Indian citizens waited four days in Amsterdam as IOM gov liaise with UK
More calls are being made for the Isle of Man Government to replace the wet ink stamp with an actual visa sticker.
The sticker visa is the first to be issued to a person upon relocation to the Island, it had the individuals name and details (similar to any passport or visa document). The wet ink stamp is issued upon renewal of the visa and it's just a stamp with the words Isle of Man Immigration and a date of when the visa is valid until.
For those residents with the wet ink stamp, when travelling, they are required to also carry an information letter - which was issued by the Isle of Man.
But some Isle of Man workers from South Africa, Germany and India have been telling Manx Radio of the issues they've faced at various airports due to the stamp, which has been described as 'a library stamp'.
How did we get here?
It started last month after Manx Radio spoke to an Island resident after her harrowing experience at the UK border.
The person said despite having the wet ink stamp, she was told she is only permitted to transit through the airport and does not have the right to remain in the UK for leisure purposes.
You can find out more HERE.
At the time an Isle of Man Government spokesperson said immigration permission issued by the Isle of Man, in the form of a wet-ink passport stamp, remains fully valid and is recognised by UK Border Force at all UK ports of entry.
It added Isle of Man immigration documentation remains recognised both internationally and at UK borders.
Since then a number of other residents from various countries have reached out to share their own experience with all coming to the same conclusion - that the Isle of Man needs to issue migrant workers with valid sticker stamps as opposed to the wet ink one.
It's something former Douglas Councillor Frank Schuengel has written to the government about previously following issues his wife faced at the borders:
After renewing her worker migrant visa with the wet ink stamp, Charlotte Smith says that's when her trouble started at the airports, leading to her passport being red flagged:
These residents from India say they are anxious to travel after they were stranded at Amsterdam because the UK denied them from returning to the country:
In response to these concerns, an Isle of Man Government spokesperson says wet ink stamps are fully valid and the government is actively engaging with the UK Home Office and UK Border Force to minimise the risk of similar incidents.
It adds anyone who believes they have been incorrectly challenged at the UK border is encouraged to contact the Isle of Man Immigration Service
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