Part 3Other Support and Assistance

58 Voluntary departure from United Kingdom

1

A person is a “voluntary leaver” for the purposes of this section if—

a

he is not a British citizen F1...,

b

he leaves the United Kingdom for a place where he hopes to take up permanent residence (his “new place of residence”), and

c

the Secretary of State thinks that it is in the person’s interest to leave the United Kingdom and that the person wishes to leave.

2

The Secretary of State may make arrangements to—

a

assist voluntary leavers;

b

assist individuals to decide whether to become voluntary leavers.

3

The Secretary of State may, in particular, make payments (whether to voluntary leavers or to organisations providing services for them) which relate to—

a

travelling and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of a voluntary leaver, or a member of his family or household, in leaving the United Kingdom;

b

expenses incurred by or on behalf of a voluntary leaver, or a member of his family or household, on or shortly after arrival in his new place of residence;

c

the provision of services designed to assist a voluntary leaver, or a member of his family or household, to settle in his new place of residence;

d

expenses in connection with a journey undertaken by a person (with or without his family or household) to prepare for, or to assess the possibility of, his becoming a voluntary leaver.

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5

The following provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77) shall cease to have effect—

a

section 29 (contributions to expenses of persons returning abroad), and

b

section 31(d) (expenses).