UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

Proposed Changes to the UK Visa List

Thursday, 17 July 2008

The UK is currently deciding whether to alter the immigration rules regarding 11 countries.

Visitors from these countries are currently exempt from applying for a UK visa before visiting the country, but could soon be part of the program of more than 100 countries whose nationals are required to apply for visas.

The United Kingdom has finished a review of all non-European Union countries based on factors such as risk of illegal immigration, crime, and security. The test found a "strong case" for implementing visa regimes for Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

The criteria for the Visa Waiver Test included looking at passport security and integrity, the level of cooperation in dealing with deportations of a country's nationals from the UK, the number of illegal workers in the UK and other "immigration abuse", and levels of crime and terrorism risk posed to the UK. The extent to which a country's authorities were addressing these threats was also a factor in the test.

The Home Office will give them until the end of the year to prove they have increased security in measures such as passport security, crime and tourism and cooperation in deportations from the UK, reports the Press Association. Mr Byrne told the news organisation: "Three-quarters of the world's population need to pass a visa check to come to Britain. We cannot and will not shy away from going wider and will wherever we think there's a risk to the UK."

If you are interested in UK Visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to the UK.