“Millions of pounds will be saved” from scrapping taxpayer-subsidised appeals from those foreign nationals refused a visa.
Immigration minister Damian Green’s announcement – to introduce a clause in the Crime and Courts Bill by 2014 – means that tribunals will be freed up to deal with more serious cases.
The Home Office has said that the number of appeals had “soared” since 2000 when full appeal rights were re-introduced for family visit visas. In 2010/11 the number had risen to almost 50,000, significantly higher than the forecasted 20,000. The cost of processing these appeals was estimated at £29 million pa and was also “an absolute goldmine for immigration lawyers” said Green.
Failed visa applicants will now have to re-apply. They are mostly failed on incorrect evidence to support their application. The Home Office reckons the new system will be faster, expecting a decision on a fresh application taking no more than 15 days, in comparison with an appeal taking up to eight months.
We are not stopping anybody visiting family in the UK; if an applicant meets the rules they will be granted a visa. These changes will save tens of millions of pounds, ” said Green.
The changes, criticised by Labour, bring these visas into line with every other category of visa, such as business or tourist visas, which do not allow a full right of appeal.
Refused applicants will be able to appeal on limited grounds of human rights or race discrimination.
Until the law comes into force, there will be a ban on appeals for those visiting cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces or nephews.
16 May 2012
Enfield Electricity Works
Iain Duncan Smith says the new state pension system will be simpler than the current ‘chaotic’ one
A biometric passport centre is to be set up in Leicester, MP Keith Vaz has revealed.
MANILA, Philippines – Planning to travel to the United Kingdom in time for the 2012 Summer Games? Apply for your visa early, the British Embassy in Manila advised on Wednesday, May 9.
Germany doesn’t exactly share the same reputation as its southern European neighbors for being warm and friendly. But non-European Union job seekers rated it above six other European countries in an immigration and integration survey released by the Migration Policy Group in Brussels on Wednesday.
Many employers in the north-east are required to post employees abroad for operational reasons.
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