From David Bolt, Independent Chief Inspector of Borders
and Immigration
The ICIBI has begun an inspection of the Home Office's approach
to overstayers. The Home Office uses the term “overstayer” to
describe “a person who was granted limited leave to enter or
remain in the United Kingdom, but who neither left the country on
the date indicated nor asked for the leave to be extended.”
I am inviting anyone with knowledge or first-hand experience of
this subject to submit evidence to inform my inspection. I would
be pleased to hear about both what is working well and what could
be improved in the following areas:
-
the identification of potential overstayers during the visa
application process
-
communications with people who are suspected of
overstaying
-
the identification of overstayers in the UK
-
the Home Office's management of overstayers
-
the quality and accessibility of information to deter people
from overstaying
As I have not yet finalised the scope of this inspection, I would
be happy to receive any other evidence that falls outside these
areas that may be relevant to the Home Office's approach to
overstayers.
This call for evidence will remain open until close of play 23
April 2025.
Please also note that information submitted may be quoted in the
final inspection report, but it is the ICIBI's practice not to
name sources and any examples or case studies will be
anonymised.
Please click overstayers@icibi.gov.uk to
email your submission to the Independent Chief Inspector.
Please note: The ICIBI's
statutory remit does not extend to investigating or making
decisions about individual cases. This remains a Home Office
responsibility. However, the Independent Chief Inspector can and
does take an interest in individual cases to the extent that they
illustrate or point to systemic problems.
