There was an international outcry in June when it emerged that the government were planning to ask some visitors from India, Nigeria, Pakistan Kenya, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to pay a £3,000 cash bond in return for a visitor visa to allow them to stay in the UK for up to six months. The Home Office said the scheme would deter people from overstaying, but governments in Delhi and Abuja expressed “strong displeasure” about the plans. Based on this, the Business Secretary, Vince Cable has urged the government to scrap plans to make certain overseas visitors to Britain pay a £3,000 bond to obtain tourist visas because it sends out the “wrong message” about the UK. In his second attack of coalition immigration policy within 48 hours, the business secretary told the Financial Times that Number 10’s determination to press on with the visitor bond pilot in November was disappointing as he urged the prime minister to change course.
But as it stands, Britain is still pressing ahead with its trial of the scheme to make visitors from the six countries pay the £3,000 bond, despite an international backlash and complaints from businesses. The government stated that, it would begin a pilot test in November.
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