel documents to international standards;

� Co-operation in re-documentation and returnof nationals being deported or removed fromthe UK for immigration and other offences;

� A sufficiently low incidence of identifiedimmigration abuse, including denial of visasor entry to the UK owing to presentationof false documents, overstaying, illegalworking and clandestine entry;

� A sufficiently low risk posed by the country’snationals in terms of terrorism andcriminality;

� The steps taken by the country to combatterrorism, crime and immigration abuseinternally; and

� The economic impact of the impositionof a visa regime.

3.5 The test will enable us to target our visaregimes more effectively in order to minimiseharm to the UK while allowing nationals ofthose countries that do not present significantrisk to travel to the UK with less scrutiny.We will apply the test to all non-EEA countriesby the end of 2007. Following the test, someadditional regimes may be imposed while othersmay be lifted in a phased process over 2008/09.Some countries failing the test may be able totake steps to mitigate the risks presented bysome of their citizens. We would seek to assistthem in doing so. For example, some riskspresented by criminality could be mitigatedby the government in question agreeing toshare data on criminality.

3.6 In tandem, using similar criteria, we will alsoreview the Transit Without Visa (TWOV)concession and Direct Airside Transit Visa(DATV) by the end of 2007. The former liftsthe visa requirement if transiting through UKairports for a short period rather than visitingthe UK itself. The latter requires nationals ofa particular country to have a visa to transitthrough UK airports even if they do notintend to enter the UK. As part of this review,we will reduce the DATV fee to Schengenlevels.

3.7 In the short to medium term, existingcategories of visa and non-visa national willcontinue to exist. Our ultimate vision is to useintelligence, risk assessment and analysis toapply scrutiny based on individual risk ratherthan nationality. For example, low-risktravellers from current visa countries might inthe future be able to enter the UK without avisa once they have registered their biometrics.High-risk travellers will continue to be subjectto a level of scrutiny dependent on the risk theypose, before being granted a visa or refusedpermission to enter the UK.

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An accessible visa servicefor legitimate travellers3.8 We will provide greater accessibility to our

customers and increase efficiency as we outsourcemore visa application services. By the end of2007, we will be working with commercialpartners in 73 different countries, accounting for87 per cent of current applications. This willmean, for example, that in the cases of India orChina it will be possible for visa applicants toregister biometrics at 12 different locations bythe end of 2007.

3.9 We will continue to improve decision qualityand will make processes clearer for staff andapplicants. We issued new decision qualityguidance to staff in January 2007. In responseto recommendations from the IndependentMonitor for Entry Clearance, we have improvedthe structure and format of refusal notices.We will extend structured decision-makingprocesses and issue new simplified applicationforms by the end of 2007.

Welcoming visitors3.10 Although visitors come to the UK for a range

of reasons, the vast majority are covered byone general set of immigration rules grantingadmission for six months for whatever purpose.This does not reflect the varied needs of themodern visitor. We will therefore change therules governing visitors and explore a range ofoptions by which we can tailor the rights andresponsibilities of different visitors, whilestrengthening our overall control. We willengage with those with an interest, within andoutside government, to ensure the newarrangements will be:

� Coherent, transparent and sensitive tocustomers’ needs;

� Effective in combating potential abuse; and� Supported by appropriate compliance and

enforcement measures.

3.11 This will support our objectives of boostingBritain’s economy and making this countryeasier to visit legally, and of strengtheningand simplifying our immigration laws whileupholding the security and integrity of ourborders. We will consult over 2007, introducingnew arrangements in 2008.

Rationalising the visitor category3.12 The main reasons people visit the UK are for

tourism, business, to study, or to visit family.The current immigration rules – which havedeveloped piecemeal over time – do notdistinguish between these very differentpurposes. Additionally, whereas a visit toBritain ought, by definition, to be relativelyshort, this has been eroded by those seekingto abuse the route by overstaying or workinghere illegally.

3.13 We have begun to implement our programmefor reform of longer-term migration throughthe Points Based System, which we will beintroducing between now and April 2009, withthe first part of the system, Tier 1 for highlyskilled migrants, to be introduced by April2008. The new system, advised by theMigration Advisory Committee, will help usbetter identify and attract migrants who havemost to contribute to the UK, and will reducethe scope for abuse. The entry criteria will bemore objective, so there will be more certaintyof outcome for all. The current two-stageprocess, in which an employer applies for awork permit in the UK and the migrant thenapplies for entry clearance abroad, will beabolished. Underpinning the new system willbe the concept of sponsorship, making it easierfor trusted employers to bring in migrantworkers, to whom they have issued a Certificateof Sponsorship. We are working closely with

IND Review: “strengthen and streamlinethe law and Immigration Rules, to speedup and simplify the immigration system,including deportation.”

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Chapter 3:Wider, tougher checks abroad

employers, especially through the EmployerTaskforce (established to consult employers onthe design of the new system), to ensure thatthe requirements we make of sponsors meet theneeds of business as far as possible.

3.14 We now need to rethink the visitor route fromfirst principles. Our aim is a simpler, clearer andmore relevant system for visitors. We proposeto divide the visitor rules into categories relateddirectly to the purpose of visit, and clarify anindividual’s status and entitlements. This wouldmean having categories for tourist, business,student and sponsored family visitors. We willdevelop a full package of proposals during 2007,consulting as appropriate, with a view to fullintroduction of changes by the end of 2008.

3.15 Tourists bring substantial economic benefitto the country. We want to ensure that the UKis easy to visit legally. We will pursue a rangeof measures to enhance the UK’s attractivenessas a tourist destination, foster a greater senseof welcome and generate positive perceptionsof the value for money of a tourist visa, whilstensuring that adequate controls are in place.These will include:

� Looking at the number of entries and lengthof stay allowed with a tourist visa to reflectbetter the needs of tourists, the vast majorityof whom only require leave to enter for periodsof less than three months, and whether itshould be reduced to this length;

� Exploring specialised or time-limited visasin co-operation with DCMS and VisitBritain.These could include a “Schengen-plus visa”for people already committed to group travelin the EU; a discounted, time-limited“Olympics” visa to help support thepromotion of the 2012 Cultural Olympiadand the Games; and different visa products formajor events and for visiting arts companiesand teams. We will also explore cost optionsfor visas which allow shorter stays and are oflimited validity, and longer-term validityvisas for more frequent, trusted travellers; and

� By June 2007, establishing a VisitorTaskforce so that we can work with partnersacross and beyond government to seekimprovements to our customer servicestandards and the part we play in welcomingvisitors to Britain. The taskforce will involveVisitBritain, UKTI, and members of thetravel, tourism and hospitality sectors.

3.16 The UK is a hub of international business. Inconsultation with the Department for Trade andIndustry, we will improve the way legitimateBusiness visitors are able to come to the UK.Business visitors are fundamentally differentfrom other visitors as they are allowed toundertake short-term business activities in theUK. We will reflect this by creating a separateBusiness Visitor category, which will also setout the activities that they are entitled toundertake. We will look at a range of optionsto make travel more flexible, from quick andsimple short-term business visit visas to longer-term, multiple entry visas, and whether we canlink some of these with expedited clearanceat the border through our Registered TravellerSchemes. For example, we will widen the scopeof expedited schemes for visa nationals suchas Business Express.

3.17 Student Visitors bring significant benefitsto the UK. At present, visitors to the UK canalso study here, and may enter either as a visitoror as a student. There are no rules governingthis distinction – it depends almost entirelyon what information the student gives animmigration officer on entering the country– which can lead to confusion around theirstatus, entitlements and obligations. We want

In line with IND’s strategic objective to boostBritain’s economy, we will work with VisitBritainand the Welcome to Britain Group to promote theUK tourist industry through its forthcomingWelcome Visitor Charter, which pledges to makethe UK a more welcoming place to visit in the run-up to 2012.

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to clarify the arrangements for short-termstudents studying here for six months or less.

3.18 From September 2007, short-term students fromcountries not subject to a visa regime (coming forsix months or less) who do not wish to work willstill be able to come to the UK without a visa.However, all will be required to demonstratethat they are attending a registered educationalinstitution, that they can maintain andaccommodate themselves during their stay, andthey intend to leave at the end of that period.

3.19 Many people come to visit friends and relationsin the UK for short periods, for holiday orother reasons, and will continue to be able to doso under the proposed Tourist Visitor category.We also recognise that there are circumstances inwhich a family member from abroad may wishto come to the UK for a longer period, or needthe support of the relation they are visiting inorder to be able to do so. We will consult onthe creation of a new Sponsored Family Visitorcategory for use in these circumstances.

3.20 The Sponsored Family Visitor route would allowfamily members in the UK to give strongersupport to such applications. This will simplifythe process for those applying to come to visitfamily in the UK as we will be able to verifyrelationships easily and the willingness of theUK family member to support the application.We will explore options for requiring sponsorsto undertake to maintain and accommodate, andfund any non-emergency medical care theirsponsored visitors may require during their stayin the UK. We will also examine the status ofthe sponsor in order to be sure that sponsors canmeet their obligations. We could require themto hold settled status in the UK (be it holdingBritish citizenship, EEA nationality, the rightof abode in the UK or Indefinite Leave toRemain). We would also examine sanctionsagainst those sponsors who fail to meet theirobligations.

3.21 We intend to consult on the options for tourist,business and sponsored family visitors. Thefollowing table seeks to summarise howthe proposed visitor categories might lookin the future.

APPEAL STATUS IFVISA REFUSED

On limited grounds On limited grounds On limited grounds Right of Appeal on fullgrounds

VISA OPTIONS Visa Non Visa Visa Non Visa Visa Non Visa There may be an entryclearance requirement

Study at registerededucationalestablishment

Sponsor to be a definedclose relation and besettled in the UK

ADDITIONAL No extension beyond the maximum length of stayCONTROLS

CONDITIONS No workNo benefits

Defined businessactivitiesNo benefits

No workNo benefits

No workNo benefits

But with potential for short stay visas and longermultiple entry ones

MAXIMUM STAY 3 months 6 months 6 months 6 months

Category Tourist Business Student Sponsored Family

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Chapter 3:Wider, tougher checks abroad

Targeting areas of abuse3.22 We will also develop a range of potential

measures to reduce the scope for abuse of ourprocesses. These will include:

Marriage to partners from overseas –protection for the vulnerable and theskills to integrate

3.23 A forced marriage is one which takes placeagainst the wishes of one of the parties. This isdifferent from an arranged marriage wherebyboth parties consent to the marriage takingplace.

3.24 There are sometimes situations in which ayoung person is forced by family pressure intoan unwanted union. One party will normally beoverseas and need a visa to be able to come tothe UK. This will either be a visa to enter theUK as a fiancé(e) and marry here, or the Britishcitizen will have been taken overseas to marryand then apply for a visa for their spouse.We will consult on the following:

� A Code of Practice, building on workcarried out by ECOs in Islamabad, in relationto in-depth interviews with couples applyingfor marriage visas, including scope for viewsto be given in confidence. At appeal, itwould be incumbent on the ImmigrationJudge both to follow the guidelines in theCode and to ensure that any interview

evidence had been properly obtained andappropriately disclosed;

� Raising the minimum age of a spouse andtheir sponsor from 18 to 21. This wouldallow the young people involved to havecompleted their education as well as allowingthem to have gained in maturity and possessadequate life skills; and

� In light of the recent changes to settlementin the UK, we will examine the case forintroducing a new requirement for thoseapplying for a spouse visa and planning tosettle in the UK to pass some form ofEnglish test before arrival. This will includeconsideration of what level of preparationis appropriate.

Sanctions against people who provide falsedocuments and information

3.25 False documents submitted in support ofapplications are a huge problem whendetermining if someone should come to theUK; in some countries fraudulent documentsare endemic. Currently we co-operate with locallaw enforcement agencies where false documentsare submitted to bring criminal proceedingsunder their domestic legislation where this ispossible. But it remains open to fraudsters tosubmit further visa applications, and furtherfalse documents. We will examine options forending this abuse, including automaticallyrefusing applications from people who havepreviously used fraudulent documents inapplications unless satisfied that this waswithout their knowledge.

3.26 When considering the imposition of newobligations on family visitor sponsors, wewill also consult on taking powers to placeresponsibility on sponsors for the overstay orbreach of conditions by family visitors. Sponsorswho fail to meet their obligations of supportcould also be sanctioned. If a person is foundto have acted in breach of the family sponsorrequirements, then future applicants may notbe able to cite that individual as a sponsor.

In 2005, our High Commission in Islamabadestablished the Consular Immigration Link(CIL) Team to meet the rising numbers of forcedmarriage victims being coerced into sponsoringvisa applications, and spouses being abandonedin Pakistan. The CIL Team works closely withthe joint FCO and Home Office Forced MarriageUnit (FMU) to protect vulnerable clients. In 2006the CIL Team and FMU have assisted over 200forced marriage victims who have been coercedinto sponsoring their husband or wife’s entryto the UK.

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Streamlining and expediting appealsprocesses3.27 It is important that all documents provided in

support of visa applications are produced at anappropriate stage in the application processrather than later during the appeals process.Appeals should be focused on whether or notthe ECO made the correct decision on the basisof the information available at the time, andnot based on later evidence which has not beenconsidered by the ECO. Additionally, withfraudulent documents becoming increasinglysophisticated, it is important that all documentsare seen by an appropriately skilled person toestablish their authenticity before any appealcan be brought. We are already acting toprevent this under the Points Based System andwill now examine how to address this problemfor those refused entry clearance in the newSponsored Family Visitor route. We willconsult on the fairest way to achieve this.

Global alliances to manage migration3.28 We will also enhance our watchlists through

sharing more data internationally and deeperliaison with UK and overseas law enforcementand security agencies. Our ultimate goal is amodel where high value criminal and migrationdata is easily and securely shared by all EEAcountries and those with a visa waiver, subjectto domestic data protection and other legalrequirements. Intelligence and risk analysiswill underpin all border and visa operations.Towards this goal, we will:

� Promote more data sharing withinthe EU. We have already benefited fromthe introduction of Eurodac, which storesfingerprints of all asylum seekers across theEuropean Union. We are negotiating accessto the EU Visa Application System, and wewill have access to policing data and Interpolrecords of lost and stolen passports on theSchengen Information System (SISII) from2010; and

� Deepen collaboration with otherinternational partners, such as the FourCountries Group (the migration authoritiesof the UK, USA, Australia and Canada).Over recent months the UK, USA andAustralia have tested the exchange of avariety of immigration data. This April weaim to agree with our partners a new data-sharing framework for operation from 2009.

3.29 Collaboration with EU and internationalpartners to strengthen common border securityextends beyond increased data sharing. Wesupport border and visa capacity building ina number of countries, including through thesharing of best practice, and the provisionof trainers and equipment. Central to thisapproach in the EU is the work of Frontex,the European Border Agency. We areenthusiastic supporters of Frontex. We havecontributed to Frontex operations and madeavailable New Detection Technology to MemberStates for selected operations at outer EUborders. The strength of the EU external borderis an important component in our own bordersecurity. We will say more in this area in theforthcoming International Strategy.

IND Review: “working jointly with Europeanand international partners to tackle thechallenges of global migration, includingmeasures to address cross-bordercriminality.”

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Chapter 3:Wider, tougher checks abroad

3.30 We will also continue to improve documentsecurity both at home and abroad. The securityof UK and EU passports, with the introductionlast year of biometric passports with an imageof the holder stored in the chip, continuesto improve. The inclusion of fingerprints isdue to be rolled out across the EU from 2009.The National Document Fraud Unit (NDFU)and the Identity and Passport Service (IPS)are world-acknowledged centres of documentexpertise and brief Border Control and UKvisason countering new document fraud trends andmethods. We have refused, and will continue torefuse, to accept foreign travel documents thatbecome subject to systematic abuse. We will:

� Increase action with law enforcementagencies, the Airline Liaison Officer (ALO)network and our international partnersagainst counterfeiters and fraudsters;

� Have real-time access to the Interpol Lostand Stolen passport database from 2010;

� Encourage our EU partners to meet the 2009deadline for fingerprint-enabled documentsas soon as possible and to meet the 2005inter-governmental agreement on commonminimum standards for Member States’ID cards;

� Support interoperability between EUMember State passport databases; and

� Work with our international partners toimprove issuing and verification processes.

Equally important is our work with the policeand other agencies and with the Serious OrganisedCrime Agency (SOCA), and its internationalcounterparts, to combat organised immigrationcrime. Organised immigration crime is one ofSOCA’s top two priorities. SOCA, both in theUK and through collaboration overseas, attacksthe gangs and gangleaders who facilitate illegalentry to this country. There have been a numberof recent successful prosecutions of immigrationgangs. Tackling the gangs is crucial to reducingillegal immigration.

16

4.1 Our aim is to build up as rich a knowledge ofthe travelling public as possible and use thisinformation to stop those who could cause harmto the UK from coming here. We will do thisin a manner consistent with data protectionlegislation.

4.2 With biometric visas to help lock down travellersto a single identity, the second part of our off-shore border control will be an electronic bordersprogramme.

Electronic borders4.3 Through our electronic borders (e-Borders)

programme we will capture information onindividuals before they travel to the UK, withthe aim of authorising or denying permissionto set off for Britain. The process will involvecarriers sending us passport data prior to travel,both inbound and outbound. The data will beanalysed in the Joint e-Borders OperationsCentre (J-BOC – operated by the borderagencies) and alerts will be issued to the partneragencies on individuals of interest. The captureof information is currently being pilotedthrough Project Semaphore. e-Borders willcover the majority of passenger movementsby 2009 and 95 per cent by 2011.

For further information see www.misense.org

4.4 The Authority to Carry (ATC) scheme willcover all passengers who do not pass through ajuxtaposed control. Passengers will be checkedbefore take-off or commencement of theirjourney, allowing us to refuse a carrierthe authority to carry passengers to the UK.Passenger details will be checked againstappropriate UK watchlists prior to travel,and boarding will be denied where, for example,they are seeking to travel on a passport reportedas stolen. During transit, passenger data willcontinue to be processed and risk assessed inthe J-BOC so that the border agencies can takeaction at the port of arrival in cases of interestor where circumstances have changed since theinitial check. ATC will be implemented inphases based on levels of risk from 2009.

4.5 In advance of ATC, we are working withcarriers to close the gap on those arriving in theUK without appropriate documents. Wherecarriers copy the documents of passengerscoming to the UK, particularly on high-riskroutes, this assists with identification, re-documentation and removal of individuals whohave disposed of their documents before arrival.With the co-operation of carriers we intend todevelop further means of copying traveldocuments in advance of travel.

‘Project Semaphore’ has already captured data on21 million passenger movements, and issued over9,000 alerts to the border agencies. By April 2008it will be capturing 30 million movementsannually. Through advance access to informationabout passenger and crew movements, borderagencies are able to take a more pro-active,intelligence-led approach to prevent harmfulvisitors from coming to the UK. To date over 800arrests have been made.

Chapter 4:Our new offshore border control

17

Chapter 4:Our new offshore border control

Juxtaposed controls4.6 For surface or Channel Tunnel journeys to the

UK, we will strengthen juxtaposed controls.

4.7 Juxtaposed controls in France and Belgiumhave contributed to a 70 per cent reduction inunfounded asylum claims since 2002. Thejuxtaposed process is an excellent example ofwhat we can achieve when we work with ourEuropean partners. We will build on thissuccess by:

� Sharing more intelligence and working moreclosely with our overseas counterparts;

� Aligning our checks with the French andBelgian authorities wherever possible,enabling a faster, more efficient process fortravellers;

� Modernising our vehicle and freight controlsover 2007–09, for example integratingAutomatic Number Plate Recognition and arange of new technologies to detect peoplehiding in vehicles; and

� Introducing more automation, linking e-Borders and using biometric checks tofacilitate secure clearance.

Airline Liaison Officers4.8 To further strengthen offshore controls, we will

reinforce our global network of overseas bordersecurity advisers.

© BAA Ltd see www.baa.com/photolibrary

4.9 Airline Liaison Officers (ALOs) have aparticularly important role in helping to checkthat people have the right documents beforeboarding; the use of forged documentation andswapping of travel documents and boardingcards after check-in are common methods ofabuse. Supported by intelligence and riskassessment, ALOs have dramatically reducedthe numbers of inadequately documentedpassengers arriving in the UK. 150,000 peoplewithout proper documents have been preventedfrom boarding aircraft to the UK in the lastfive years alone. Fifty-five staff now operate in32 countries, supported by a rapid responseteam. The ALOs also work closely with othercountries’ Liaison Officers and local officials,and help others build their own networks.We will in 2007:

� Integrate the ALO role more closely intoborder control intelligence systems;

� Improve links with local law enforcement;� Establish more formal co-operation

agreements, as in Johannesburg, SouthAfrica, between Liaison Officers fromdifferent countries, and host nations;

18

� Improve carrier training and help carriersimplement the Authority to Carry scheme;and

� Examine the concept of a Sea Carrier LiaisonOfficer, who could perform a similar functionto the ALO at major maritime ports ofembarkation to the UK.

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Biometric capture5.1 The most reliable identifiers are biometrics.

We will exploit the global roll-out of biometricsystems to enhance our identity managementprocesses at the border, using all types ofbiometric capture and verification of biometricpassports, ID cards and visas. We will startto issue biometric immigration documents andcomplete roll-out of biometric visas by 2008.By summer 2007, frontline staff at all majorports will be able to read the biometric datain e-enabled passports and ID cards andcompare it to the biometrics of passengerspresenting those documents.

5.2 To meet the commitment made in the INDReview to require a unique, secure identityfrom all non-EEA nationals by 2011 we will,in consultation with government and industryand with due consideration to economic andregulatory impact, roll out capabilities tocapture biometrics from all non-EEA nationalsnot previously biometrically registered with theUK on arrival, and check them against ourwatchlists. This will enable us to:

� Refuse individuals at the border who areknown to be a threat;

� Prevent people who have been refused entryfrom circumventing the control by tryingagain in a different identity;

� Clamp down on purported clandestine entry– people who have passed through a non-EEA border control point at a UK entrypoint will no longer be able to presentthemselves inland to Border and ImmigrationAgency offices claiming to have arrivedclandestinely; and

� Link people encountered in country with theidentity in which they arrived, eliminatinga spectrum of abuse and making it easier tore-document and remove abusers.

Fixing all non-EEA identities by 2011 willprovide a robust defence against many existingpatterns of immigration abuse as well as playingan important role in national security and thefight against criminality from overseas.

5.3 We will develop models for joint biometriccapture whereby other countries can capturebiometrics on our behalf, both through the FourCountries Group and the EU BIODEV trial.The more we can share biometric collection,the greater the benefits for industry, lawenforcement agencies and most of all for thetraveller, who may only have to register oncefor multiple purposes.

Powers and joint working at the border5.4 Using our border security network, we ensure

that specialist agencies operating on the frontline both in the UK and overseas through theBorder Management Programme (the Borderand Immigration Agency, HMRC, UKvisas,police forces and SOCA) share intelligence,work collaboratively to increase coverage,strengthen our response, and ensure thatborder threats are met by those equipped withthe right skills and knowledge. Using theprovisions of the UK Borders Bill, currentlybefore Parliament, as a starting point, wewill keep the powers of the borders agenciesunder review to ensure they are legally andoperationally aligned so that, for example,any border agency could deal with a vehicleat any port containing differing nationals ofimmigration concern and carrying suspected

We will send a strong message that the UKwelcomes bona fide travellers, but will preventdangerous and undesirable individuals from enteringour country. People who abuse our hospitality areunlikely to be allowed to return.

IND Review: “by 2011, require non-EEAnationals to have unique, secure IDs beforethey are allowed to travel to Britain, so thatentry and exit can be tracked, prior criminalactivity in the UK can be identified andpermission to travel can be refused.”

Chapter 5:A stronger UK border

20

contraband. We will look to enhance thesharing of powers if required, through furtherlegislative mechanisms.

5.5 Early trials have already resulted in the arrestof offenders who would previously have beenundetected. Co-operation will spawn new areasof working. Our objective is a border securitynetwork with powers to tackle all threatsto the border, working together to form acomprehensive border defence combined withdeeper targeted activity by each individualagency. We will develop formal agreements oninter-agency collaboration by July 2007 and putin place practical co-operation across all portsover 2007 and 2008. An annual delivery planwill be produced and regularly reviewed by theAsylum and Migration Cabinet Committee.

5.6 We will give immigration officers newpowers to defend our border. The UK BordersBill includes a number of measures to strengthenthe border, tackle immigration crime andunderpin the border security network:

� Greater powers for immigration officers tointervene at the border on behalf of the policeto combat non-immigration crime;

� Tough measures to tackle organisedimmigration criminals. Foreign nationalshelping people enter the UK illegally, forwhatever reason, will no longer be able tohide behind the fact that their criminalactivity was undertaken abroad. We are alsostrengthening our prosecution powers tomake clear that facilitators or traffickers whoare active at our ports will be arrested;

� A power to require those subject toimmigration control to apply for a biometricimmigration document. We will beginissuing these documents in 2008; and

� A new statutory gateway for informationsharing between HMRC, the police andthe Border and Immigration Agency. Thisconsolidates and builds on existing gatewayswith HMRC and is an essential requirementfor effective cross-government workingin the fight against organised crime andillegal immigration.

Common Travel Area and movementsof small craft5.7 The Common Travel Area (CTA) consists

of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands,the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland.Movement without clearance for all nationalsof the CTA is an important component ofthe special relations which exist between thepeoples of these islands, and provides long-established political, economic and socialbenefits. Equally, the use of small craft eitherby air or sea between the UK and its neighboursfor business or pleasure is an importantcomponent of modern tourism andcommunications. However, both presentimmigration risks.

IND Review: “enhance the powers andsurveillance capability of our border service,to enforce our physical borders moreeffectively and deter illegal entry, and makeit a visible, uniformed presence.”

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Chapter 5:A stronger UK border

5.8 To counter these risks, we run intelligence-ledenforcement and security controls on inboundtraffic from other parts of the CTA; jointoperations between UK and Irish lawenforcement agencies successfully preventforeign nationals attempting to cross theboundary illegally in both directions. Similarrisk-based interventions take place on smallcraft and general aviation traffic. But more isneeded. Building on action to date, we will:

� Monitor all major air and sea movementsacross CTA borders via e-Borders by 2011;

� Share more data with our Irish counterpartsand increase the number of joint operations;

� Deepen coverage of the CTA borders bycloser collaboration between UK borderagencies;

� Explore the potential for additional checkson passengers travelling within the CTA,consulting CTA authorities and industry;

� Review the rules governing CTA borderactivity, based on the principle that CTAnationals are not subject to immigrationcontrol on the internal borders; and

� Modernise the arrangements for clearanceof individuals coming to the UK by generaland business aviation and small sea ports,developing web-based solutions through e-Borders to replace the current reportingsystem, in consultation with other borderagencies and industry.

New skills, new processes5.9 We will increase the skills, equipment

and visibility of our border controls. Allour frontline staff will be uniformed by theend of 2007.

Immigration officers trial new uniforms

5.10 We will have clearly identified border controlzones at all major ports by the end of 2008. Ourborder control staff are our most important assetin providing a secure and welcoming frontier.We will ensure that they have the right trainingand skills for the job. We will continue to useand develop New Detection Technology, onekey means of frustrating clandestine entry, suchas CO2 and heartbeat monitors.

5.11 At larger ports, automated barriers usingbiometrics will enable clearance to be expeditedfor many passengers. The key principle is thatpassengers for whom a biometric identity checkis sufficient will be cleared by the automatedbarrier, which will make real-time checksagainst our watchlist. Those refused by thegates or of higher risk or without reliablebiometric documents will be examined byimmigration staff. Most EEA nationals willin future be able to use the automated barriersonce they have secure, biometrically enableddocuments.

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5.12 This model builds on the IRIS system andmiSensePlus, a proof of concept trial supportingthe International Air Transport Association(IATA) Simplifying Passenger Travel (SPT)initiative (supported by airlines, airports,government authorities and technologysuppliers).

5.13 There will not be a faceless border. Automatedcontrols will be supervised and, where necessary,validated by immigration officers who will beable to intervene to provide assistance or furtherscrutiny, if required.

Exit controls – counting people out5.14 In 2006 we began to check more departing

passengers. Under Project Semaphore, we areprocessing data on passenger departures, enablingtargeted interventions using mobile teams whereappropriate. We have the ability to establish fullystaffed embarkation controls very quickly inresponse to specific threats and currently operatethese on a risk-assessed basis at major ports.

5.15 We will check the majority of passengers inand out of the UK by 2009. This will build acomplete picture of movements in and out ofthe UK that will buttress national security,support the fight against terrorism and crime,and transform the Border and ImmigrationAgency’s intelligence capabilities. We willknow which people do or do not comply withour rules, and intervene where required, leadingto huge benefits for the country as a whole.

The miSensePlus trial has successfully testedelements of the SPT Ideal Process Flow visionwhich seeks to improve passenger movementand enhance security by capturing biometricsfor identity verification at key points in thedepartures and arrivals process. Recently completedat Heathrow Terminal 3, miSensePlus captured all13 biometrics, as well as biographical information,to allow background checks to be conductedon enrolees and membership cards to beissued to verify identity on arrival in the UK.Once the checks had been satisfactorily completed,the membership card containing biometricinformation was activated for use at the automatedbarrier to verify identity on arrival in the UK.

IRIS (Iris Recognition Immigration System)is a quick, convenient and secure way to clearimmigration controls, open to British citizens, andforeign nationals with permission to enter the UK.Those enrolled are able to use automated biometricgates at selected ports in the UK, making theirjourney easier. By the end of February 2007 therewere over 67,000 registered users and over 250,000crossings. It is particularly attractive to frequentbusiness travellers. We will expand such schemesin the future to more travellers.

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Partnerships6.1 We cannot achieve our aims in isolation and we

will work in partnership not only with the restof government but also with our internationalpartners, industry and the public.

6.2 Our plans to secure our borders do not justaffect how we work within the Border andImmigration Agency but also with other borderagencies (police, SOCA and HMRC) and theUK’s security and intelligence agencies. Wealready enjoy a close, collaborative partnershipthrough the Joint Border Operations Centre.Through the border security network wewill put in place formal agreement coveringcollaboration on joint intelligence, mobile teamsand facilities by July 2007 and develop furthernew forms of joint working across the UK bythe end of 2008.

6.3 We will use new cross-government mechanismsestablished to improve enforcement actionand co-operation with other governmentdepartments (particularly DfES, DCMS, FCO,DfT and DTI) and bodies with an interest intransport, education, tourism and travel to takeforward our plans.

6.4 We will, by June 2007, establish a VisitorTaskforce so that we can work with partnersacross and beyond government to improve ourcustomer service standards and the part we playin welcoming visitors to Britain. The Taskforcewill involve VisitBritain, UKTI and membersof the travel, tourism and hospitality sector.We will also ensure that we work with thewider tourist industry to continue to promotethe UK as a destination of choice.

6.5 We recognise that there are a number of otherorganisations, professional, educational andNGOs with an interest in migration and borderand visa issues specifically. We will continue toengage them and have promised to consult onchanges to the visitor category and visa rules.

6.6 We also recognise that some proposals willhave an impact on the travel industry. We arecommitted to continuing engagement. We wantto ensure that we benefit from the knowledgeand skills built up by the industry to delivera programme which will not only preservethe security of our borders, but also facilitatespeedy and smooth legitimate travel with theminimum necessary regulatory burden. Weknow that the border must be both welcomingand secure.

6.7 We will enhance our already good, collaborativerelationships with European partners,both bilaterally and within the EU, andwith international partners in the developedand developing world to make bordersstronger, while promoting schemes to expediteclearance of legitimate UK and other travellers.Fundamentally, we want to enhance our workingrelationships internationally to develop ourability to share intelligence and tackle abuse atsource. Specifically, in 2007 we will contributeto the review of Frontex and strengthen ourcontribution to EU border security. We arealso working within the Four Countries Group(the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK) toagree in 2007 a framework for data sharing thatwill be operational from 2009. This area will beexplored in more detail in the forthcomingInternational Strategy.

6.8 A global approach to data and identitymanagement that is joined up betweengovernment and industry, working to commoninternational standards, promises substantiallong-term benefits for all. Streamliningjuxtaposed controls, through data sharing,automation and joint working, is one areawhere collaboration with sea and rail operators,hauliers and coach operators is critical.Another key partner is IATA, the global tradeorganisation for the air transport industry,which comprises 265 airlines representing94 per cent of international scheduled air traffic.

Chapter 6:Making it happen

24

6.9 We will continue to work with all concerned tominimise the impact and maximise the benefits.We will conduct and publish full RegulatoryImpact Assessments as necessary and consultas appropriate.

6.10 Finally, we recognise that expediting bordermovements and improving border securityrequires the tolerance and support of thetravelling public. We do not take this forgranted.

Future funding6.11 The overall timetable for developing and

implementing our proposals will be determinedby our total resources: central funding, efficiencysavings and income from charging. It will alsoneed to take account of technical andcommercial feasibility.

6.12 Many of our proposals are about building onwhat we currently do with our existing resources.Some of them – such as utilisation of advances intechnology – will generate savings in the longerterm. This will also help us to off-set costs forsome of the new initiatives we plan toimplement.

6.13 We also charge for some of the services,such as visas, and we will ensure thatwe are charging a fair and economic rate forthose services that reflects the true cost whilerecognising the economic benefits that traveland migration bring.

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Annex:Summary milestones

� Unique, secure identity required for all non-EEA nationals travelling to the UK

� 95 per cent of passenger traffic covered by e-Borders

� Biometric-enabled automated gates at all major ports

2010–2011

� Biometric-enabled automated clearance points implemented at selected ports

� Fingerprint biometric included in UK passport

� Majority of passenger traffic covered by e-Borders

� 4CG data-sharing framework in place

� Introduce an Authority to Carry scheme

2009–2010

� Pre-arrival data covering 100 million passenger movements over 90 routes

� Biometric immigration documents introduced for people here for work or study

� Changes to visa regimes

� Roll-out of remainder of Points Based System

� Changes to rules for visitors (following consultation)

� Inter-agency border co-operation framework implemented

� Uniform standards in place for all frontline border control staff

2008–2009

� Pre-arrival data covering 30 million passenger movements over 90 routes

� Global roll-out of biometric visas complete

� Further development of intelligence-led exit controls, supported by pre-arrival outbound data

� Visa Waiver Test run against all non-EEA countries

� Review of Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) regime and Transit Without Visa (TWOV) concession

� Commercial partnership arrangements in place to deliver more efficient and customer-orientated

visa service

� Risk Assessment Units rolled out to cover 75 per cent of all visa applications

� Consultation on changes to rules for visitors

� Roll-out of Tier 1 of Points Based System

� Consultation on introduction of English language testing for those seeking to settle in the UK

through marriage

� Clarifying processes – introduce new application forms and guidance for entry clearance staff,

applicants and sponsors

� Inter-agency border co-operation framework agreed

� 4CG data-sharing framework agreed

� Visible, uniformed border service in place at major ports, including Heathrow Terminal 5

2007–2008

� Pre-arrival data covering 20 million passenger movements on 55 routes

� Roll-out of first phase of biometric visas

� Intelligence-led exit controls in place at selected ports, supported by mobile teams and pre-arrival data

� Roll-out of e-passport readers at UK and juxtaposed control ports

� Specific arrangements for short-term students coming here for six months or less

� Legislation on new powers introduced

� Pilot of uniforms at borders

2006–2007

Key Deliverables

Produced by COI on behalf of the Home Office, March 2007. Ref: 280648