British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the world
Jun 10th 2008, 2:13 pm
#76
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 383
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
yeah, I did....bit of a long drawn out process though, and some points could be made a bit clearer, especially the bit about the one year if your living here permanently, well better still, to not be able to put in a date longer than a year, because I did that by accident the first time around and then had to redo the whole thing because it came up with an error - not being allowed to register for longer than a year, so why get the option 
Thanks. I've received a few comments like that. We'll tweak some of the instructions we give to expats to make it a little clearer.
Dean
Jun 10th 2008, 2:21 pm
#77
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
Jun 10th 2008, 2:29 pm
#78
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 383
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
I was going to but reading some of the replies I think some of us would like assurances of who exactly has access to the info, who stores it, will it be used for tax etc type snooping? And I don't think you have replied to peoples fear?
Maybe you don't know and that's fair enough
I know you are just trying to help.
Maybe there is some govt feedback there that you can give our concerns to, and it may be listened to coming from you.
Maybe you don't know and that's fair enough
I know you are just trying to help.
Maybe there is some govt feedback there that you can give our concerns to, and it may be listened to coming from you.
In Canada and the USA, if you don't provide enough information for our system to automatically allocate your details to a consulate, then my team in Orlando will manage the details. We will determine from the information you have provided whether there is enough information for us to allocate it to the appropriate consulate or manage it from Orlando. The data you provide is only used for crisis purposes. We don't share the information with anyone else, except in an emergency when we may have to share it with other authorities (for example with the Ministry of Defence, if we were organising an evacuation etc - but most unlikely). If your record is managed in Orlando (but you are in New Mexico and haven't told us so) you will get messages from me intended for a Florida audience (for example hurricane warnings etc). There is more information about the system at www.britainusa.com/orlando.
Hope this answers your questions?
Dean
Jun 10th 2008, 2:42 pm
#79
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
Jun 10th 2008, 2:45 pm
#80
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
The invoice from the Inland Revenue will be with you in 2 to 3 weeks Bob.
Jun 10th 2008, 2:46 pm
#81
who turned out the light?
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: WA
Posts: 7,997
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
To be honest, very few people will have access to your data. If you provide us with enough information, the system (which is based on a secure server in the UK) will determine which Embassy or Consulate will manage your record. Only staff at that location (plus staff at our crisis centre in London) will have access your data, and, in many cases they will only do so when they absolutely need to. For example, if a disaster strikes a particular area, our staff will ask the system for a list of registered Brits in the affected area.
In Canada and the USA, if you don't provide enough information for our system to automatically allocate your details to a consulate, then my team in Orlando will manage the details. We will determine from the information you have provided whether there is enough information for us to allocate it to the appropriate consulate or manage it from Orlando. The data you provide is only used for crisis purposes. We don't share the information with anyone else, except in an emergency when we may have to share it with other authorities (for example with the Ministry of Defence, if we were organising an evacuation etc - but most unlikely). If your record is managed in Orlando (but you are in New Mexico and haven't told us so) you will get messages from me intended for a Florida audience (for example hurricane warnings etc). There is more information about the system at www.britainusa.com/orlando.
Hope this answers your questions?
Dean
In Canada and the USA, if you don't provide enough information for our system to automatically allocate your details to a consulate, then my team in Orlando will manage the details. We will determine from the information you have provided whether there is enough information for us to allocate it to the appropriate consulate or manage it from Orlando. The data you provide is only used for crisis purposes. We don't share the information with anyone else, except in an emergency when we may have to share it with other authorities (for example with the Ministry of Defence, if we were organising an evacuation etc - but most unlikely). If your record is managed in Orlando (but you are in New Mexico and haven't told us so) you will get messages from me intended for a Florida audience (for example hurricane warnings etc). There is more information about the system at www.britainusa.com/orlando.
Hope this answers your questions?
Dean
It does sound good knowing if there is an emergency then you know I'm here for an easy evacuation etc. Just glad to know that the govt and all its agencies won't have it and it won't be used for any other purpose than that.
I suppose in the light of homeland security etc here and intrusiveness into peoples private data/lives, I thought this could be used in the same way by the UK govt.
Jun 10th 2008, 2:53 pm
#83
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
To be honest, very few people will have access to your data. If you provide us with enough information, the system (which is based on a secure server in the UK) will determine which Embassy or Consulate will manage your record. Only staff at that location (plus staff at our crisis centre in London) will have access your data, and, in many cases they will only do so when they absolutely need to. For example, if a disaster strikes a particular area, our staff will ask the system for a list of registered Brits in the affected area.
a) a relative of a UK citizen? -- Johnny boy hasn't phoned home for 6 months
b) a UK creditor of a UK citizen? Jane didn't pay her student loans and we think she's hiding in the US
c) a UK governmental agency? Johnny boy's wanted for tax fraud.
d) a US governmental agency? Paranoia knows no bounds so I'll leave you to find an example here.
Jun 10th 2008, 2:57 pm
#84
who turned out the light?
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: WA
Posts: 7,997
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
Just to play devil's advocate, here are some people who might like to use your information for various reasons. Will you give them access?
a) a relative of a UK citizen? -- Johnny boy hasn't phoned home for 6 months
b) a UK creditor of a UK citizen? Jane didn't pay her student loans and we think she's hiding in the US
c) a UK governmental agency? Johnny boy's wanted for tax fraud.
d) a US governmental agency? Paranoia knows no bounds so I'll leave you to find an example here.
a) a relative of a UK citizen? -- Johnny boy hasn't phoned home for 6 months
b) a UK creditor of a UK citizen? Jane didn't pay her student loans and we think she's hiding in the US
c) a UK governmental agency? Johnny boy's wanted for tax fraud.
d) a US governmental agency? Paranoia knows no bounds so I'll leave you to find an example here.
Jun 10th 2008, 7:57 pm
#87
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Location: Currently Edinburgh, Scotland
Posts: 68
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
It's your bosses who are the problem 
Anyway = when last did the Brits send a even a Gunboat to protect it's Citezans having been bashed up ? They can't in the UK - so what hope is there abroad....It was a matter of pride at one time to have such a Power protecting us - that died many years ago: actually once Maggie left
Anyway = when last did the Brits send a even a Gunboat to protect it's Citezans having been bashed up ? They can't in the UK - so what hope is there abroad....It was a matter of pride at one time to have such a Power protecting us - that died many years ago: actually once Maggie left
Jun 11th 2008, 2:38 am
#88
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: I live in Hayden Idaho.
Posts: 280
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
I think they know where I am I have that expensive chip in my passport with all the info they need in it
Jun 11th 2008, 3:55 am
#89
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Just outside of decency
Posts: 7,837
Jun 11th 2008, 3:58 am
#90
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Just outside of decency
Posts: 7,837
Re: British government launches on-line registration system for Brits around the worl
Yeah I'll sign up to this so that if I am ever in the UK and need to use the NHS I can be denied as being a non UK resident. Anyone that signs up to this is a muppet. When have the government asked you to do something that you actually benefitted from.
**** 'em.
**** 'em.
