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'Stronger borders' plan unveiled 'Stronger borders' plan unveiled
(about 1 hour later)
More people will face checks before entering the UK in an effort to tighten border controls, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne has announced. The minimum age for a marriage visa is to be raised from 18 to 21, in a bid to combat forced marriages.
Family members who "sponsor" immmigrants could also be fined if they overstay their visas. Spouses or fiances who want to come to the UK from outside the EU may also have to pass an English test first.
"The days when border control started at the White Cliffs of Dover are over," said Mr Byrne. People who act as guarantors for people on family visit visas could also face fines of £1,000 if they overstay.
The minimum age at which foreign nationals can receive marriage visas will also be raised from 18 to 21. The proposals are part of a bid to strengthen UK border controls, which will see more people being screened before they enter the UK.
According to reports, this will mean about 3,000 fewer people - mainly women from India - will come to the UK. Home Office Minister Liam Byrne also announced the creation of a new government committee which will look at the social impact of immigration.
Home Secretary John Reid told Sky News that opinion polls repeatedly showed that Britons' highest priority was "fair and effective" management of immigration. Social impact
Iris scanners The decision to set up the Migration Impact Forum (MIF) goes even further than plans announced earlier this year.
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. The days when border control started at the White Cliffs of Dover are over Liam Byrne, immigration minister
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 reflects concern about the strain placed on public services such as the NHS and schools by immigrants, as well as on housing and transport.
"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. But Mr Byrne said the forum would also look at the impact of migration on community cohesion and would report to the proposed Migration Advisory Committee which will set quotas for migrant workers through the new Australian-style points-based system.
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 Measuring community cohesion was not "an exact science," added Mr Byrne, but he said "we will be establishing the means to take into account the wider impact of immigration" on communities.
Under the change to the marital entry requirement, the minimum age of the UK spouse will also have to rise to 21. The government has already announced plans to strengthen border controls, including ID cards for all immigrants and greater use of technology such as iris scans to check identity.
Officials say this will reduce the number of immigrants coming to the country as a result of forced marriages. But it is also planning a shake-up of the visa system, which could have a major impact on UK citizens who want to bring family members into the country.
About 15,000 British people marry foreign nationals from outside the European Union each year. 'Family pressure'
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. British people being guarantors in a Sponsored Family Visitor visa may have to give undertakings to house the applicant and pay for any non-emergency medical care they require during their stay.
The Home Office's plans include a proposal to run a pilot scheme to send text messages reminding people not to overstay their visas. Mr Byrne said: "I think a fine of £1,000 or more will encourage sponsors to take their responsibilities seriously.
It also proposes charging immigrants more in fees for leave to remain and naturalisation. "We need to consult with a number of organisations about how best this can be put into effect."
The plan also proposed raising the minimum age for a marriage visa from 18 to 21.
In a report published earlier, the Home Office says "there are sometimes situations in which a young person is forced by family pressure into an unwanted union," with one party needing a visa to enter the UK.
Interviews
Raising the minimum age to 21, would "allow the young people involved to have completed their education as well as allowing them to gain in maturity and possess adequate life skills," it adds.
The government is also expected to introduce confidential interviews for people entering the country to make sure they have not been forced into marriage.
About 15,000 British people marry foreign nationals from outside the European Union each year. The age at which people in the UK can get married is 16.
HAVE YOUR SAY As always with this Government it's way too little way too late Paul, Aberdeen Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY As always with this Government it's way too little way too late Paul, Aberdeen Send us your comments
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. The government said it expected the number of people entering and leaving the UK to increase by 50% in the next seven years.
"It is completely unfair that these vulnerable groups should bear the brunt of the costs of increased immigration enforcement." It wants to "export" Britain's borders to screen more people wanting to enter the UK before they get there.
"The days when border control started at the White Cliffs of Dover are over," said Mr Byrne.
He also pledged to count in and count out 95% of travellers by 2009.
The home office also proposes charging immigrants more in fees for leave to remain and naturalisation - sparking criticism from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants which accused ministers of being "completely unfair that these vulnerable groups".
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.