Legal News
Immigrants to Pass Exam to Receive UK Passport (13 October 2011)
Date: 13/10/2011
David Cameron has announced that migrants will be required to pass a test covering British history and culture in order to qualify for a UK passport. The Prime Minister wants foreign nationals who wish to settle in the UK permanently to sit a multiple-choice “Life in the UK” exam yet Labour ministers ruled that the test should not incorporate a history section as Britain had a rich history and a test covering it would be unfair. Mr. Cameron claims that badly controlled immigration has compounded the failure of the welfare system.
The Prime Minister believes that in order to reduce net migration to tens of thousands, the Government needs to crack down on student visas, work visas, marriage, settlement, and illegal immigration. Proposals to force migrants to pay a bond before they are allowed to enter the UK were also announced, as were plans to crack down on migrants who owe the NHS £1,000 or greater for non-emergency treatment. They will either be refused a visa, preventing the receipt of follow-up treatment, or refused renewal of their permission to stay. Officials have predicted that the proposals to stamp down on so called ‘health tourism’ could result in savings of £20 million over five years.
Duncan Lewis’ immigration solicitors possess broad knowledge and vast experience of general and business immigration and asylum law. The team can offer assistance with general immigration, refugee and asylum immigration, work permits and visas, and business immigration. The department can advise both privately funded and publically funded clients.