Section 40 of the Immigration Act 2014 (‘the Act’), which requires banks and building societies to play a role in the UK’s immigration system, has come into force on 12 December 2014.
Under the Act banks and building societies are required to carry out immigration status checks on those who are applying to open a new bank account or be added as a signatory or beneficiary to a new or existing account.
That application can now be refused if the applicant:
- never had leave to enter or remain in the UK;
- had leave but stayed after it expired or was revoked; or
- is a European economic area national against whom there is a deportation or exclusion order.
The Home Office has published several guidance sheets on these new measures and these can be accessed here.
