11/07/2012
Tourism Body Claims Tough Visas Costing UK £2.8bn
Billions of pounds in tourist revenue is being lost every year because of expensive and laborious visa system, the UKs main tourism body has said.
Visit Britain claim that visa liberalisation "could deliver £2.8bn extra spend from tourism".
Foreign tourism is worth £18bn a year to the UK economy - the country's third largest generator of foreign income after chemicals and financial services.
Currently, France, for example, receives eight times the number of Chinese tourists - known for being high-spending - than the UK, with Germany welcoming six times the number.
David Cameron has urged tourism leaders to do more to attract foreign visitors.
To visit most countries in Europe, foreign tourists need only apply for a single - Schengen - visa.
The UK however requires a separate and, critics say, more complicated and intrusive form, with applicants required to answer detailed questions on their income, expenditure, attitude to terrorism, and they must supply biometric data including fingerprints.
Alp Mehmet, from Migration Watch, which campaigns to control immigration, says that although the Schengen form may be shorter it is just as complex: "Whatever reasons there may be for people going to France, it's not because the Schengen visa process is any easier."
(H)
Visit Britain claim that visa liberalisation "could deliver £2.8bn extra spend from tourism".
Foreign tourism is worth £18bn a year to the UK economy - the country's third largest generator of foreign income after chemicals and financial services.
Currently, France, for example, receives eight times the number of Chinese tourists - known for being high-spending - than the UK, with Germany welcoming six times the number.
David Cameron has urged tourism leaders to do more to attract foreign visitors.
To visit most countries in Europe, foreign tourists need only apply for a single - Schengen - visa.
The UK however requires a separate and, critics say, more complicated and intrusive form, with applicants required to answer detailed questions on their income, expenditure, attitude to terrorism, and they must supply biometric data including fingerprints.
Alp Mehmet, from Migration Watch, which campaigns to control immigration, says that although the Schengen form may be shorter it is just as complex: "Whatever reasons there may be for people going to France, it's not because the Schengen visa process is any easier."
(H)
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The number of workers entering the UK from outside Europe will be controlled by a new limit the Home Secretary, Theresa May, has announced this week. Net migration will be scaled back to the levels of the 1990s - to tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands.
Cap Proposed For Non EC Migrants
The number of workers entering the UK from outside Europe will be controlled by a new limit the Home Secretary, Theresa May, has announced this week. Net migration will be scaled back to the levels of the 1990s - to tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands.
06 January 2010
Migrant ID Card Scheme Extended
Skilled migrants seeking to renew their UK visas will now be required to apply for a compulsory ID card, it was announced today. Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said the roll out of the scheme has continued ahead of schedule. More than 130,000 cards have been issued since the scheme was introduced in November 2008.
Migrant ID Card Scheme Extended
Skilled migrants seeking to renew their UK visas will now be required to apply for a compulsory ID card, it was announced today. Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said the roll out of the scheme has continued ahead of schedule. More than 130,000 cards have been issued since the scheme was introduced in November 2008.
06 April 2011
Limit On Non-EU Workers Enforced
The first major change to reduce immigration into the UK has been delivered today, as the government's new annual limit comes into force. This, along with radical changes recently introduced to the student route and plans to tackle permanent settlement, will see net migration fall back down to the tens of thousands.
Limit On Non-EU Workers Enforced
The first major change to reduce immigration into the UK has been delivered today, as the government's new annual limit comes into force. This, along with radical changes recently introduced to the student route and plans to tackle permanent settlement, will see net migration fall back down to the tens of thousands.
09 December 2013
Independent Scotland To Provide Post-Study Visas
An independent Scotland would provide a post-study work visa to encourage graduates to stay in the country, according to Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney. The visa plans would allow recent graduates to stay in the country to work or set up a business.
Independent Scotland To Provide Post-Study Visas
An independent Scotland would provide a post-study work visa to encourage graduates to stay in the country, according to Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney. The visa plans would allow recent graduates to stay in the country to work or set up a business.
30 August 2012
LMU Visa Licence Revoked
A London university has had its right to sponsor students from outside the EU revoked. London Metropolitan University will no longer be allowed to authorise visas. More than 2,000 undergraduates potentially face deportation.
LMU Visa Licence Revoked
A London university has had its right to sponsor students from outside the EU revoked. London Metropolitan University will no longer be allowed to authorise visas. More than 2,000 undergraduates potentially face deportation.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.