UK banks to check 70m bank accounts in search for illegal immigrants

[sm12]

The checks will be carried out quarterly.

Does this mean that people who reapply within 14 days or are on section 3C could face issues?
There are some people on section 3C who have received enforcement letters, so similar issues could arise here.


https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... immigrants

[marcnath]

Yes, the government seems to be going in the wrong direction because of their own incompetence in managing things properly.
We will definitely see talk to ups because of this and more importantly, many banks will just turn off T1E applicants in order to avoid the work of additional checks every three months.
As it is, almost all banks refuse to open accounts with significant foreign shareholders (even if they are from other EU countries)
And id/proof of address checks have also been tightened. For many organisations, it is no longer sufficient to send them scanned copies - these need to be certified by officials.

[Momi]

Many tier 1 entrepreneurs have mortgages. Even I know couple of persons who 3-4 mortgages and they still awaiting for decision since last year.
How anyone can reapply if they will not have a bank account.
Majority of illegal people don't keep money in their accounts. Govt don't know what they are doing.

[zimba]

Another rubbish legislative force that will only harm the legals and impact their lives. Most Illegal immigration do not use bank accounts as they are not morons. They generally keep a low profile and work cash in hand. They do not walk in a high street branch where they have an account to discuss their investment options either

Also the notion that you must be a resident in the UK to have a bank account is somewhat ridiculous. What if you are an non-resident investor who needs an account to collect dividends/rents/returns/etc from your assets in the UK ? NO you cannot have that to hell with your investments

The new legislation requires the banks to check the identity of every current account holder against a Home Office supplied database held by an anti-fraud organisation, Cifas. It includes details of those whom the Home Office regard as liable for removal or deportation because they are overstayers, failed asylum seekers or those who have absconded from immigration detention.

Home Office making a mistake .... no way ! Just wait to hear many British citizens and ILR holders and legal residents have their accounts closed en mass.
Good luck getting them to remove you from that list if you mistakenly end up there.

Banks have also been told there is no requirement on them to contact account holders or require additional documentary evidence as part of the check.

Nice to hear. Now you can get up in the morning to find that your account has been shut down by your bank without even a notice.

A Home Office spokesperson defended the introduction of the checks saying: “We are developing an immigration system which is fair to people who are here legally, but firm with those who break the rules. Everyone in society can play their part in tackling illegal migration.

It is really fair at the moment. No appeal rights, no right to defend yourself against accusation of Home Office, no right to even get a notice from a bank, the assumption that you are guilty by default unless proven otherwise and all that jazz.

[secret.simon]

More problematic and concerning is this part.

Banks have been told to adopt a default position of telling customers to take up the matter with the Home Office if a mistake has been made, even if they provide a passport or biometric residence permit showing they are lawfully present in Britain.

So even if you now have a British passport, if you are on that list, maintained by a third party and not the government, there is nothing you can do but contact the Home Office.

Hopefully the opposition will use one of their Opposition Day debates to discuss the hostile environment strategy in Parliament. It is worth writing to your MP to raise concerns about the broad and effectively unappealable remit of this approach. And it is worth writing to the Home Affairs Committee to look into this as well.

[sm12]

Home Office wrongly denying people bank accounts in 10% of cases


https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... k-accounts

[secret.simon]

Also see

Home Office : Guidance on current accounts provisions - banks and building societies

Home Office : Immigration status and current accounts

CIFAS Immigration Portal

The list of international banks with access to UK immigration status

[washtenaw]

Starting in January 2018, all banks will be required to check all current accounts against a database of 'disqualified persons'.

Does anyone know what the criteria are for being on this list and is it possible to find out if you are on it ?

Apparently those who are on the list are people who are liable for removal or deportation from the UK or who have absconded from immigration control.

Does that mean that for example, if you are an overstayer, that you will only be on the list if the Home Office has sent you a notice that you are liable for removal ?

[secret.simon]

Also see this thread.

Mods, would it be worth merging the two threads and deleting this post?

[CR001]

Also see this thread.

Mods, would it be worth merging the two threads and deleting this post?

Done and topic changed to a 'Sticky'.

[bathanza]

More problematic and concerning is this part.

Banks have been told to adopt a default position of telling customers to take up the matter with the Home Office if a mistake has been made, even if they provide a passport or biometric residence permit showing they are lawfully present in Britain.

So even if you now have a British passport, if you are on that list, maintained by a third party and not the government, there is nothing you can do but contact the Home Office.

Hopefully the opposition will use one of their Opposition Day debates to discuss the hostile environment strategy in Parliament. It is worth writing to your MP to raise concerns about the broad and effectively unappealable remit of this approach. And it is worth writing to the Home Affairs Committee to look into this as well.

I've sent a lengthy email providing evidence and links to articles. Got a response and it'll be looked at when parliament resumes next month.

[secret.simon]

I've sent a lengthy email

On a point of curiosity, to whom did you send the email?

I used to think my advice disappears into the ether. Nice to know that it occasionally provokes action.

[bathanza]

I wrote to the Home Affairs Committee. Was happy with their reply, was quite sincere and I explained as a citizen and tax payer, the whole department UKVI simply feels wrong. I'll write back if they take it further.

[sm12]

Does this apply to business bank accounts as well?
I thought that a company would be treated as a separate legal entity, but I just read about a case on the Tier 1 Ent forum, where someone had his business bank account frozen because he did not have a valid permit (was on section 3C, but the bank did not accept that).

[bathanza]

I've sent a lengthy email

On a point of curiosity, to whom did you send the email?

I used to think my advice disappears into the ether. Nice to know that it occasionally provokes action.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/commi ... ion-17-19/

Quite possibly as a result of the email sent. Quite pleased as I requested resourcing should be looked at. Awaiting response via email but this looks promising.

[Aleksej2008]

The checks will be carried out quarterly.

Does this mean that people who reapply within 14 days or are on section 3C could face issues?
There are some people on section 3C who have received enforcement letters, so similar issues could arise here.


https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... immigrants

Government has lost control.

[sm12]

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/201 ... ate-314923

[bathanza]

My local MP has written to the Home Office ministers following my email and expect a response back. This was following my email as per this thread.

[sm12]

My local MP has written to the Home Office ministers following my email and expect a response back. This was following my email as per this thread.

Thank you for posting an update.
I hope they get back to your MP soon.

[teddy0409]

****Bank Account Freeze for Over stayers from 1st Jan 2018****

Could you kindly let your thoughts know,

I have recently gone through an article stating that the HO is going to impose a hostile environment for Over stayers, Illegal Immigrants and Illegal Entrants by freezing the bank accounts from 1st Jan 2018, If it is to be implemented it will be a big disaster for people like myself who is currently challenging the HO via JR, And currently listed as Over stayers.

I have already received the letter from Barclays Business Bank asking for my proof of residence,
Which I have passed to my Solicitor to deal with, He is not very sure in what way he could challenge this,

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... immigrants

Any assistance will be of greater help,

Kind Regards,
Teddy

[CR001]

There is already a topic regarding this issue.

general-uk-immigration-forum/uk-banks-t ... 39900.html

You should be aware that JR is outside the scope of the Immigration Rules. You would need JR to be successful in your favour to not have any adverse effects.

[secret.simon]

It may be worth merging this thread into the earlier one, as it is not ILR specific anyway.

[vinny]

It may be worth merging this thread into the earlier one, as it is not ILR specific anyway.

Done.

[greatscott]

https://amp.theguardian.com/business/20 ... lders-loom

How can people check whether they are on the list held by HO?

[CR001]

https://amp.theguardian.com/business/20 ... lders-loom

How can people check whether they are on the list held by HO?

I have merged your post to the the existing topic already started some time ago.

Likely no way you can check the list. If you don't have legal status and you have a bank account, you are probably on the list if you are known to HO.