more punitive immigration measures from the home office, and liam byrne – the same mp who doubled the cost of spousal visas this year, and introduced the ridiculous points-based immigration proposal.

Tourist visa times ‘to be halved’

The government is consulting on new visa restrictions. Visitors to the UK would have to leave after three months instead of the current six under new visa proposals being considered by the government.

Families might also have to pay a financial deposit to ensure relatives from outside the EU whose visit they were sponsoring left the UK on time.

The government said the bond, put out to consultation, was “not for everyone, but where we think there’s a risk”.

But immigration groups said it would be “unfair” on poorer families.

The proposals are aimed at those who deliberately overstay or work illegally in the UK.

The government has not revealed how much families would be asked to pay to sponsor an overseas visitor, but press reports suggest it could be a £1,000 bond.

Wow – treating people like probable criminals before they’ve even arrived. Nice.

Isn’t it the I.N.D.’s *job* to figure out who’s likely to become an illegal immigrant BEFORE THEY ENTER THE COUNTRY??!! So instead of doing their jobs *better*, they just want to place the burden on families.

For someone who’s desperate to enter the country, £1000 is absolutely nothing. And for everyone else, it’s just prohibitively punishing.

And where most visa arrangements with countries are reciprocal, does this now mean other countries get to do the same to British citizens?

like so much else in this country, rather than just enforcing the laws which are already in effect, they try to put yet another layer of counterintuitive legislation in place, which doesn’t actually address the problem at hand.

mr byrne seems awfully good at that.

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