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.
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.
The move is among measures aimed at further tightening the visa system.
The move is among measures aimed at 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.
A discussion paper will also outline plans to make UK families sponsor relatives visiting from outside the EU by paying a cash bond.
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.
If they do not return home, the money is forfeited. Similar moves in the past have been condemned as discriminatory.
Forfeit bond
Home affairs correspondent Andy Tighe said the proposals, which will go to consultation, were intended to target those who deliberately overstay or work illegally in the UK.
The new measures are said to be contained within a consultation document set to be unveiled by immigration minister Liam Byrne.
'Headline-grabbing'
BBC 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.
He said as well as shortening standard tourist visas, they might introduce special occasion visas for events such as the London Olympics in 2012.
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.
Applications for visas have gone up by about 50% in the past five years and more than 2 million were issued last year.
The bond would then be forfeited if the relative did not leave when the visa expired.
Conservatives branded the plans as a "headline-grabbing gimmick".
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.
Instead, they said, an annual limit on overall immigrants was what was needed.
He said such appeals, which currently cost between £30m and £40m a year, could be replaced by a simpler and cheaper appeal process.
The new measures are said to be contained within a consultation document to be unveiled by immigration minister Liam Byrne.
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.
Earlier, the Sunday Telegraph 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.
Do you have family visiting the UK from outside the EU? What are your thoughts on the possible introduction of a £1000 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 £1,000 bond? Should tourist visas be limited to three months? Send us your comments using the form below:
