Britain’s new-look visa rules

VISITOR visa routes are to be consolidated from the current 15 to just four as part of a streamlined system for leisure and business travellers to the UK.

The new categories – said to be easier-to-understand – offer greater flexibility for the people using them, and will be accompanied by user-friendly guidance to make the process of visiting Britain simpler. 

The changes will affect all those wishing to visit the UK from April – from business visitors and tourists to sportspeople and entertainers.

Home secretary Theresa May said: ‘These reforms to the immigration system are part of our work to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Britain remains open for business, and that visitors are always welcome in the UK, whether they come for leisure or work.’

Policy and entry requirements are not being changed – but the rules and guidance are being simplified so people do not unwittingly fall foul of the immigration visitor rules. Reducing visa categories from 15 to four will help people apply for the right visa, and it will increase the types of activities visitors can do while they are in Britain. An applicant can visit for business meetings and a holiday, and will not need to request two separate visas.

The four new visa categories will be:

· Visitor (standard).

· Visitor (to hold marriage or civil partnership).

· Visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements.

· Visitors transiting the UK.

While more flexibility is being introduced to the system, the government says it will continue to bear down on those who abuse it. From April, exit checks will enable the Home Office for the first time to determine who has complied with the length of their visa. As well as identifying individuals who have remained illegally, exit checks will provide valuable information on the sorts of immigration routes and visas that are most subject to abuse — enabling the government to target and tighten those routes.

Latest statistics show there were 2.1 million visitor visa applications received in the year ending September 2014, with just under two million visas issued.


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