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| Tourist visa times 'to be halved' | Tourist visa times 'to be halved' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Visitors to the UK would have to leave after three months instead of the current six under new visa proposals being considered by the government. | Visitors to the UK would have to leave after three months instead of the current six under new visa proposals being considered by the government. |
| Families would also have to pay a financial deposit to ensure relatives from outside the EU whose visit they sponsor leave the UK on time. | Families would also have to pay a financial deposit to ensure relatives from outside the EU whose visit they sponsor leave the UK on time. |
| Immigration minister Liam Byrne said the plan, put out to consultation, was aimed at "keeping risky people out". | Immigration minister Liam Byrne said the plan, put out to consultation, was aimed at "keeping risky people out". |
| But immigration groups said it would be "unfair" on poorer families. | But immigration groups said it would be "unfair" on poorer families. |
| The proposals are aimed at those who deliberately overstay or work illegally in the UK. | The proposals are aimed at those who deliberately overstay or work illegally in the UK. |
| The government has not revealed how much families would be asked to pay to sponsor an overseas visitor, but press reports suggest it could be a £1,000 bond. | The government has not revealed how much families would be asked to pay to sponsor an overseas visitor, but press reports suggest it could be a £1,000 bond. |
| 'Risky people' | 'Risky people' |
| In addition to shortening standard tourist visas, the government might also introduce special occasion visas for events such as the London Olympics in 2012. | In addition to shortening standard tourist visas, the government might also introduce special occasion visas for events such as the London Olympics in 2012. |
| VISA PROPOSALS Cash deposit for visiting family membersVisa stay cut from six to three monthsCreating specific business and specialist visasCreating one-off visa for 2012 Olympics | VISA PROPOSALS Cash deposit for visiting family membersVisa stay cut from six to three monthsCreating specific business and specialist visasCreating one-off visa for 2012 Olympics |
| The consultation was launched as the government announced that over a million fingerprints had now been collected from overseas foreign nationals applying to come to the UK, under a new scheme to "export" Britain's borders. | The consultation was launched as the government announced that over a million fingerprints had now been collected from overseas foreign nationals applying to come to the UK, under a new scheme to "export" Britain's borders. |
| Liam Byrne said: "Tougher checks abroad mean we keep risky people out. | |
| "By next spring we'll check everyone's fingerprints when they apply for a visa; now we're proposing a financial guarantee as well - not for everyone, but where we think there's a risk. | "By next spring we'll check everyone's fingerprints when they apply for a visa; now we're proposing a financial guarantee as well - not for everyone, but where we think there's a risk. |
| "Our aim is to make the system both more secure, but also to ensure that we maintain the UK's position as a destination of choice for tourists." | "Our aim is to make the system both more secure, but also to ensure that we maintain the UK's position as a destination of choice for tourists." |
| Cultural events | Cultural events |
| Visitors to the EU may be offered a cut price and time limited visa to visit the UK to encourage group travel, the consultation document says. | Visitors to the EU may be offered a cut price and time limited visa to visit the UK to encourage group travel, the consultation document says. |
| The government is trying to deter people to come for family visits - this is unfair Habib Rahman, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants | The government is trying to deter people to come for family visits - this is unfair Habib Rahman, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants |
| It also asks whether sporting fixtures or cultural events, such as regional folk festivals or the Edinburgh festival fringe, should be included in the special one-off visa category. | It also asks whether sporting fixtures or cultural events, such as regional folk festivals or the Edinburgh festival fringe, should be included in the special one-off visa category. |
| It says that although 5,750,000 visitors entered the UK for purposes other than business in 2006, the "vast majority" stayed for less than three months. | It says that although 5,750,000 visitors entered the UK for purposes other than business in 2006, the "vast majority" stayed for less than three months. |
| According to the Office for National Statistics' 2005 International Passenger Survey, only 1.1% of overseas residents visiting the UK as tourists stayed for three months or more. | According to the Office for National Statistics' 2005 International Passenger Survey, only 1.1% of overseas residents visiting the UK as tourists stayed for three months or more. |
| The visa consultation will run for 12 weeks, until 10 March 2008, on the Home Office website. | The visa consultation will run for 12 weeks, until 10 March 2008, on the Home Office website. |
| Fingerprints | Fingerprints |
| The Conservatives dismissed the government's proposals as a "headline grabbing gimmick" and repeated their call for an annual limit on immigration. | The Conservatives dismissed the government's proposals as a "headline grabbing gimmick" and repeated their call for an annual limit on immigration. |
| Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the new measures would discriminate against poorer families. | Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the new measures would discriminate against poorer families. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Sounds entirely reasonable and no worse than the requirements any other country imposes Peter Symonds, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Sounds entirely reasonable and no worse than the requirements any other country imposes Peter Symonds, UK Send us your comments |
| "The government is trying to deter people to come for family visits. This is unfair." | "The government is trying to deter people to come for family visits. This is unfair." |
| Applications for visas have gone up by about 50% in the past five years and more than 2 million were issued last year. | Applications for visas have gone up by about 50% in the past five years and more than 2 million were issued last year. |
| Under a new scheme, visa applicants in more than 120 countries are now required to provide fingerprints if they want to visit the UK. | Under a new scheme, visa applicants in more than 120 countries are now required to provide fingerprints if they want to visit the UK. |
| Global checks | Global checks |
| So far checks have identified over 10,000 applicants who have previously been fingerprinted in the UK in connection with immigration cases or asylum applications, the government said. | So far checks have identified over 10,000 applicants who have previously been fingerprinted in the UK in connection with immigration cases or asylum applications, the government said. |
| Those refused entry include an Iraqi citizen who had earlier been refused asylum in the UK under a different identity and a Nigerian citizen who had been jailed for shoplifting under a different identity and deported from the UK. | Those refused entry include an Iraqi citizen who had earlier been refused asylum in the UK under a different identity and a Nigerian citizen who had been jailed for shoplifting under a different identity and deported from the UK. |
| From spring 2008 the aim is for the biometric checks to be extended to all visa applicants globally. | From spring 2008 the aim is for the biometric checks to be extended to all visa applicants globally. |
| 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. |
| Do you have family visiting the UK from outside the EU? What are your thoughts on the possible introduction of a bond? Should tourist visas be limited to three months? Send us your comments using the form below: | Do you have family visiting the UK from outside the EU? What are your thoughts on the possible introduction of a bond? Should tourist visas be limited to three months? Send us your comments using the form below: |