There's little worse when you want to get home as fast as possible, than waiting in a queue at airport Immigration, as I'm 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. 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 UK for more than six months and you have more than two months left of your leave to enter or remain;
• a 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; if you require a visa to visit the UK, you will also need a current entry clearance that is effective as leave to enter the UK and has more than two months validity left ;

IRIS is already available in the following UK airport terminals:

• London Heathrow Airport - Terminals 1,2,3,4
  
  
• London Gatwick Airport - North terminal (South Terminal due mid-April)
  
  
• Manchester Airport - Terminals 1,2
  
  
• Birmingham Airport - Terminal 1
  
  

All you have to do to take advantage of this service is register by going to the designated area of the departure lounge at any participating airport. 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 Home Office, is safe and efficient, and, presently, is completely free.

So, why not register and beat those queue blues?

To obtain more information on the IRIS Programme, visit www.iris.gov.uk