UK – Proposed Changes for Business Visitors
and Tourists
By Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy,
LLP12/27/2007
The U.K. government has proposed the following changes for business and
tourist visitors as part of a broader review of its immigration system:
Individuals in the U.K., who invite non-EEA (European
Economic Area) national family members for a visit, must pay a financial
deposit for each visiting family member to ensure transportation costs home
after their visit to the U.K.;
The maximum authorized period of stay for visitors will be reduced from
six months to three months, bringing the U.K. in line with Australia, U.S.,
and most European countries;
A "group travel visa" for foreign nationals visiting the Schengen area
which could also be used to visit the U.K. A separate entry clearance for the
U.K. would not be necessary;
A new business and specialist visa for foreign nationals
undertaking short-term business activities that do not require a work permit;
A new visa for one-time special events, such as the
Olympics; and
A complete review of the foreign national domestic worker category, which
the U.K. previously announced it would abolish.
Please note that these changes are only
proposals at this time. The U.K. government has publicly proposed these
amendments to solicit feedback from immigration firms and individuals. The
consultation period ends on March 10, 2008, with the results of the consultation
being published within three months of that date. The final legal changes made
may differ from these proposals based on the feedback received during the
consultation period.
If enacted, these changes would complement the biometrics visas programme, which
is currently being rolled out at British Diplomatic Posts throughout the world.
The content of this alert is provided for informational purposes only.
If you have any questions regarding this alert or a related matter, please do
not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work
at Fragomen Global Immigration Services or send an email to the appropriate
regional mailbox:
canada@fragomen.com,
lar@fragomen.com (for Latin America),
asiapac@fragomen.com,
or
emea@fragomen.com
(for Europe, Middle East and Africa).
Source:
http://pubweb.fdbl.com/news1.nsf/c8abb103352ef95a86256e3100809438/0ac8b2fffbfb714d852573be00683627?OpenDocument
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