Assisted Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants
This page explains the policy on our Assisted Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants (AVRIM) programme for those who are in the United Kingdom illegally and wish to return to their home country. For more general information on AVRIM, see Voluntary return in the Asylum section.
Applications for return under the AVRIM programme will be accepted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from anyone* who is, or is the dependant of, a person who:
- has entered the United Kingdom illegally, having been trafficked from abroad;
- has entered the United Kingdom illegally, having been smuggled from abroad;
- has otherwise entered the United Kingdom illegally;
- has been granted conditional leave to enter or to remain, but has breached one or more conditions of that leave;
- falls within the above categories, is detained by the UK Border Agency and is detained solely in relation to immigration offences, except where the applicant has been assessed by Detention Services as violent and/or may pose a threat to IOM staff.
*except where:
- the applicant is involved in ongoing matters pertaining to the criminal justice system;
- a deportation order has been made against the person;
- arrangements for the person's return are already in place;
- prior to IOM receiving an application the applicant has received custodial sentences, in the United Kingdom, totalling in excess of 12 months.
The programme is not open to those who:
- have been granted indefinite leave to remain;
- have sought asylum or humanitarian protection in the United Kingdom and have not left the United Kingdom since that application;
- have permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for non - asylum/humanitarian reasons e.g. students, spouses, visitors etc and have not breached any conditions of that leave;
- are short term immigration detainees and have removal directions set;
- are convicted prisoners subject to deportation orders;
- have been convicted of a serious immigration offence;
- are British citizens or European Economic Area nationals;
whose purpose in leaving is to nullify their adverse immigration status in order to re-enter the United Kingdom.
In each individual case, applications will be received and screened by the IOM. In each case the final decision about eligibility of the applicant for AVRIM rests with the UK Border Agency.
In addition to the above criteria, the majority of individuals who have previously participated in assisted voluntary return will be excluded from participating a second time following their subsequent return to the United Kingdom. Each application by a previous participator will be carefully considered, taking all relevant factors into consideration, and the appropriate decision made. Relevant factors may include: a significant change in the country situation and previous participation in assisted voluntary return as a dependant.
Generally only two assisted voluntary return applications will be considered for each applicant. Those who cancel or withdraw their application or do not depart within three months of approval on two occasions will no longer be eligible for the programmes. A third application will be considered only on production of evidenced exceptional reasons why departure via assisted voluntary return has not taken place. This applies to applications made for any assisted voluntary return programmes. In each case the final decision about consideration of a third assisted voluntary return application rests with the UK Border Agency.