IOM assistance

[titi]

Is IOM state expense or public expense?

[Greenie]

yes - the government pays for the flight and for your reintegration assistance.

[titi]

Thanks. What I wanted to know is if IOM is considered state expenses or Public expenses. WHY? 5yr ban has reduced to 2yrs if one returned early and used state expenses. 5yr ban remains even one returned voluntarily with Public expenses. I used IOM. Thanks

[Greenie]

Thanks. What I wanted to know is if IOM is considered state expenses or Public expenses. WHY? 5yr ban has reduced to 2yrs if one returned early and used state expenses. 5yr ban remains even one returned voluntarily with Public expenses. I used IOM. Thanks

I think you are confused. State expense and public expense are the same thing.

The ban is only reduced from 5 to 2 years if you left within 6 months of the date your case was refused/your appeal rights were exhausted.

See general grounds for refusing 320 7B (iv)

(iv) left the UK voluntarily, at the expense (directly or indirectly) of the Secretary of State, more than 2 years ago; and the date the person left the UK was no more than 6 months after the date on which the person was given notice of the removal decision, or no more than 6 months after the date on which the person no longer had a pending appeal; whichever is the later;

See also modernised guidance