IMMIGRATION: Government Announces Big Changes for 2008

This year will see many changes in our immigration system. We will replace the large number of entry routes for migrants with a single, comprehensive piece of legislation, centered on the belief that those who come to the UK do so in Britain’s interest.

You can read the complete text of the government's Green Paper by clicking here.

From March this year, we will introduce a points-based system, similar to that used by Australia, which will ensure that economic migrants are allowed into the UK based on the skills and talents that our economy needs. We will continue to allow the right of family members of British citizens and permanent residents to join their loved ones in the UK, while restricting this right to immediate relatives. And we will continue to uphold Britain’s respected tradition as a haven for those genuinely seeking asylum from torture and persecution.

We are offering a deal to migrants wishing to come to the UK: we will continue to welcome newcomers, but anyone who wants to stay here must speak our language, obey our laws and contribute to our community. There will be three simple stages for migrants wishing to remain in the UK: temporary residency, probationary citizenship and permanent residency or full British citizenship. Migrants must earn the right to progress to the next stage or they will have to leave the UK.

We have set minimum and maximum times for migrants in each of these stages, in order to ensure that the process isn’t rushed through and doesn’t drag on forever. During these stages, we will restrict the right of migrants to access UK benefits. And we will provide incentives: migrants taking an active part in their community will be speeded up in the process, while those who do not obey the law will be slowed down or deported. But that is not all. These measures will be accompanied by a host of other changes being introduced in our immigration system:

Now, for the first time, we have a biometric record of the fingerprints and identity of every person who applies for a visa to come to the UK.
From April, we will have a uniformed UK Border Agency – a force with policing powers to combat illegal immigration, smuggling and human trafficking at our ports and airports.
Our e-borders system will count in every passenger to the UK and count them out again. 95% of journeys will be counted by 2010, and all journeys by 2014.
From November, all foreigners in the UK will be required to have compulsory ID cards which will help authorities to determine those who are entitled to remain and those who should go.
UK visit visas will be reduced from a maximum of six to three months to prevent people over-staying. Those visiting family members will be required to put up a guarantee of £1000 to ensure that visitors go home at the end of their stay.
We are speeding up the deportation of foreign criminals. When Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, he doubled the previous deportation target to 4000 foreign criminals. We have already exceeded this target.
And the new streamlined law will allow us to greatly speed up processing asylum claims so that we can quickly reject those which are not valid, and allow those who genuinely need protection a quick path to integration in our society.

These proposals are a direct result of the discussions that I and many other MPs have had with concerned constituents like yourself. We are still seeking your input and I continue to welcome your views. We aim to have these laws in place by November 2008 and your views will be taken into consideration as we develop the proposals.

I believe it is fair to expect migrants to our country to pay their way, play by the rules and integrate into our society. These new proposals will make sure Britain is safer, fairer and better off.