Woodfield

“The strategic management of UK border control lies with the Home Office, which is responsible for protecting the public by reducing the harm from illegal immigration, organised immigration crime (such as drug and people smuggling), passport and identity fraud and terrorism.”1


“Upon arrival at UK ports, all non-EEA passengers are subject to examination at immigration. Ios interview passengers about various issues, including their reasons for seeking entry to the UK and
their personal circumstances. The duration of questioning varies: some passengers are granted leave to enter after a brief desk interview, others are delayed for further questioning and then granted or refused leave to enter.”2
Immigration Officers are able to grant leave to remain and establish restrictions/conditions, but any refusal of leave to remain requires a Chief Immigration Officer.3
first stage 1) checking documents(both for genuine nature, and adverse history)4 “Passengers with visas are now considered to have been given pre-entry clearance and a
visa can only be revoked if the IO is able to demonstrate that it is not genuine, it was obtained
through deception, the circumstances of the passenger no longer apply, or the purpose for which
the visa was granted has changed.”5
variation in the style of questioning between officers.6 further enquiries, officially logged by an IS81 form, occur when there are problems with documentation or credibility of story.7 Immigration history linked to need for further questioning.8
Further questioning may arise if a passenger's behaviour deviates from what the IO would expect in a certain situation.9 financial and domestic circumstances used to measure the “returnability” of visitors.10
nature of sponsor, their relationship, and whether stories match also used.11
although some IO use personal appearance to form initial impressions, not approved by CIOs.12
nationality, national and individual economic circumstances taken into consideration.13
Judgement according to credibility. Admission of an IO that a Brazilian couple, whose story eventually did not match, were under greater scrutiny than other South American couple's because of history of Brazilian breaches.14
key issues 1) economic circumstances 2) returnability 3) honesty.15
“In one example a Brazilian passenger had not brought enough money to
pay for accommodation or cover any outings, nor did he claim to have a sponsor in the UK who
would support him. In addition to this, the IO had doubts about why the passenger would spend so
much money coming to the UK, disbelieving the passenger’s claim that, as a school bus driver, he
earned $600 per week. The officer did not think a two-week holiday was credible given the
passenger’s limited funds and the economic conditions of his country.”16
greater uncertainty amongst IOS and CIOs about landings than refusals.17
varied attitutude towards intelligence reports.18
issue of targets, but which are often not followed.19
1K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 1.
2K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 1.
3K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 7.
4K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 8.
5K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 8.
6K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 9.
7K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 10.
8K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 11–12.
9K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 12–13.
10K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 13–14.
11K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 15.
12K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 15–16.
13K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 16.
14K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 18–19.
15K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 19.
16K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 19.
17K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 22,
18K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 23–24.
19K Woodfield et al , Exploring the Decision Making of Immigration Officers: A Research Study Examining non-EEA Passenger Stops and Refusals at UK Ports, Home Office Online Report 01/07 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0107.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 27.