Registering for IRIS
Sep 26, 2009, 5:30 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: OW/AA, DL, UA; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,936
Originally Posted by Home Office Website
You can apply to register for IRIS if you are in one of the following categories:
...hold a current visa or permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as entry clearance) and it will continue to be valid for more than two months at the time of registration
You can apply to register for IRIS if you are in one of the following categories:
...hold a current visa or permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as entry clearance) and it will continue to be valid for more than two months at the time of registration
Sep 26, 2009, 6:32 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
FWIW, meeting the statutory minimums for IRIS is not a guarantee of acceptance into the program, even for a UK/EU citizen. This is especially true in case of persons belonging to a specific ethnic profile where a not insignificant level of IRIS-facilitated fraud has been detected (IRIS registree enters using the IRIS machine while the original passport is used by an otherwise undocumented passenger - often a relative with similar appearance - to pass through the UK/EU citizens line).
Sep 29, 2009, 12:15 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
I finally got enrolled on my last T5 visit, although the enrolling officer was slightly suspicious about me (I'm in the UK on an ancestry visa, but not currently working as I'm looking for work), so only gave me 2 years.
Oh, and the first time I tried to enroll, they got me to fill out the form, but the 2nd time there was no form required ... weird.
Last edited by Aus_Mal; Sep 29, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Sep 29, 2009, 5:22 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
Another IRIS question ...
Does anyone here use it with a long term visa? As indicated earlier, I'm on an Ancestry visa. Should the machine spit out a sticker or not when I enter?
The website isn't particularly clear, and immigration officers I've spoken to aren't clear either.
If I visit an immigration officer, they must stamp my passport - so it's not like having a UK passport which isn't stamped on entry.
Next step is to email them and ask (of course!), but hoping someone has experience.
Does anyone here use it with a long term visa? As indicated earlier, I'm on an Ancestry visa. Should the machine spit out a sticker or not when I enter?
The website isn't particularly clear, and immigration officers I've spoken to aren't clear either.
If I visit an immigration officer, they must stamp my passport - so it's not like having a UK passport which isn't stamped on entry.
Next step is to email them and ask (of course!), but hoping someone has experience.
Sep 29, 2009, 5:39 pm
#21
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
are a short-term visitor to the United Kingdom and can show you have been given permission to enter the country as a visitor at least twice in the past six months, or four times in the past 12 months at the time of registration.
If it's unlikely to be permitted, I can't be bothered arriving at T5 earlier for the sake of trying to register and I'll continue the normal way (can normally use the fast track anyway, so generally not much queuing).
Sep 30, 2009, 12:22 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Yes, I am registered under that rule. They checked my passports for stamps to verify my statement. (So if you have a brand new passport take the old one as well.)
I haven't (yet!) used it on a long term visa. (As of July we are required to have visas. 
) But my position is similar in that I get a stamp if I see an immigration officer. Iris does spit out a flimsy thermal paper type ticket which I was told one needed to keep with one.
Another IRIS question ...
Does anyone here use it with a long term visa? As indicated earlier, I'm on an Ancestry visa. Should the machine spit out a sticker or not when I enter?
The website isn't particularly clear, and immigration officers I've spoken to aren't clear either.
If I visit an immigration officer, they must stamp my passport - so it's not like having a UK passport which isn't stamped on entry.
Next step is to email them and ask (of course!), but hoping someone has experience.
Does anyone here use it with a long term visa? As indicated earlier, I'm on an Ancestry visa. Should the machine spit out a sticker or not when I enter?
The website isn't particularly clear, and immigration officers I've spoken to aren't clear either.
If I visit an immigration officer, they must stamp my passport - so it's not like having a UK passport which isn't stamped on entry.
Next step is to email them and ask (of course!), but hoping someone has experience.
) But my position is similar in that I get a stamp if I see an immigration officer. Iris does spit out a flimsy thermal paper type ticket which I was told one needed to keep with one.
Sep 30, 2009, 2:02 am
#24
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Iris does spit out a flimsy thermal paper type ticket which I was told one needed to keep with one.
Sep 30, 2009, 2:32 am
#26
fomerly CoachBoy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: United Premier Platinum, British Airways Silver
Posts: 411
I haven't filled out a landing card in 2+ years. While T5 never looks too bad, IRIS really helps at T3, where there are so many long haul flights that you're virtually guarenteed a long wait at immigration, if you're not a UK/EU citizen.
Sep 30, 2009, 3:41 am
#27
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Sep 30, 2009, 3:45 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
I'll be keeping a half filled out one in my passport holder - the only things missing will be the flight number and my signature... then if IRIS isn't working, it's a 3 second job to scribble in the required data.
Sep 30, 2009, 10:44 am
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 193
So after the help and feedback I registered for IRIS on Monday @ T5, a really easy process that literally took 5 minutes, including the wait for the guy in front to be done.
Came back today and used the IRIS scanners for the first time, really very impressed ! No more immigration queues and moaning Brits in them for me ;-)
NB: the American lady who tried to register was declined by the IRIS staff as she didn't fly frequently enough (4 times a year into UK) and that they 'like to see the person at the desk'.
Came back today and used the IRIS scanners for the first time, really very impressed ! No more immigration queues and moaning Brits in them for me ;-)
NB: the American lady who tried to register was declined by the IRIS staff as she didn't fly frequently enough (4 times a year into UK) and that they 'like to see the person at the desk'.
Sep 30, 2009, 11:54 am
#30
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127