Annex C
CONSULAR OPERATIONS
IN THE
UNITED STATES
1. On the consular front, the UK and the
US are active partners in the sharing of best practice, development
of policy, and co-ordination of crisis planning and response.
Much of this work is taken forward through the Consular Colloque.
This forum, made up of the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and
Canada, meets annually at Director level and runs a number of
joint working groups which allow us to learn from each other as
we develop policy, share best practice and co-ordinate efforts
in lobbying third countries over their approach to consular issues.
Importantly the Colloque provides a vehicle for real time joint
analysis of crisis situations and a joined up response on the
ground, for example after the Mumbai terrorist bombings in November
2008 and in response to the swine flu outbreak earlier this year.
The US is providing valuable input in our current review of our
guidance in response to Chemical and Biological Weapons attacks.
There are sensitive issues, largely around death penalty cases,
where we always intervene against capital punishment if British
nationals are involved, for example the Linda Carty case.
2. Our largest consular operation in the US is
based in Washington where the North America Passport Production
Centre is based for customers in the US, Canada and soon to be
expanded to the rest of the Americas and the Caribbean. In 2008-09,
the Americas and Caribbean region issued over 52,000 of the 380,000
passports issued overseas. British nationals account for the second
largest number of international travellers to enter the US after
Canadians. A total of 4,565,000 British nationals arrived from
the UK in 2008, an increase of 67,000 British travellers from
2007. All ten Consulates-General are involved in providing assistance
to British nationals, supported by a network of Honorary Consuls.
In 2008-09, North America handled 1,972 assistance cases.
Annex D
MIGRATION AND
VISA OPERATIONS
AND BORDER
CONTROL CO-OPERATION
WITH THE
UNITED STATES
There are three visa sections in the US (Chicago,
Los Angeles and New York) processing about 115,000 visa applications
a year. At the three posts, 53 staff handle applications for US
citizens who want to work or study in the UK for periods exceeding
six months and applications from third country nationals residing
in the United States. The New York Consulate also processes visa
applications from 32 countries in Central/South America and the
Caribbean.
From December 2007, there has been a legal requirement
to collect biometric data for all visa applicants. UKBA entered
into a unique relationship with the US Government and the biometric
data is collected on our behalf through a network of 132 Application
Support Centres managed by the United States Department of Homeland
Security (DHS). It has subsequently been agreed that fingerprints
submitted by applicants for UK visas based in the USA will be
checked against DHS records and for any relevant subsequent information
to be shared between the Agencies. This represents a significant
step forward for both parties in their respective control agendas
and will have a major impact in the areas of security and criminality.
In addition to the visa services, the United States
is a priority country for bilateral co-operation on migration
issues. HMG's key objectives have been identified as:
— Pushing forward practical and operational
co-operation on data-sharing within international fora and bilaterally
to assist in identifying "harm" cases, testing applications
and generating removals.
— Ensuring that customer facing services
facilitate movement of travellers and provide fast and fair decisions,
aligned with UKBA targets.
— Fully supporting joint capacity building
and interventions to reduce criminal facilitation of illegal migration.
— Pushing forward practical and operational
co-operation bilaterally, through the EU and through the World
Customs Organisation to negotiate, agree, test and implement improvements
to the control of freight both at the border and within the supply
chain.
Achievements
1. We have a series of data-sharing arrangements
with the US that have been implemented to help improve security
and prevent immigration abuse. The agreements include:
— US National Targeting Center/UKBA Joint
Border Operations Center: Exchange of Critical Passenger Information
allows exchange of data on individuals, including Advanced Passenger
Information.
— US Department of Homeland Security/UKBA
International Group: Criminality checks on applicants for UK visas.
We have a memorandum of understanding in place to check applicants
for visas to come to the UK against US criminality databases,
and are currently working on implementation.
— Five Country Conference fingerprint exchange:
we have exchanged limited sets of immigration fingerprint exchange
with the US, with high value findings. A new Protocol allowing
fingerprint checks across FCC countries is due for implementation
with the US in November 2009.
2. A number of high level meetings and visits
have taken place which have strengthened co-operation between
the UK and the US, including a recent visit by the Home Secretary
to the USA, where he met key counterparts in Washington DC and
visited the Visa Section in Chicago.
3. The Chief Executive of the UK Border
Agency and key Board Members attended the Five Country Conference
(FCC) with the US in June. The FCC agreed the formation of a new
working group exploring the possibility of establishing a single
trusted traveller arrangement, including the feasibility and affordability
of creating a scheme with joint enrollment, and fleshing out potential
standards. The US is leading on this project.
4. The US Government, Southampton Container
Terminals and HMRC were partners in the Secure Freight Initiative—a
trial to scan US bound containerised cargo by using radiation
detection and x-ray inspection equipment. It ran successfully
from October 2007 to April 2008 and was part of the US Government's
worldwide programme to develop and test ways of preventing the
illicit movement of radioactive materials through seaports.
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