Deportation
The government has powers to remove people who have no leave to be in the UK from the country. It can use administrative powers of removal, or the more serious power of deportation. A person who is deported from the UK cannot return until the deportation order has been lifted, or ‘revoked’. Deportation is normally reserved for cases where a person has committed a criminal offence or is considered a threat to national security.
Determination
The name given to decisions of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT). In a higher court these would be called judgments.
Discretionary leave (DL)
Leave given outside the Immigration Rules in exceptional cases.
Domicile
The country in which a person feels they belong and where that person intends to settle for the rest of their life. This is usually the county in which the person was born and grew up, the “domicile or origin” This can be changed only by a conscious decision to settle and stay in another country and thus acquire a 'domicile of choice'. Domicile is not an immigration status, but can affect immigration decisions where it is necessary to look at national laws to establish a person’s status, for example whether they are married or adopted.
Dual Citizenship/dual nationals
Terms used for people who hold citizenship of more than one country. The UK allows dual nationality, as do most countries in the world. A few countries do not, and people who wish to take the citizenship of those countries are expected to give up all other citizenships.
Dublin II Convention
A European Union (EU) Convention which determines which European Union country is responsible for deciding an application for asylum. People can be sent from the country in which they try to claim asylum to the country held to be responsible under the agreement. This the second version of the agreement, hence the roman numeral for ‘two’ in the name.