UK scraps landing cards for immigrants

Tuesday 21st May 2019 08:19 EDT
 

Airline passengers from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) landing at the UK airport will no longer be required to complete the forms to be handed to immigration officers along with their passports.

The UK government has scrapped the requirement of filling out landing cards by international travellers coming to the UK from countries like India, as part of a series of measures aimed at a “smoother” entry into Britain.

“The government is removing the need for all non-EEA travellers to fill in landing cards upon arrival in the UK, making for a smoother entry to the country. The move will reduce the burden on passengers while maintaining the UK’s border security, as exactly the same security checks will be in place,” the Home Office said in a statement.

This new system is adopted in light of “driving the economy forward” and facilitating easier and cutting shorter travel journeys for businesses and global leaders visting the UK for business trips.

“The new system will help to drive our economy, cement our reputation as a global leader and send a clear message to the world – the UK is open for business,” he said.

But security concerns have been flagged as a result of removing these restrictions and India is not yet among a list of "low risk" countries but can now access the ePassport gates on landing in the UK. Visitors from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the US will be able to use these automated gates at ports across the UK. ePassport gates have already been available to British and European Union (EU) nationals since 2008, who will remain eligible to use them even once the UK leaves the EU. There are currently 264 ePassport gates in operation at 15 air and rail terminals in the UK.

“Our new global immigration and border system will improve security and fluidity for passengers coming to visit or work in the UK. Expanding the use of ePassport gates is a key part of this and allows us to improve the passenger experience of those arriving in the UK while keeping our border secure,” said UK home secretary Sajid Javid.

The Home Office claims that Britain is a world leader in automated passenger clearance, allowing more nationalities to use ePassport gates than anywhere else. In the year ending September 2018, 51.9 million passengers used them across the UK and “juxtaposed controls”.

The gates use facial recognition technology to compare the passenger’s face to the digital image recorded in their passport. They are monitored by UK Border Force officers and anyone rejected at the gates will be sent to a manned passport check to have their identity and passport checked.


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