Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs):
The .gov.uk website gives very little information about ECOs (Entry Clearance Officers) beyond their function as refusing or permitting visa applications. It appears on checking ECO job opportunities UK immigration adverts online it is clear that most are and will be filled by foreign/non-British Citizens (by birth or naturalised)
There is currently NO information on the .gov.uk website or on the internet (from Google searches, etc.) about the former ‘full ECO course given by the UK Border Agency International Group Agency’ (accessed from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-decision-on-an-application-ecb10/ecb10-making-a-decision-on-an-application ) that it is assumed has transferred to the UKVI after the UBA was split between the UKVI and ‘IE’ (Immigration Enforcement) in the 2012 – 2013 period as the Hostile Environment as a Whitehall directed policy commenced.
WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT ECOs ARE TRAINED IN, AND WHO CREATED THAT TRAINING AND THOSE WHO ARE THE COURSE EXAMINERS AND HOW THESY ASSESS PROSPECTIVE ECOs, no credibility attaches to assertions of professional standards being met including compliance with relevant UK laws and Acts of Parliament.
This lack of information from the public domain about such an important course, cannot be accidental as it creates impenetrable obscurity instead of providing transparency: one of the core requirements of the operational level Hostile Environment to make the latter effective.
In particular there is minimal information on the .gov.uk website about what powers the ECOs have at detailed specific level, or what scope they have for the ways they exercise those powers. Certainly, there is also minimal information available on this website about who ECOs are accountable to within the UKVI structure, and ultimately the Home Office. We have no information at all that has been volunteered by the Whitehall on the .gov.uk website about the recruitment process and training of ECOs, nor who coordinates and directs their recruitment and training.
ECOs are in the whole UK bureaucracy directed from Whitehall nationally and internationally, the antithesis of Open Government: they, in pre-Hostile Environment times were just one class of civil servant, but now are remote, shadowy figures with enormous powers.
We do not even know if they are all British nationals (by birth, or naturalisation: if the latter when this was achieved, and if linked to applying for and getting an ECO job) or how many are not, but in fact foreign nationals.
Normally degree and extent of powers matches seniority position within an organisation or business hierarchy. In the case of the Hostile Environment the two most powerful echelons are the Chief Operating Officer & Director General level, and the ECO level, in other words the top and bottom of the structure. This accidental but clearly purposefully instituted by the architects of the Hostile Environment at the highest strategic operational level.
ECOs, in addition to distance in the sense of carefully engineered obscurity, differ from their UKVI Caseworker counterparts in the UK, in that unlike the latter, ECOs will be mostly foreign/non-British nationals and depend on exclusively to almost exclusively foreign national ECAs (see below) who are required to have the somewhat nebulous and Very non-reassuring level of ‘good’ in the English language. This ECO – ECA structure has been created in Whitehall, clearly with Hostile Environment maximum effectiveness implementation overseas.
In addition, according to ECO recruitment adverts prospective ECOs must complete ‘full ECO course given by the UK Border Agency International Group training team’ – no information on the components and scoring mechanisms of this course, and on course assessors (and in turn the latter’s qualifications and record on independently assessed human rights, best practice, diverse communities [women, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation and gender minorities] is provided by the Home Office and the FCO.
Clearly though the course, as a mandatory requirement (instituted at the highest levels in Whitehall) to be passed/met in the age of the Hostile Environment, must be mentioned in the UKVI ‘Operating Mandate’ – the latter is not available for public/independent scrutiny as Whitehall (permanent secretaries at the Home Office and FCO, ultimately under the direction of the Cabinet Secretary have not allowed this, it appears).
Entry Clearance Assistants (ECAs):
ECOs are supported clearly to a substantial extent in their application review and decision work, by ECAs — Entry Clearance Assistants (who definitely don’t need to be British nationals). We provide some information below NOT on the .gov.uk website, but the website used by in particular, British High Commission and FCO for overseas posts recruitment. Please note again the appearance of the top secret/concealed from public and parliamentary scrutiny ‘UKVI Operating Mandate.’
ECAs are, it appears from ECA recruitment adverts, are all or almost all foreign/overseas nationals: they are charged with preparing much of the material for a ECO to complete and then send on to the visa applicant:
Example 1:
ECA Main purpose of job:
As an integral part of the UK Visas and Immigration overseas arm, the Entry Clearance Assistant (ECA) will provide clerical support to the Entry Clearance operation in order to achieve Internal and External Customer Standard targets. The ECA will ensure personal targets are met on a daily basis and enhance delivery through self-development and sharing best practice.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Working in accordance with the UKVI Operating Mandate ensuring the right checks are done on every application every time so that all relevant information is available to ECOs when an application is assessed;
- Keeping up to date with operational and policy changes.
- Capturing visa application data into the UKVI case working systems
Example 2:
The second ECA job position description (below) reinforces some of the elements highlighted in the first (again we use italics to indicate the important ones), such as particularly keeping up with operational & policy changes, etc. in particular, but includes new, significant ones:
- The ECA will ensure personal targets are met on a daily basis*
- Level of language required: Fluent & Good**
- The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses***.
In regard to 1. and the final part of 3. we see unmistakably indications of the ‘hot house’ working environment – governed by a refusals orientated culture (555 hours to refuse an application, 222 to refuse one) – that time and again is revealed by research, investigation and former UK immigration employee whistle-blowers.
Regarding point 2. the level of language proficiency (it is to be assumed in English, Hindi, south Indian languages) is very troubling, for Fluent and Good levels are very different – both, and especially the latter can be interpreted in highly subjective ways. Vital details are included on visa application forms, and can include technical terms and special type areas where phraseology and nouns and verbs are of great importance.
This item on the job description is especially troubling as in practice the ECA does much of the preparatory work for the ECO who makes and issues visa application decisions and presumably places refused entry ‘signals’ in the passports of UK visa applicants who in many cases have been subsequently revealed to have been genuine and to have met core eligibility criteria.
View Vacancy – VISA SUPPORT ASSISTANT (Chennai/UKVI)
The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Job Category
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Job Subcategory
UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration)
Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
Main purpose of job:
As an integral part of the UK Visas and Immigration overseas arm, the Entry Clearance Assistant (ECA) will provide clerical support to the Entry Clearance operation in order to achieve Internal and External Customer Standard targets. The ECA will ensure personal targets are met on a daily basis* and enhance delivery through self-development and sharing best practice.
Roles and responsibilities :
- Working in accordance with the UKVI Operating Mandate ensuring the right checks are done on every application every time so that all relevant information is available to ECOs when an application is assessed;
- Keeping up to date with operational and policy changes.
- Capturing visa application data into the UKVI case working systems
- Completing enrichment checks carefully, ensuring that results are accurately recorded.
- Giving assistance during visa interviews, providing interpretation where necessary
- Respond to correspondence within published/local service standards. Answering telephone enquiries promptly, ensuring that all callers are dealt with courteously and professionally at all times.
- Meeting UKVI standards for despatching applications ensuring that original documents are returned as appropriate and that there are no breaches of data protection;
- Act in accordance with the Code of Conduct and Home Office Values at all times.
- Working in accordance with the UKVI Operating Mandate ensuring the right checks are done on every application every time so that all relevant information is available to ECOs when an application is assessed;
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
Other skills / experience / qualifications:
- At least 1 year of relevant experience
- Essential on arrival: Good communicator.
- Display strong administrative skills with good working knowledge of Windows and MS Office applications, especially MS Outlook, Word & Excel.
Language requirements:
- Language: English & Any south Indian including Hindi
- Level of language required: Fluent & Good**
Required competencies
Changing and Improving, Collaborating and Partnering, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
Application deadline
2 May 2018
Grade
A1 (L)
Type of Position
Temporary
Working hours per week
40
Region
South Asia & Afghanistan
Country/Territory
India
Location (City)
Chennai
Type of Post
British Deputy High Commission
Number of vacancies
3
Starting monthly salary (INR)
28,481
Start Date
19 June 2018
Other benefits and conditions of employment
SALARY PACKAGE
For British High Commission (BHC) candidates, the Local Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.
For other than BHC candidates, salary will be INR 28,481 per month.
The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses***. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.
Around half of our work force is women. We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment*.
This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.
*Probably true (but would need to be verified directly by independent minority communities [LGBT, BAME, Disabilities especially] and gender equality organisations not in receipt of Home Office / UK Government funding) for workplace environments, but for these only.
But extremely disingenuous at the substantive public policy statement level: The statement conflicts entirely with the record of this and all other direct and associated Hostile Environment implementing agencies where external customers/clients experience, data and experiences and secret memos revealed records of publicly stated AND unstated but revealed [through whistleblowing, secret memos, etc.] targeted minority communities [and perceived targeting of specific nationalities] are concerned at de-facto policy at operational level.