International Directorate
Tel: 020 7035 4848
2 Marsham Street
Fax: 020 7035 4745
London
www.gov.uk/homeoffice
SW1P 4DF
N Ostrand
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx FOI Reference:
47192
Date: 19 February 2018
Dear Sirs
Thank you for your email of 5 February 2018, in which you ask for information about
international databases to which UKVI has access when processing visa applications and,
specifically, the countries with which the UK has agreements or Memoranda of
Understanding (MoUs) for biometric vetting. Your request has been handled as a request
for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The details of all visa applicants are checked against the Second Generation Schengen
Information System (SIS II) and their travel documents are checked against INTERPOL’s
Stolen and Lost Travel Documents Database, pursuant to the UK’s membership of these
systems.
The fingerprints of visa applicants who have their biometrics enrolled in the United States
or Jamaica are automatically checked against the US Department of Homeland Security’s
biometric database. This is underpinned by a bilateral MoU.
The Home Office also has bilateral MoUs with each of its other Migration 5 (M5) partners –
the Australian Department of Home Affairs; Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
and the Canadian Border Services Agency jointly; and Immigration New Zealand – which
enable the checking of information, including biometrics, on a case-by-case basis. These
arrangements are not used routinely.
In some cases visa applicants may have their travel documents verified with the issuing
authority. This is determined by the individual circumstances of the case. These checks
are carried out following a case-by-case risk assessment.
It is also possible to obtain criminal records information held in the EU as a result of the
UK's operation of the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS). Requests
for such information are made as appropriate to the facts of the specific case and are
conducted by the ACRO Criminal Records Office (ACRO) – the UK Central Authority for
the Exchange of Criminal Records.
If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review
of our handling of your request by submitting a complaint within two months to
xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xxx.xx, quoting reference 47192. If you ask for an internal
review, it would be helpful if you could say why you are dissatisfied with the response.
As part of any internal review the Department's handling of your information request would
be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. If you
were to remain dissatisfied after an internal review, you would have a right of complaint to
the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the FOIA.
.
Yours sincerely
International Strategy & Engagement
International Directorate
