New UK visa policy focuses on illegal immigrants

[Harold F. Schiffman]

New UK visa policy focuses on illegal immigrants

By M. Ziauddin

LONDON, March 28: The UK government on Tuesday announced a new visa policy
which proposes to tighten the countrys borders against unwelcome visitors
but at the same time attempts to make border crossing as simple as
possible for legal travellers. Announcing the new measures, Immigration
Minister Liam Byrne said that by the end of 2008 people from half the
countries in the world, covering three quarters of the worlds population,
will all need biometric visas with their fingerprints checked against the
UK government database, before coming into the country. Briefing the media
at the foreign and commonwealth office, the minister said that more people
would face checks before entering the UK to further tighten the UKs
borders.

Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman, who accompanied the immigration
minister, said that the strategy would set the standard for a modern
border, protecting security and economic interests to make travel and
migration work best for Britain. Mr Byrne said, through the introduction
of a US-style visa waiver programme, the government would create a
strengthened border control to screen people it wanted to enter the UK and
to deny entry to those it did not, even before they would arrive here.From
2009, the majority of people will be counted in and out of the UK; and ID
cards for foreign nationals will be used to help ensure only those
entitled gain access to work and benefits, Mr Byrne added.

Marriage visas have been tightened by increasing the minimum age of
sponsors and the person sponsored to 21 which is expected to discourage
forced marriages and the introduction of an English language test before
entry for spouses will ensure that everyone who comes to Britain for a
permanent reason has the skills to participate both socially and
economically. People in the UK will now be required to vouch for their
family member.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/29/top14.htm

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