UK Immigration Service
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The UK Immigration Service, also known as UKIS and formerly as HM Immigration Service, is the operational arm of the UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) of the Home Office. Responsible for the day to day administration of the United Kingdom's Border Control, UKIS is often confused with IND although it is in fact only one part of this organisation.
[edit] Organisation
UKIS has two major sections, Border Control and Enforcement & Removals that reflect the historical responsibilities of the Service, although these are now run as completely separate units. In addition, various former IND functions have also been merged into UKIS including the initial screening of in-country asylum claims and the administration of the administrative removal and deportation processes. Internally, the directorates are split into various regional groups such as Heathrow, Sea Ports, North West etc.
UK Immigration Service grades are reflective of the legislation that controls the immigration function that stipulates that the decision to refuse a person leave to enter the United Kingdom is taken by an Immigration Officer only with the authority of a Chief Immigration Officer or an HM Inspector (immigration inspector). The decision that a person inside the UK is in breach of immigration law and liable for administrative removal or deportation can be taken by an Immigration Officer or a caseworker of Executive Officer grade or above acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, with the authority of a Chief Immigration Officer or Higher Executive Officer. The removal of such offenders may only be enforced with the authority of an HM Inspector (immigration inspector) or Senior Executive Officer.
The full range of UKIS warranted grades are
- Assistant Immigration Officer (equivalent to an Administrative Officer)
- Immigration Officer (Executive Officer)
- Chief Immigration Officer (Higher Executive Officer)
- HM Inspector (Senior Executive Officer)
- Assistant Director (Grade 7)
- Deputy Director (Grade 6)
In addition to this, there is a Director (Border Control) and a Director (Enforcement and Removals). Both of these officers are members of the United Kingdom's Senior Civil Service.
[edit] Future
The Home Secretary has announced that Immigration Service staff at Border Control points will in future be uniformed although no firm details of this have yet emerged. In addition, IND will become a shadow executive agency, including UKIS. Again, no firm details of this have yet emerged.
