£1,000 Bond for Overseas Visitors

[Bigbrother]

Family 'bond' plan for UK visitors | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

Families who sponsor visits for overseas relatives (outside Europe) will have to pay a bond, expected to be £1,000, under new immigration proposals.

(my last post)

[Kris]

Big news this what a crap idea as if 1000 is going to put people off jumping when people pay 10000 to be smuggled in.

Watch this like all the other visa related costs it will go up more than inflation and be 5000 before you know it.

A tax on poor and folks from other countries.

[tater03]

I really would have to agree with you. I mean if someone really wants to stay I don't see how this is really going to stop them. I had not heard about this yet.

[dizzyc]

It is only a proposal, there is going to be a big shake-up in immigration rules for the UK and they are looking at lots of different options. I read that they won't even be discussing the issue until March 2008 but the general opinion from the experts is that it wouldn't work and probably wouldn't be implemented anyway. Even if they decide to go ahead they have stated it wouldn't be compulsory for every case - it would only be for cases where it proves impossible to show their intention to return. That's what I've read anyway but I'm no expert so if anyone is worried check out the UK news pages on the internet. I have also heard that we may be introducing a new points system similar to the Australian system - I think that the government are looking at various solutions but I think we are a long-way off from any real changes being put into force.

[tater03]

Thanks for the explanation. I know that they have been cracking down on immigration in a lot of places. I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of changes here in the future everywhere.