NO2ID

My civil partner emailed me today when I was at work saying that he'd seen an article on a Russian expat forum saying that he would need to have an ID card by the end of the year. I always thought the ID scheme was just a half baked Labour idea that had been dropped but looked at the website (and after some digging around!) found this link

http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/faqs-foreign.asp

it basically is very contradictory. It says that anyone with a 3 month plus visa needs an ID card

Will foreign nationals have a choice as to whether they apply for an ID card?

Every foreign national (including European Union nationals), resident in the UK for more than 3 months will need to obtain a card. Once the scheme starts, we will set a date after which new arrivals who intend to stay for more than three months will have to register. They will be able to do this at any point during the first three months of their stay - and they should find that having a card at the beginning of their stay will make it easier to carry out such transactions as opening a bank account.

When the scheme becomes compulsory it will apply to all legally resident foreign nationals (as it will to all British citizens too) who are not already registered.


But doesnt give a regisration date or any details as to how to do it. it even states tha it WILL be compulsary for all Brits too in the last sentence which was news to me



The site also states that a passport can still be used as an ID so why does it also state you need to apply for an ID card?
Will foreign nationals still be able to use their passport as identification?

Yes. A valid national passport will still be acceptable.




On this link I found that for foreign national the scheme starts this year
http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/scheme-what-how.asp

How the National Identity Scheme will get started

It will take several years for the scheme to come fully into operation and for all eligible citizens to be enrolled. We will introduce biometric identification for foreign nationals in 2008 and we expect the first ID cards to be issued to British citizens in 2009.


So, in short does anyone know if foreign nationals have to register and if so when is the deadline for registration. Am really confused and a little worried!!

Thanks so much!!

I am British and my partner is Russian but has limited leave to remain here as a civil partner (applied successfully 6 months ago after our civil partnership)

Thanks

AFAIK the Home Office is saying that any visas issued to non-EU students and non-EU spouses and civil partners after 25th November will be in the form of a plastic card, not a sticker in the applicant's passport, and that the applicant will have to be fingerprinted in order to get this plastic card visa.

Even though these visas are being issued under immigration legislation, not the Identity Cards Act 2006, and will only be issued to those from outside the EU, the Home Office is announcing them as "ID cards for foreigners". In fact they seem to have the same legal status as the old visa (but are easier to lose, because they aren't attached to the applicants passport). When entering the country, the visa-holder will need to show both their passport and the new, separate card.

So, while I'm not an expert, I believe that your partner would get one of the new plastic cards (and be fingerprinted) next time she renews her visa.

Don't you mean 'next time HE renews HIS visa.'