London: Britain government has announced a series of measures to make immigration process more stringent and watchful. Strong border control, tougher sanctions for sponsors of family visas, strict action against violations and false asylum claims are some of the measures the government foresees.
In an effort to curb illegal immigration, the government established a new Migration Impacts Forum, jointly chaired by Immigration Minister Liam Byrne and Communities Minister Phil Woolas.
Byrne said by introducing 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 got here.
"Securing the UK border," published today, also sets out how the UK would overhaul visitor visas—including consulting on tougher sanctions for sponsors of family visas, consulting on requiring English for spouses as well as installing technology at UK ports to record biometrics of non-EEA (N on-European Economic Authority) citizens without visas.
By the end of 2008 half the countries in the world, covering three quarters of the world's population would all need biometric visas with their fingerprints checked against the UK Government database, before travelling to the UK, from 2009 the majority of people would be counted in and out of the UK and ID cards for foreign nationals would be introduced to help ensure only those entitled gain access to work and benefits.
It has also tightened the marriage visas by increasing the minimum wage of sponsors and the person sponsored to 21. "This will form part of a wider Government consultation on measures designed to help combat forced marriage. The introduction of an English language test before entry for spouses will ensure that everyone who comes here for a permanent reason has the skills to participate both socially and economically," the announcement said.
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