recent OPIs

The request was partially successful.

Dear UK Border Agency,

This is a FOI request.

I would like to request all OPIs issued after the OPI entitled "Taiwan joins the list of participating countries of the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme" (which may be number 309 and was apparently last updated 23 December 2011), up to and including the end of July 2012.

For each OPI I would like the full text of the OPI. Where it is not clearly marked in the text, I would like to also know OPI number, its title, and its date of issue.

Should some part of any individual OPI be legally excludable under the FOI act, I would request that only the minimal excludable portion be redacted and that the rest be provided as-is. For each section which is redacted, could you please indicate why it was excluded. Please include all identifying information with each OPI.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Simpson

Dear UK Border Agency,

Just to clarify.

My request is for complete contents of Operational Instructions (OPIs) which originate from UKBA, and which are distributed outside the UK. These may be distributed in the form of eGrams, or through some other mechanism.

Should any OPI that I have requested be withheld in its entirety, can you please provide me with the title of the OPI, the OPI number, and the date of issue, as well as the specific reason for withholding that specific OPI.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Simpson

Freedom Of Information Team ( IND ), UK Border Agency

Dear Mr Simpson

Thank you for your email below

Your request is being dealt with and you will receive a response shortly

Regards

UKBA t

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Dear Freedom Of Information Team ( IND ),

I have not received a response to my FOI request for "recent OPIs". Can you please provide me with an update on the status of your work.

Yours sincerely,

Robert Simpson

VSD - FOI Enquiries, UK Border Agency

Dear Mr Simpson,

Thank you for your email of 12 September regarding FOI 23819.

I apologise for the delay in responding to you.

We are currently in the process of collating the relevant information and processing your request and will respond to you as soon as possible.

Once again please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Yours sincerely

Ms Asomaning
UK Border Agency
URL: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

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VSD - FOI Enquiries, UK Border Agency

Dear Mr Simpson,

 

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act in which
you have asked for the Operating Instructions 309 up and including end of
July 2012. I apologise for the delay in responding to you. The UK Border
is now in a position to respond to your request.

 

However, given the scope of your FOI request,  we are unable to provide
you with our response via email. Therefore , I would like to ask for a
postal address, in which, I can send my response to you.

 

I would be grateful if you can let me know of your chosen postal address
and in turn I will forward your response.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Marian Asomaning

UK Border Agency

URL: [1]www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Robert Simpson left an annotation ()

The cover letter for the UKBA response is https://dl.dropbox.com/u/27885818/UK/FOI...

I have listed all the OPIs released in a overview document: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/27885818/UK/FOI...

Dear UK Border Agency,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of UK Border Agency's handling of my FOI request 'recent OPIs'.

As pointed out in the UKBA response, I had asked for redactions, if any, to be done only for the “minimal excludable portion” of each OPI. I had also asked for each OPI title and date of issue.

The following OPIs were withheld in their entirety: 311, 312, 313, 317, 318, 338, 339 and 341. No title or date of issue were provided.

Is UKBA seriously asserting that every word in these OPIs is a threat to the integrity of immigration controls? That no part of these individual OPIs is as normal and unhreatening as other OPIs? That for no portion of these OPIs the public interest test does not favour disclosure? Even the title and the date of issue?

While I understand there is material than can legitimately be withheld under FOI law, I suspect that only a few sentences or paragraphs of these OPIs might be an actual threat to the integrity of immigration controls, and thus justify being redacted.

I was expecting, among others, an OPI from UKBA to visa posts directing them to comply with certain requirements of European free movement law, but that was either never issued or was withheld from this response. I do not see how that could be considered a threat to the operation of border controls.

In addition, OPI 328 and 360 were curiously redacted in a way that suggests that FOI law may not have been followed properly. I would like to request that the full text of those OPIs be released, and that any redactions be justified.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/re...

Yours faithfully,

Robert Simpson

Dear VSD - FOI Enquiries,

I have not yet received my requested internal review. It has not been two months since I requested it. Any idea how long it might take?

Yours sincerely,

Robert Simpson

VSD - FOI Enquiries, UK Border Agency

Dear Mr Simpson

Do you have our FOI reference number for this particular request.

Many Thanks

Stuart Melrose
Visa Customer Team

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Dear VSD - FOI Enquiries, (MR. Melrose)

My Internal review request was http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/re...

The FOI reference was 23819

Yours sincerely,

Robert Simpson

VSD - FOI Enquiries, UK Border Agency

Dear Mr Simpson

I have passed your enquiry over to the team that deals with Internal Reviews and they will advise accordingly.

Stuart Melrose
Visa Customer Team

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Dear VSD - FOI Enquiries (Mr. Melrose),

Thank you!

Robert Simpson

Dear UK Border Agency,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I requested an internal review on 19 December 2012. I have not yet had a response. When can I expect it to be completed?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/re...

Yours faithfully,

Robert Simpson

Freedom Of Information Team ( IND ), UK Border Agency

Thank you for contacting the UK Border Agency Freedom of Information Team.

The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2000 provides public access to any
recorded information held by public authorities
If you have submitted a valid FoI request, we will acknowledge your
request within 24 hours, and aim to provide the information requested
within 20 working days as specified under the FoI Act.

The Act does not give people access to their own personal data
(information about themselves). If you require information that a public
authority holds about you, you must make a Subject Access Request under
the Data Protection Act 1998. You can find further details on how to do
make a Subject Access Request by following the link below:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/naviga...

We are unable to respond to other types of immigration enquiries or
general correspondence. For further information please visit our
comprehensive website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. If you have submitted
a general enquiry, a further message answering our most frequently asked
questions will be sent to you by our public enquiries department shortly.

Alternatively you can contact the UK Border Agency (UKBA) Immigration
Enquiry Bureau (IEB) on: Telephone: 0870 606 7766

Freedom of Information Act Policy Team
UK Border Agency

 

 

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
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Dear UK Border Agency,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of UK Border Agency's handling of my FOI request 'recent OPIs'.

I requested an internal review on 19 December 2012. Please provide me with the internal review, as it is now seriously overdue.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/re...

Yours faithfully,

Robert Simpson

Freedom Of Information Team ( IND ), UK Border Agency

Thank you for contacting the UK Border Agency Freedom of Information Team.

The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2000 provides public access to any
recorded information held by public authorities
If you have submitted a valid FoI request, we will acknowledge your
request within 24 hours, and aim to provide the information requested
within 20 working days as specified under the FoI Act.

The Act does not give people access to their own personal data
(information about themselves). If you require information that a public
authority holds about you, you must make a Subject Access Request under
the Data Protection Act 1998. You can find further details on how to do
make a Subject Access Request by following the link below:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/naviga...

We are unable to respond to other types of immigration enquiries or
general correspondence. For further information please visit our
comprehensive website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. If you have submitted
a general enquiry, a further message answering our most frequently asked
questions will be sent to you by our public enquiries department shortly.

Alternatively you can contact the UK Border Agency (UKBA) Immigration
Enquiry Bureau (IEB) on: Telephone: 0870 606 7766

Freedom of Information Act Policy Team
UK Border Agency

 

 

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recorded for legal purposes.

FOI Responses, UK Border Agency

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Simpson,

 

Please see the attached internal review report concerning your Freedom of
Information request 23819.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

L. Picton

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
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FOI Responses, UK Border Agency

Dear Mr Simpson,

 

The information concerning OPI 328 will follow shortly. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

L. Picton

 

From: FOI Responses
Sent: 30 July 2013 10:25
To: '[FOI #125568 email]'
Subject: Freedom of Information request - 23819 - internal review

 

Dear Mr Simpson,

 

Please see the attached internal review report concerning your Freedom of
Information request 23819.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

L. Picton

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
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FOI Responses, UK Border Agency

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Simpson,

 

Please find attached the redacted OPI 328.

 

Yours sincerely

 

L. Picton

 

From: FOI Responses
Sent: 30 July 2013 10:39
To: '[FOI #125568 email]'
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - 23819 - internal review

 

Dear Mr Simpson,

 

The information concerning OPI 328 will follow shortly. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

L. Picton

 

From: FOI Responses
Sent: 30 July 2013 10:25
To: '[FOI #125568 email]'
Subject: Freedom of Information request - 23819 - internal review

 

Dear Mr Simpson,

 

Please see the attached internal review report concerning your Freedom of
Information request 23819.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

L. Picton

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.