Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Accepted
Home Office lacks data on visa overstays and effectiveness of regional matching hubs.
Conclusion
We asked the Home Office whether it knows if people leave the country when their visa expires. The Home Office told us the only way that it can tell if people are still in the country is to match the data it holds on individuals with the passenger data it receives on people using airlines.88 The Home Office has not analysed exit checks since the route was introduced and does not know what proportion of people return to their home country after their visa has expired, and how many may be working illegally in the United Kingdom.89 The Home Office was also unable to say how effectively regional ‘hubs’, which match individuals working in the care sector whose employers have lost their sponsor licence with a new sponsor, were working to facilitate visa holders finding new employment.90 The Home Office said there was scope to strengthen exit checks as part of its wider digital transformation of border security systems and introduction of eVisas. The Home Office acknowledged that this problem was not solved and said that it seeks to tackle illegal working by requiring employers to carry out 81 Q 62; IMM0004 82 Qq 62-63 83 Qq 35-39, 54; C&AG’s report, para 3.20 84 Qq 36-38, 70 85 Qq 35, 54 86 Qq 34-35 87 Qq 40-42, 51-52; C&AG’s Report, para 3.19 88 Qq 46-48 89 Qq 50-51; C&AG’s report, para 2.14 90 Q 60 21 ‘right to work’ checks, working with other bodies which have a role, such as HMRC and local authorities, and using its immigration enforcement services to visit illegal workplaces on an intelligence-led basis.91 91 Qq 49-51 22 4 Customer service Providing a good customer service
Government Response Summary
The government is implementing eVisas and Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) to improve data quality on arrivals and departures, and is developing a new digital service to track visa compliance and empower Immigration Enforcement to act against illegal overstayers and workers.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.3 The introduction of eVisas and Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) means more is known about everyone coming to the UK, improving data quality and enabling upstream interventions. eVisas will increasingly update in real time when status changes, automatically revoking access to work, benefits, housing, and services unlike physical documents. Immigration status information is available automatically through system to system checks with public authorities and government departments. 5.4 A new digital service is being developed to determine whether individuals inside or outside the UK are/have complied with conditions on their stay in the UK. This will further empower Immigration Enforcement to identify, locate, and take firm action against those who attempt to remain or work in the UK illegally.