paper trails-photocopying pax details on dep.

[Jet II]

Surely the carrier is in a position to know where they boarded

I don't think you understand what is actually happening.

When an Asylum seeker arrives on a particular flight having destroyed his papers, he/she loiters in the terminal for a while before going through immigration.

When he/she gets to immigration they then claim asylum and give as their departure point some country in turmoil - the immigration officer is unable to check what flight they came in on as half a dozen flights or more may have landed between the time they got off their flight and when they presented themselves at immigration.

As the immigration officer cannot determine their point of origin he has to allow them into the system and give them the train fare to Croydon.

[WorkingHard]

Jet II- I stand by what I said. If the will is there a resolution can be found. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to seek reasons why such measures have not been adopted and who may gain by this rather than finding reasons not to. Do you believe we should have a totally open door policy to anyone? Do you think we should all have ID cards? that would solve a lot of problems if administered properly. Alternatively what would YOU do to stop the illegal immigration?

[pilotwolf]

Consider these senarios then...

Pax arrives illegally and is detained by HMIS, said pax then becomes 'unwell'. Pax is removed to hospital by the local ambulance service. Unfortunately due to lack of staff (?) pax is sent to hospital unaccompanied but on 'emergency' visa. Pax never seen again...


Pax goes through procedures and is due to be deported, but from a different airport. Pax given ticket and put on coach to alternate airport - unaccompanied. Pax never seen again...

The Immigration service and their (contracted) service providers should be made accountable - not the airline.

And before anyone asks - yes this DOES happen and on a REGULAR basis - I ve witnessed it.

[WorkingHard]

Pilotwolf - yes the people responsible at the time should be accountable. problem is of course no one want to take responsibility or unpopular (with the PC brigade) measures. What about the majority of people and what they want?

[Jet II]

WorkingHard

Alternatively what would YOU do to stop the illegal immigration?

I think that photocopying everyones documents could be prohibitive cost and time - wise.

I have some some sympathy for the 'Letwin Dictum' - if anyone turns up at immigration without documents then they are sent to an island 'far, far, away' - until their claim is processed.

[hostie]

You will all be aware I'm sure that if you wish to enter the US after next October (should have been this Oct but we got a year's grace as we weren't ready)
You will have to have a 'swipable' bar code passport
There are measures in place that these will be swiped before leaving departure station.
I'm not sure which data format these will link into, but I'm sure it will assist all involved.
Having spent time working with check-in issues anything that can assist is very welcome.
Why don't we have ID cards, bring in Iris recognition and chip style ID cards and we could all get through immigration much quicker, sorry Imigration officers, but this would free up your staff to deal with those who do not have the correct paperwork.

[STS]

Hostie - if I remember correctly, what you are referring to is APIS when travelling to the US. I used to either have to swipe the passport or type in the details if that was not possible. From what we were told it went straight to US immigration so they knew who was on the incoming aircraft i.e. if the documents disappeared, they had the details anyway. Pax couldn't travel to the US if these details were not there. After 9/11, from recollection, all airlines who want to fly to the US have to provide these details. A handful didn't want to or said they couldn't and were told they therefore couldn't operate. I think in the end everyone complied, although whether it's actually happening I don't know. It's been a while, and I haven't asked my former colleagues so I don't know about any updates to this but as check in staff who frequent these forums will say it's been around for years already. I remember discussions about IRIS nearly 3 years ago, and it seems this is still not happening at LHR.