Re-entry bans reduced for voluntary departures
In a much less publicised section of the announcement concerning investors and the exceptional talent route, announcement the UKBA and Home Office have announced measures to encourage overstayers to return home.The Immigration Minister, Damian Green, used his ministerial statement made on 17 March 2011 to reduce the re-entry ban on overstayers who leave the UK promptly under the Assisted Voluntary Return programme (AVR).
People who leave the UK under the AVR promptly will have their re-entry ban reduced from five years to two years. Conversely, however, people who continue to delay or evade return to their country of origin will face longer bans of five years or ten years.
The reduction in the ban for people who leave voluntarily is being introduced to try provide an incentive for people to depart from the UK sooner and therefore reduce the backlog of outstanding cases.
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