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| Tourist visa times 'to be halved' | Tourist visa times 'to be halved' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Proposals to cut the time tourists from outside the EU can stay in the UK from six months to three are expected to be announced by ministers this week. | |
| The move is among measures aimed at further tightening the visa system. | The move is among measures aimed at further tightening the visa system. |
| A deposit of at least £1,000 to be paid by families who want relatives to visit Britain will also be introduced. | |
| Meanwhile, the Home Office has defended the payment of thousands of pounds to failed asylum seekers to persuade them to return to their home countries. | Meanwhile, the Home Office has defended the payment of thousands of pounds to failed asylum seekers to persuade them to return to their home countries. |
| Forfeit bond | Forfeit bond |
| The new measures are said to be contained within a consultation document set to be unveiled by immigration minister Liam Byrne. | The new measures are said to be contained within a consultation document set to be unveiled by immigration minister Liam Byrne. |
| The BBC's political correspondent, Gary O'Donoghue, said the idea of a cash bond was not a new one but he understood ministers were convinced it was the way forward. | The BBC's political correspondent, Gary O'Donoghue, said the idea of a cash bond was not a new one but he understood ministers were convinced it was the way forward. |
| It would see people using "sponsored family visits" to enable relatives from outside the European Union to visit on temporary visas would need to put up a cash bond. | It would see people using "sponsored family visits" to enable relatives from outside the European Union to visit on temporary visas would need to put up a cash bond. |
| The bond would then be forfeited if the relative did not leave when the visa expired. | The bond would then be forfeited if the relative did not leave when the visa expired. |
| Our correspondent also said the existing right of appeal to a full tribunal against a decision by immigration authorities not to grant a visa could be scrapped. | Our correspondent also said the existing right of appeal to a full tribunal against a decision by immigration authorities not to grant a visa could be scrapped. |
| He said such appeals which currently cost between £30m and £40m a year, could be replaced by a simpler and cheaper appeal process. | He said such appeals which currently cost between £30m and £40m a year, could be replaced by a simpler and cheaper appeal process. |
| The government has already announced other changes to the visa system which Mr Byrne described as the "biggest shake-up of the immigration system in history". | The government has already announced other changes to the visa system which Mr Byrne described as the "biggest shake-up of the immigration system in history". |
| They included a points-based system for economic migrants and the tightening of procedures for people bringing spouses into the country. | They included a points-based system for economic migrants and the tightening of procedures for people bringing spouses into the country. |
| Market stalls | Market stalls |
| Separately, the Sunday Telegraph has reported how £36m was paid to failed asylum seekers to enable them to set up businesses back in their own countries. | Separately, the Sunday Telegraph has reported how £36m was paid to failed asylum seekers to enable them to set up businesses back in their own countries. |
| Since 1999, more than 23,000 migrants have received up to £4,000 each under the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme. | Since 1999, more than 23,000 migrants have received up to £4,000 each under the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme. |
| According to the paper, the funding has enabled people to set up clothes factories or market stalls back home. | According to the paper, the funding has enabled people to set up clothes factories or market stalls back home. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said the government was resorting to "bribing them to leave - with the taxpayer picking up the bill". | Shadow home secretary David Davis said the government was resorting to "bribing them to leave - with the taxpayer picking up the bill". |
| But the Home Office said the programme - part-funded by the EU - was cheaper than forcibly returning failed asylum seekers which costs £11,000 a time. | But the Home Office said the programme - part-funded by the EU - was cheaper than forcibly returning failed asylum seekers which costs £11,000 a time. |