Bangladesh was being considered for a pilot trial of the UK’s new visa scheme and, if chosen, a small number comprising the ‘highest risk visitors’ would be affected, British High Commission in Dhaka said on Tuesday in a statement.
But the final decision was yet to be taken, it said.
According to the statement, the UK had already announced its intention to try out the “use of financial bonds as a way of tackling abuse in the immigration system”.
The policy details were being finalised, it read.
The statement has been issued following reports of UK’s plans to put the use of immigration bonds on trial.
Earlier reports had said the pilot scheme would require visa-seekers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya to pay £3,000 as cash guarantee along with visa applications.
Anyone overstaying beyond the permitted period was liable to forfeit the amount, the reports said.
The Indian daily, The Hindu, had said the British Home Office saw the ‘the most significant risk of visa abuse’ from these seven countries.
It cited British Home Secretary Theresa May’s statement as saying that her government was keen to make the immigration system ‘more selective’.
The British High Commission in Dhaka also said that Australia and New Zealand were opting for financial bonds ranging between 5,000 and 15,000 Australian dollars and 5,000 and 10,000 New Zealand dollars to reduce the risk of visitors overstaying their visa.
Source: Bd news24
