As I think I have explained, I work for a 'Government Agency' or a local police force to you and me!!!, and part of my job involves the registration of foreign nationals on behalf of the UK border agency and Home Office. Unless you are an EC national, like most countries, most foreign nationals require permission to come to the UK to live, study or work. So they apply for permission and then they have a little line on their entry clearance / residence permit (visa) which says something along the lines of report to police within 7 days of arrival. The border agency then helpfully stamp the afore mentioned visa with a date stamp on the day they enter the country and hey presto, the countdown starts.
Now I should point out that EC nationals are not required to follow this process, technically there are no borders between us and our EC neighbours (just a lot of water in our case) and certain other nationals, although they require permission to be here, in the form of a visa, they also don't have to register - those from Commonwealth countries (we do so love the empire!!), Americans and Japanese are also strangely exempt - don't ask me, I just follow the rules. It is the same for UK nationals when they live in foreign lands, I have had to do it myself.........had an aliens registration card with all my details on that I was supposed to carry at all times (OK I confess that I didn't all the time!!), so it is not just the UK being horrid.
Anyway, foreign national gets permission to come to the UK, so up they rock at one of our fine entry points (airport being the usual one), present their passport with afore mentioned visa and the stamp is applied. This then tells me (and my colleagues) when and where they arrived - all help is welcomed!!. So, then they have seven days - yes, that is seven days, or one week of you prefer, to find their local police station and report. OK, we don't always make it easy I do admit, not all police stations will do this. For example my police force, you have to go to what we call a Tier 3 station (we have more training - there is an extra book!!!), but generally, you don't have to go too far.
So they successfully find the police station and then they have to fill in a form (boring info, like who you are, where do you live and why are you here - you know, the kinda stuff Big Brother likes to know!), produce a passport photo (of yourself is always good), a letter from your college or employer to prove you are actually doing what you said you would be when you applied for the visa (which have more helpful little hints on, like why they were issued - student, dependant partner, migrant....etc, etc), and £34 in cash (no cheques, credit cards and we don't give change, and coz we are the police, it has to be exact money, as if you give us more and say 'keep the change' that could be seen as you trying to bribe the police - shock horror, first plane home then!!!)...........you with me so far?
You have managed all of the above, we check and process the paperwork, take lots of photo copies of your passport, visa etc, take the money (we always give a receipt) and away you go and hopefully, providing we have done our job properly and not missed something or forgotten something, our internal mail or the Royal Mail contrive not to lose the paperwork, you hopefully get your PRC (Police Registration Certificate) back within three to four weeks (sometimes it might be a bit longer - like when we are very busy). As an added bonus we stamp your passport by the visa and write the number of the PRC that you will be issued within the stamp, so you can now prove you have done as you are told. Bargain!!!
Now, if you come down on the eighth day, or ninth, or even after two weeks, we don't really mind, you have made the effort and we understand that life gets in the way. We don't even turn to much of a hair at a month, we're kind like that. We do also know that when you get your entry clearance (visa) the terms are explained to you in your mother tongue, so even if your English is not fluent (and we all know English is difficult - some of us can't even speak it properly), you know what you are supposed to do.
Now once you have the prized PRC you have to keep it updated, which basically means that you have seven days (we like the number seven) to tell us of any changes that might affect your status, so if you move, change jobs/college, get married, divorced, new passport, new visa, go home for more than two months, you have to come and tell us. We then fill in a form (we love our forms!!) and then make a note on your PRC. This then tells the border agency / Home Office you are doing as you are told, and they like to check, so when you apply for a new visa, they ask to see your PRC.
And here we get to the problem. A lot pf people know that they are above the UK law, these rules don't apply to them, they are too busy, they can't find the police station, they can't be bothered.... etc, etc, so they don't come a register, pay their £34 and pass go. Then suddenly, in order to get a new visa they need a PRC, and shock horror, they have to come and pay us a visit and then the questions start.
'You have been here a year, why haven't you registered?'
'I didn't know I had too; I didn't understand; I couldn't find the police station; I thought I had; I forgot and it's not my problem' are all excuses I have heard. Now some people are apologetic but some a just not bothered and don't actually seem to understand what all the fuss is about. We have the usual responses like 'it says here in your passport; it is explained to you in your own language; it is your problem' but for some people they are just not bothered. I have even been told 'Just get on with it and register me'. I managed to remain calm (those who know me will applaud) resisted the urge to commit a crime (like murder) and just content myself with saying
'Actually this requirement to register within seven days is part of the terms of your stay in the United Kingdom. Failure to do so can result in a £5,000 fine or you can be denied another visa or you can be deported!' The look on their faces is all the reward we need (ha ha). Strangely enough, it is the threat that they won't get another visa that seems to create the most concern, guess having to go home and explain why they can't complete their studies or employment is a bigger worry than actually being deported.
I know it is a pain (and yes I have been their remember), but when you go to another country you are a guest and unless you have diplomatic immunity, you have to abide by the rules (you are supposed to if you have diplomatic immunity, but you won't generally go to prison here if you don't, you just go home). All you have to do is pop into the police station, fill in the form, pay the fee and hey ho, all is fine. Don't forget to come back if you change anything and everyone is happy!! It is not difficult, we will be happy, you will be happy, and the Home office will be happy - win win all round then.
So, why oh why do so many people find it so difficult???
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