This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6501451.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Stronger borders' plan unveiled | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| More people will face checks before entering the UK in an effort to tighten border controls, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne has announced. | |
| Family members who "sponsor" immmigrants could also be fined if they overstay their visas. | |
| "The days when border control started at the White Cliffs of Dover are over," said Mr Byrne. | |
| The minimum age at which foreign nationals can receive marriage visas will also be raised from 18 to 21. | |
| According to reports, this will mean about 3,000 fewer people - mainly women from India - will come to the UK. | According to reports, this will mean about 3,000 fewer people - mainly women from India - will come to the UK. |
| Home Secretary John Reid told Sky News that opinion polls repeatedly showed that Britons' highest priority was "fair and effective" management of immigration. | |
| Iris scanners | Iris scanners |
| He said new measures would include a requirement for people intending to come to the UK to show a Visa, before they leave their country of origin. | He said new measures would include a requirement for people intending to come to the UK to show a Visa, before they leave their country of origin. |
| They would also look at using new technology, like fingerprint or iris scanners, to prove identities, uniforms for border control officials, and reducing the number of people arriving as a result of forced marriages. | They would also look at using new technology, like fingerprint or iris scanners, to prove identities, uniforms for border control officials, and reducing the number of people arriving as a result of forced marriages. |
| "This is the next stage in a six or seven year plan, year on year, to restore some really effective control to the tracking of people in or out of the country," he told Sky News. | "This is the next stage in a six or seven year plan, year on year, to restore some really effective control to the tracking of people in or out of the country," he told Sky News. |
| It is completely unfair that these vulnerable groups should bear the brunt of the costs of increased immigration enforcement Habib Rahman Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants | It is completely unfair that these vulnerable groups should bear the brunt of the costs of increased immigration enforcement Habib Rahman Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants |
| Under the change to the marital entry requirement, the minimum age of the UK spouse will also have to rise to 21. | Under the change to the marital entry requirement, the minimum age of the UK spouse will also have to rise to 21. |
| Officials say this will reduce the number of immigrants coming to the country as a result of forced marriages. | Officials say this will reduce the number of immigrants coming to the country as a result of forced marriages. |
| About 15,000 British people marry foreign nationals from outside the European Union each year. | About 15,000 British people marry foreign nationals from outside the European Union each year. |
| The government is also expected to introduce confidential interviews for people entering the country to make sure they have not been forced into marriage. Under the proposals, intended spouses will be expected to show some proficiency in English. | The government is also expected to introduce confidential interviews for people entering the country to make sure they have not been forced into marriage. Under the proposals, intended spouses will be expected to show some proficiency in English. |
| The Home Office's plans include a proposal to run a pilot scheme to send text messages reminding people not to overstay their visas. | The Home Office's plans include a proposal to run a pilot scheme to send text messages reminding people not to overstay their visas. |
| It also proposes charging immigrants more in fees for leave to remain and naturalisation. | It also proposes charging immigrants more in fees for leave to remain and naturalisation. |
| Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: "The new rules could effectively deny UK settlement and citizenship to some of the children in these families indeterminately, while the fees relative to these groups' lower incomes are swingeing. | Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: "The new rules could effectively deny UK settlement and citizenship to some of the children in these families indeterminately, while the fees relative to these groups' lower incomes are swingeing. |
| "It is completely unfair that these vulnerable groups should bear the brunt of the costs of increased immigration enforcement." | "It is completely unfair that these vulnerable groups should bear the brunt of the costs of increased immigration enforcement." |
| Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have accused the home secretary of putting rhetoric above action. | Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have accused the home secretary of putting rhetoric above action. |