However, tourist visa period has been reduced to three months from six months. The obligation of financial bonds of £1,000 for family visit visa may be on case-to-case basis.

This was stated by Liam Byrne, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, Britain, at a press conference here today. He said, “I am here with a community delegation. The age-old Britain immigration system needs a change, for which we are conducting field visits.”

“The duration of the family visit visa will not be reduced from six months to three months. Also, we are deliberating on the financial bond of £1,000 or any other guarantee for family visitors, but it’s not a blanket rule. It will be on case-to-case basis,” said Byrne.

However, the duration of tourist visa would be reduced from six months to three months, he said. “We want more visitors to come and are trying to relax visa rules, as £16 billion per year comes from tourists. Besides, we have re-introduced 10-year multi-entry visa.”

Admitting that migration is important, he said, “Since 1960, migration has doubled in the world and in the UK. We get £6 billion through it. However, we welcome only legal migration and by December, strict entry controls will be in place. Besides, biometrics system has been started to issue visas.”

He said, “Later this year, a new point system will be introduced for immigration and working holiday visa. Draft rules for it will be out by March-end. Every year, we earn £8 billion from students, whose number in the UK is 20,000.”