Q4 Visa Statistics Enforcement and Compliance

Each year thousands of people are removed from the UK by the UK Border Agency. Many are removed due to the fact that they:

• Have entered the United Kingdom illegally (e.g. without a valid entry visa)
• Have overstayed their period of Leave to Enter or Remain (e.g. individuals who have not left the UK following the expiry of their Work Permit)
• Are in breach of their conditions of leave (e.g. Students who fail to take up their course and instead begin employment)
• Are subject to a deportation action
• Have been refused asylum in the United Kingdom

Skilled professionals on Tier 1 Visas (formerly HSMPs), Tier 2 Visas (formerly UK Work Permits), Ancestry Visas, Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visas (formerly Working Holidaymaker Visas) are rarely removed or deported from the UK, however exceptions do occur. The majority of skilled worker removals occur where either:

• The worker has overstayed his / her period of leave (e.g. where a Tier 1 visa holder is unable to secure an extension and then fails to leave the UK before the expiry of their visa), OR
• Where the individual is in breach of his / her conditions of leave (e.g. where a Work Permit holder has taken alternative employment with a company other than the sponsor and then the other company fails to secure a suitable Work Permit approval).

If your visa is about to expire or you are considering alternative employment with a company that does not hold a suitable Tier 2 license with the UK Border Agency Commonwealth Contractors may be able to help. Call now on 0330 390 9021 to discuss your situation.

Key Findings for Quarter 4 of 2009

• 16,340 people were removed from the UK or departed voluntarily (3% lower than Q4 2008)
  • 6,240 people were refused at the port of entry (26% lower than Q4 2008)
  • 5,025 were enforced removals and notified voluntary departures (10% higher than Q4 2008)
  • 1,190 persons left under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes (8% higher than Q4 2008
  • 3,890 were other voluntary departures (46% higher than Q4 2008)
• 1,400 foreign national prisoners were removed from the UK

Key Findings for 2009

• 64,670 people were removed or departed voluntarily from the UK (5 % lower than 2008)
  • 29,060 people were refused at the port of entry (10% lower than 2008
  • 19,005 were enforced removals and notified voluntary departures (11% lower than 2008)
  • 4,945 persons left under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes (15% higher than 2008)
  • 11,740 were other voluntary departures (17% higher than 2008)
• 5,535 foreign national prisoners were removed from the UK (3% higher than in 2008)

Commonwealth Contractors

Commonwealth Contractors is a collection of highly skilled professionals from the Commonwealth and beyond. We partner with OISC Registered Immigration Partners capable of professionally representing a Tier 1 Visa Application / Extension and Tier 2 Licensed Consultancy & Associated Trust Partners who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor a doctor on a Tier 2 Visa (formerly UK Work Permit).

To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your details now and we will get right back to you. Please be prepared to send a copy of a recent CV so that we can pass to interested partners.