Sky News segment on visa overstayers tonight

[icannotbelievethis]

One woman who came here on a 3 month visitor visa 12 years ago, who is a “full time carer” for her sister.

One man who came here on a student visa which was then cancelled because he stopped attending his lectures, who has been here illegally for two years and works cash in hand. Therefore not paying tax or national insurance.

Wtf?! Why did Sky News interview them (and no doubt pay them!) and not turn up with the border force to get them sent home?! This is baffling

Except were they all shams?
I also know two couples who married ONLY for immigration purposes. Both were genuine couples but neither would have married (and were clear about this) if they didn't feel they had to to stay in the country. Both couples went on to have two children one divorced after about 20 years the other couple are still together. They 100% say wouldn't have married if they didn't have to but they weren't sham marriages.

Depends if they can prove to the home office it's a genuine relationship and not just a favour for immigration purposes.

I’ve personally known 3 people who deliberately overstayed their visa. I know because they were very outraged when they all got in trouble.

They were all Americans. Two students one professional.

Not sure the OP minds about the American overstayers.

Totally agree with this I had a friend who married his gf because her visa had run out they had only been together for 3 months and at that point got married just so she could stay, but they were in love. It must be 25 years now of happy marriage. They were meant to be together but probably would not have done it so quicky if they felt they had options.

I remember reading somewhere the biggest group of visa overstayers are Australians, not sure if that is still true. The HO do do raids. I live in South London and Border Force raids of shops and restaurants do happen.

There is a count of exits. But it’s all done on airline data. So it’s gappy.
There is no manned embarkations control in the UK. That disappeared at the turn of the century. Seems unusual when most countries still operate a manned exit immigration control point.
Then we have the common travel area with Ireland which adds many complications. I believe most of the asylum seekers picking up there originated in the UK. Modern migration is complex!

I suspect OP and others clutching their pearls only have an issue with certain groups of immigrants.

Those who want the Home Office to act like ICE need to check themselves. With ICE cruelty is the intention, it’s not incidental. I for one would rather we didn’t treat humans (illegal or not) like that.

And the idea that Farage and his gaggle of xenophobic charlatans would be competent enough to make any positive change is absolutely laughable.

The difference is the brits aren't staying

Everyone should follow our immigration laws.

Well that’s okay then. As long as they are only just using a little bit of tax funded infrastructure 🙄

I was listening to the radio recently and they were discussing European leaders asking for a reinterpretation of the laws covering these constant appeals, so hopefully there might be some way through this madness in the future.

Meanwhile thousands are coming here on a daily basis.
I find the Gov and previous Govs attitude astonishing. How can it be good to have thousands of randoms moving here with just the clothes they stand up in. Possibly being recruited into crime as they have no work, qualifications. And then there is the issue of newly qualified doctors not getting jobs because foreign doctors are better qualified. Couldn't make it up - and shortage of jobs for graduates when there must be thousands of foreign graduates from our universities competing.

Look at the USA - do they want us to be like that because that's why Trump got in. Putting America first.
Such weak 'woke' governments.

I bet.

No one should overstay their visas conditions.

But for those coming here to work, I'd prioritise access to those from America, Canada, Australia, new Zealand and parts of the EU.

Why?

I think we all know why ..... that poster has been very revealing as to what type pof person they are.

Noone should overstay their visas because that's the time limit they have in the country.

I'm pleased that there is a media focus on the issue of visa abuse - which will be a much more significant factor in 'illegal' immigration that the small boats. It also shows up the utter criminal madness of cutting the Border Force budget by 30%, as Cameron and Osborne did, as Border Force is the arm of state which should be keeping track of people coming here legitimately with visas then staying on.

To OP’s original question, surely the point of journalism isn’t to solve the problem but to shine a light on it. It’s the government who needs to address the issues raised to have any meaningful effect. Arresting two or three people won’t solve the issue.

Why do you prioritise access to people from those countries?

Larger cultural compatibility obviously.

Of course 🙄

Yes. Do you disagree?

Wholeheartedly, people are people it does not matter where they come from or their culture. Our country has benefitted hugely over the years from other peoples cultures. Geographical location of birth shouldn’t be a deciding factor on whether someone is welcome in this country or not.