JO - British immigration bias against Jamaicans
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
British immigration bias against Jamaicans
Diane Abbott
Sunday, December 02, 2007
It comes as no surprise to me that Jamaicans are more likely to be refused a visa than people from any other Caribbean country. But, when British Immigration Judge and Solicitor Cordella Bart-Stewart revealed this at an immigration seminar organised by the Jamaican Diaspora UK recently, some people were surprised.
Diane Abbott
Over the years, I have dealt with thousands of such cases and, even without studying the official statistics, it is clear to me that Jamaica and Nigeria are two countries which the British immigration authorities have a bias against. And before Britain introduced the visa regime, Jamaicans were also far more likely to be turned away at the airport on arrival. I dealt with many sad cases of people who had saved up for a ticket for a family funeral, etc only to be turned back arbitrarily by British immigration authorities at Heathrow or Gatwick.
But the official statistics on visa refusals do repay close study. On settlement visa applications overall: Barbados has a refusal rate of nine per cent, Guyana has a refusal rate of seven per cent, Trinidad has a refusal rate of five per cent, but Jamaica has a refusal rate of a whopping 50 per cent.
When people apply to visit their family: Barbados has a refusal rate of eight per cent, Guyana has a refusal rate of six per cent, Trinidad has a refusal rate of three per cent, but Jamaica has a refusal rate of 59 per cent. And this is the pattern for nearly all the categories of visas.
Jamaicans are refused far more often than citizens of any other Caribbean country. The first thing to say about these figures is that they mask the fact that many more Jamaicans apply for visas than people in other Caribbean countries. For instance, 8,632 Jamaicans applied to visit their familes as compared to 63 people from Barbados. So, even though the refusal rates are higher, many more Jamaicans are getting visas than travelers from Barbados. But even in categories where the numbers applying are comparable, the Jamaican refusal rate is far higher.
CHEVANNES.had problems obtaining a British visa
For instance, 391 Jamaicans applied for the working holiday-maker scheme, but even more Trinidadians (537) applied. Yet, the Jamaican refusal rate is 83 per cent, whereas only 17 per cent of Trinidadians were refused.
Jamaica Observer readers may ask, "Why are the refusal rates for Jamaicans so high?" British immigration officials argue that it is because Jamaicans are bad at filling out forms, or as they describe it: "improperly prepared applications and poor documentation". There may be some truth in this. But I do not believe that people in Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad are so much better at filling out forms. That explanation alone could not account for the huge disparity.
I believe that there is a bias against Jamaicans because of our supposed involvement in crime. But what is needed is some research instead of entry clearance officers acting on perceptions. For instance, it is true that Jamaicans are the largest group of foreign nationals in prison in British prisons. But how does that compare with the size of the Jamaican population in Britain as compared to the numbers of people from other Caribbean countries?
The assumption behind refusing a visitor's visa is that the applicant is not a genuine visitor, but plans to stay in Britain permanently. So what research has been done on how many visitors from Jamaica do actually overstay their visa? Britain is perfectly entitled to protect its borders from criminals and people trying to get around its system of immigration control. But I believe that in the process many decent Jamaicans are being treated unfairly.
For instance, the eminently respectable Professor Barrington Chevannes of the University of the West Indies nearly missed this year's Jamaica Diaspora UK conference because of problems obtaining a visa. But, at the same time, some obvious undesirables from Jamaica continue to slip into Britain.
The Jamaican Government needs to start challenging these very high refusal rates for Jamaicans.
Jamaica Observer
British immigration bias against Jamaicans
Diane Abbott
Sunday, December 02, 2007
It comes as no surprise to me that Jamaicans are more likely to be refused a visa than people from any other Caribbean country. But, when British Immigration Judge and Solicitor Cordella Bart-Stewart revealed this at an immigration seminar organised by the Jamaican Diaspora UK recently, some people were surprised.
Diane Abbott
Over the years, I have dealt with thousands of such cases and, even without studying the official statistics, it is clear to me that Jamaica and Nigeria are two countries which the British immigration authorities have a bias against. And before Britain introduced the visa regime, Jamaicans were also far more likely to be turned away at the airport on arrival. I dealt with many sad cases of people who had saved up for a ticket for a family funeral, etc only to be turned back arbitrarily by British immigration authorities at Heathrow or Gatwick.
But the official statistics on visa refusals do repay close study. On settlement visa applications overall: Barbados has a refusal rate of nine per cent, Guyana has a refusal rate of seven per cent, Trinidad has a refusal rate of five per cent, but Jamaica has a refusal rate of a whopping 50 per cent.
When people apply to visit their family: Barbados has a refusal rate of eight per cent, Guyana has a refusal rate of six per cent, Trinidad has a refusal rate of three per cent, but Jamaica has a refusal rate of 59 per cent. And this is the pattern for nearly all the categories of visas.
Jamaicans are refused far more often than citizens of any other Caribbean country. The first thing to say about these figures is that they mask the fact that many more Jamaicans apply for visas than people in other Caribbean countries. For instance, 8,632 Jamaicans applied to visit their familes as compared to 63 people from Barbados. So, even though the refusal rates are higher, many more Jamaicans are getting visas than travelers from Barbados. But even in categories where the numbers applying are comparable, the Jamaican refusal rate is far higher.
CHEVANNES.had problems obtaining a British visa
For instance, 391 Jamaicans applied for the working holiday-maker scheme, but even more Trinidadians (537) applied. Yet, the Jamaican refusal rate is 83 per cent, whereas only 17 per cent of Trinidadians were refused.
Jamaica Observer readers may ask, "Why are the refusal rates for Jamaicans so high?" British immigration officials argue that it is because Jamaicans are bad at filling out forms, or as they describe it: "improperly prepared applications and poor documentation". There may be some truth in this. But I do not believe that people in Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad are so much better at filling out forms. That explanation alone could not account for the huge disparity.
I believe that there is a bias against Jamaicans because of our supposed involvement in crime. But what is needed is some research instead of entry clearance officers acting on perceptions. For instance, it is true that Jamaicans are the largest group of foreign nationals in prison in British prisons. But how does that compare with the size of the Jamaican population in Britain as compared to the numbers of people from other Caribbean countries?
The assumption behind refusing a visitor's visa is that the applicant is not a genuine visitor, but plans to stay in Britain permanently. So what research has been done on how many visitors from Jamaica do actually overstay their visa? Britain is perfectly entitled to protect its borders from criminals and people trying to get around its system of immigration control. But I believe that in the process many decent Jamaicans are being treated unfairly.
For instance, the eminently respectable Professor Barrington Chevannes of the University of the West Indies nearly missed this year's Jamaica Diaspora UK conference because of problems obtaining a visa. But, at the same time, some obvious undesirables from Jamaica continue to slip into Britain.
The Jamaican Government needs to start challenging these very high refusal rates for Jamaicans.
posted by Consul-At-Arms at 12:16 AM
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Queensland: Queenslanders market their homeland as ‘Beautiful one day, perfect the next’, and this slogan could apply equally to the state’s adventure activities. The almost unlimited scope for outdoor pursuits is mainly a result of Queensland’s
remarkable range of landforms and environments, many of which have been recognized by UNESCO World Heritage listing. The most notable of these are the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient rainforests that extend from Cape York all the way to the New South Wales border. Others include spectacular remnants of volcanic landscapes such as the Undara lava tubes and Glasshouse Mountains, the deserts and plains of the interior, the savanna and swamps of the Gulf Country, the famous fossil fields of Riversleigh and remote oases such as Lawn Hill National Park. Adventurers heading to the Sunshine State should keep in mind the region’s seasonal weather patterns when planning their itineraries. In particular, the Wet Season that affects the far north can upset many well-laid plans, turning relaxed river trips, for example, into life-threatening undertakings. Tropical cyclones are another threat, with associated sea surges swamping boats along the coast, winds toppling trees and heavy rain swelling rivers. Even Queensland’s renowned high levels of sunshine are not without their dangers and all travelers should make sure they have adequate sun protection and sufficient water. What is procedure for tourist visa to Australia
Australia ,New South Wales: The inhabitants of New South Wales are never far from adventure for the main focus of outdoor sports here is the Great Dividing Range, which runs parallel and close to the densely populated eastern seaboard for the entire length of the state. Many parts of the Great Dividing Range are rugged enough to have escaped the clearing that occurred as European settlers spread westward from the coast, and today patches of magnificent virgin forest still cloak peaks and escarpments and fill valleys. Although eucalypt forests predominate, alpine heaths cover high peaks in the south, and scattered pockets of subtropical rainforest become more common as you travel northward. The Great Dividing Range offers almost unlimited challenges for adventures, including cliffs for rock climbers, vast tracks of bushland for walkers, and scenic fire trails and rugged back roads for mountain bikers. The highest peaks and plateaus of the Snowy Mountains are a winter playground for ski-tourers. The rivers that have carved their way through the ranges offer opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and rafting, while the narrowest gorges provide a venue for the exciting sport of canyoning. Further west, New South Wales offers entirely different landscapes including semiarid plains and the red-sand deserts and dramatic rockscapes that characterize classic outback country. What is procedure for tourist visa to Australia
The Great Dividing Range offers almost unlimited challenges for adventures, including cliffs for rock climbers, vast tracks of bushland for walkers, and scenic fire trails and rugged back roads for mountain bikers.
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