The UK government has said it remains committed to tackling immigration abuse and has been looking at a range of options.
“One of those options was a financial bond. The British government has now decided not to proceed with that option,” said a media release of the British High Commission in Dhaka.
A spokesperson for the British Home Office said has said, “The government has been considering whether we pilot a bond scheme that would deter people from overstaying the visa. We’ve decided not to proceed.”
British High Commissioner Robert W Gibson confirmed the decision on Monday, the release said.
He said, “The UK wants the brightest and the best to help create the jobs and growth that will enable Britain to compete in the global race. If you’re an overseas businessperson seeking to invest and trade with world class businesses, one of the thousands of legitimate students keen to study at our first-class universities or a tourist visiting our world-class attractions, be in no doubt: Britain is open for business.”
One of the immigration proposals of the Conservative-led coalition government in the United Kingdom, the scheme envisaged subjecting visitors from six “high-risk” Commonwealth countries to pay a surety of £3000 for a visa to the UK.
The scheme, to have been introduced on a pilot basis this month, would have made it mandatory for persons on visitors’ visa from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana to pay the deposit, which would be forfeited if they did not return home.
Source: UNB Connect