There's little worse when you arrive at your destination than having to wait in a queue at airport Immigration, as we’re sure you would agree.

Fortunately, there is a way to quicken your exit from the airport - The UK Immigration Service's new IRIS programme. This is a service where you register the iris of your eye, which is then photographed when you go to new unmanned Immigration barriers, alongside the existing Immigration barriers at London Heathrow. The barrier then opens and lets you through. The exit process takes just two seconds.

CAN I USE IRIS?

You can apply to use IRIS if you are:

• a permanent resident of the UK;
• permitted to enter or remain in the UKfor more than six months and you have more than two months left of your leave to enter or remain;
• holding a current entry clearancethat is effective as leave to enter the UK and the entry clearance's validity has more than two months left;
• a frequent short-term visitor to the UK and you can demonstrate you have been granted leave to enter the UK as a visitor on at least two occasions in the last six months, or four occasions in the last 12 months;

IRIS is already available in Manchester and will commence operation at London Heathrow Terminal 3 on 30 May 2006. IRIS is due to be rolled out at the other London Heathrow terminals, London Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham very soon.

All you have to do to take advantage of this service is register by going to the designated area of the Terminal 3 departure lounge at London Heathrow. The process takes just five minutes as Home Office immigration officers record your passport information and UK immigration status on a database along with a photograph of your iris pattern.

The process has been designed by the UK Home Office, is safe and efficient, and, presently, is completely free.

So, why not get register and beat those queue blues?

More information on the Iris Programme