From 12 May 2004 Kenyans and Tanzanians have to apply for transit visas in order to travel through the UK.
Up until that date nationals of those two countries had to obtain visas in order to visit the UK, but if they were staying in the UK for less than 24 hours on their way to another country, then they were permitted to pass through for that short period without the need for applying for and obtaining a visa. The requirements have now been tightened and visas are required even for a stopover in the UK.
The new requirements apply to all Kenyan and Tanzanian nationals who intend to travel through the UK in transit, unless they qualify for an exemption.
On 1 May 2004 changes to the law came into effect to prevent the employment of illegal workers. [The relevant legislation, Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, has been amended to reflect the new provisions.] This means that since that date employers are required by law to undertake new checks before employing an individual.
What is the new law all about?
It is now essential for all employers in the UK to make the necessary new checks to ensure that the person they are considering employing is allowed to work legally in this country. Failure to do so will place the employer at risk of committing a criminal offence, so it is therefore vital that employers are aware of the responsibility on them and that they know how to discharge that responsibility adequately and confidently.