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| UK Border Agency has backlog dating back 10 years, inspector finds | |
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| A "completely unacceptable" UK Border Agency backlog of more than 16,000 applications from migrants for permission to stay in Britain, some of them dating back almost a decade, has been uncovered by the chief inspector of borders and immigration. | A "completely unacceptable" UK Border Agency backlog of more than 16,000 applications from migrants for permission to stay in Britain, some of them dating back almost a decade, has been uncovered by the chief inspector of borders and immigration. |
| John Vine says the backlog includes 14,000 people who are married to British citizens but whose appeals were put on hold while UKBA sorted out a policy to deal with them. The chief inspector says this marriage backlog was rising at the rate of 700 a month when he carried out his inspection last September. | John Vine says the backlog includes 14,000 people who are married to British citizens but whose appeals were put on hold while UKBA sorted out a policy to deal with them. The chief inspector says this marriage backlog was rising at the rate of 700 a month when he carried out his inspection last September. |
| He also raises "particular concern" over an extra 2,100 cases of temporary migrants in Britain who have not even had an initial decision on their applications to extend their stay in the country. | He also raises "particular concern" over an extra 2,100 cases of temporary migrants in Britain who have not even had an initial decision on their applications to extend their stay in the country. |
| Vine says the files in these "complex" cases, which go back to 2003, were discovered in boxes that had been transferred last March from a UKBA unit in Croydon to their offices in Sheffield where they had not been dealt with at the time of the inspection. | Vine says the files in these "complex" cases, which go back to 2003, were discovered in boxes that had been transferred last March from a UKBA unit in Croydon to their offices in Sheffield where they had not been dealt with at the time of the inspection. |
| His report, published on Thursday, on the marriage route into Britain says the majority of decisions taken on the cases he examined were reasonable but there was a lack of consideration of the interests of the children involved. | His report, published on Thursday, on the marriage route into Britain says the majority of decisions taken on the cases he examined were reasonable but there was a lack of consideration of the interests of the children involved. |
| The chief inspector says in 59 out of the 60 case files of those married to British citizens applying from overseas which were examined there was no evidence that any specific consideration had been given to the best interests of the children involved. | The chief inspector says in 59 out of the 60 case files of those married to British citizens applying from overseas which were examined there was no evidence that any specific consideration had been given to the best interests of the children involved. |
| "Once again I was concerned to find backlogs within the agency. These consisted of 14,000 requests from applicants to re-consider decisions to refuse them further leave to remain, and a further 2,100 cases where people were awaiting an initial decision for further leave to remain," said Vine. | "Once again I was concerned to find backlogs within the agency. These consisted of 14,000 requests from applicants to re-consider decisions to refuse them further leave to remain, and a further 2,100 cases where people were awaiting an initial decision for further leave to remain," said Vine. |
| "Some dated back nearly a decade. This is completely unacceptable and I expect the agency to deal with both types of case as a matter of urgency." | "Some dated back nearly a decade. This is completely unacceptable and I expect the agency to deal with both types of case as a matter of urgency." |
| The disclosure follows the chief inspector's reports last year revealing a 150,000-strong backlog of cases of migrants who had been refused permission to stay in Britain but whose whereabouts had not been traced. It was also revealed that more than 100,000 items of post about outstanding asylum cases had at one stage been left unopened. | The disclosure follows the chief inspector's reports last year revealing a 150,000-strong backlog of cases of migrants who had been refused permission to stay in Britain but whose whereabouts had not been traced. It was also revealed that more than 100,000 items of post about outstanding asylum cases had at one stage been left unopened. |
| Vine said UKBA staff themselves were shocked that as many as 2,100 cases had been discovered lying unprocessed in the boxes that had been sent to Sheffield. He said that in the four years he had been the first chief inspector of borders and immigration there had been improvements in the work of UKBA. But asked if he thought there might be other backlogs lying as yet undiscovered, he replied: "There are a lot of areas that I have yet to inspect." | Vine said UKBA staff themselves were shocked that as many as 2,100 cases had been discovered lying unprocessed in the boxes that had been sent to Sheffield. He said that in the four years he had been the first chief inspector of borders and immigration there had been improvements in the work of UKBA. But asked if he thought there might be other backlogs lying as yet undiscovered, he replied: "There are a lot of areas that I have yet to inspect." |
| A Home Office spokesman said the majority of issues identified by the chief inspector had been resolved since his inspection: "The agency is taking action to deal with historic backlogs and has a transformation plan that will put the agency on a surer footing," he said. | A Home Office spokesman said the majority of issues identified by the chief inspector had been resolved since his inspection: "The agency is taking action to deal with historic backlogs and has a transformation plan that will put the agency on a surer footing," he said. |
| On the 14,000 people married to British citizens whose cases had been put on hold, he said: "This group of people have already been refused but are trying to circumvent the appeals process by requesting an informal 'reconsideration'. We've changed the rules to make clear that those not happy with the original decision should re-apply or appeal and if they choose not to, they should leave the UK voluntarily. We are contacting them to make sure they do this, but if they refuse we will enforce their removal." | On the 14,000 people married to British citizens whose cases had been put on hold, he said: "This group of people have already been refused but are trying to circumvent the appeals process by requesting an informal 'reconsideration'. We've changed the rules to make clear that those not happy with the original decision should re-apply or appeal and if they choose not to, they should leave the UK voluntarily. We are contacting them to make sure they do this, but if they refuse we will enforce their removal." |