In Jersey the States has written to the UK Home Office to resolve what it has described as a ‘frustrating’ situation.
Islanders with ‘settled status’ have been blocked from returning to the Common Travel Area from some international airports where staff do not recognise their paperwork. Some have had to pay extra to get express travel visas to be allowed to fly.
Jersey’s Home Affairs Department has asked the UK government for help in resolving the issue, which it said had caused considerable distress for some. It said that overseas airlines and ground handlers were misinterpreting the UK border requirements.
Jersey’s external relations team is contacting all honorary consuls in the island to see if they need help.
The Crown Dependencies are issuing physical documents, rather than electronic visas which have been introduced in the UK. Digital permissions are expected to become available in the islands over the next few months.
A Guernsey States spokesman said that only a few issues had been raised. Customs has offered general advice to people with immigration permissions to be in the island and that they should carry their official documentation to prove their status when travelling.
He added that someone with the correct permissions still experiencing issues when travelling should ask their carrier to contact the UK’s Carrier Support Hub, ‘who should be able to verify their status’.