HC Deb 21 January 1975 vol 884 cc291-2W
Mr. Hatton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria which are adopted under the Immigration Rules in deciding that a genuine visit is intended in respect of persons wishing to enter the United Kingdom as visitors for a short stay.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

In accordance with the Immigration Rules a passenger seeking entry as a visitor is to be admitted if he satisfies the immigration officer that he is genuinely seeking entry for the period of the visit as stated by him and can, without working, support himself and any dependants for this period and meet the cost of the return journey.

The rules further provide that leave to enter should be refused if the immigration officer is not so satisfied, and in particular where there is reason to believe that the passenger's real purpose is to take employment here. In deciding whether or not a genuine visit is intended the immigration officer takes full account of all the relevant circumstances of the particular case.

The rules further provide that the power to refuse leave to enter is not to be exercised by an immigration officer acting on his own, but that the authority of a chief immigration officer or of an immigration inspector, confirming his intention to refuse leave to enter, must always be obtained.

In addition, where leave to enter is refused there is a right of appeal to the immigration appeal authorities, which has to be exercised from overseas if the passenger did not obtain an entry clearance before coming here.