Proposals to cut the time visitors from outside the EU can stay in the UK from six months to three months have been announced by ministers.
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 put down a sizeable deposit to sponsor relatives visiting the UK from outside the EU under plans in the consultation paper.
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.
If the relatives did not return home, the money would be forfeited.
Immigration minister Liam Byrne said the plan, put out to consultation, was aimed at "keeping risky people out".
Campaigners said the plan was "unfair" on poorer families. The Tories attacked it as a "headline grabbing gimmick".
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.
'Risky people'
'Risky people'
In addition to shortening standard tourist visas, the government might introduce special occasion visas for events such as the London Olympics in 2012.
In addition to shortening standard tourist visas, the government might 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.
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.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "Tougher checks abroad mean we keep risky people out.
Immigration Minister 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."
The consultation will run for 12 weeks, until 10 March 2008, on the Home Office website.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks, until 10 March 2008, on the Home Office website.
'Unfair'
'Unfair'
The Conservatives dismissed the proposals as a "gimmick" and repeated their call for an annual limit on immigration.
The Conservatives dismissed the 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.
"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:
