GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGY ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM

On 7 February 2005 the government announced its new five-year strategy on immigration and migration entitled ?Controlling our borders: making migration work for Britain'. The key points of the plan are set out below:

On migration

A points system for those coming in to work or study that will consist of four new tiers: highly skilled, skilled, low skilled and student/specialist.

Financial bonds for specific categories where there has been evidence of abuse, to guarantee that migrants return home.

An end to chain migration - no immediate or automatic right for relatives to bring in more relatives.

An end to appeals when applying from abroad to work or study.

Only skilled workers allowed to settle long-term in the UK after five years (rather than the current four) and provided they can support themselves financially. English language tests for everyone who wants to stay permanently.

£2000 fixed penalty fines for employers for each illegal worker they employ as part of the drive against illegal working.

On asylum:

Granting refugees temporary leave rather than permanent status to begin with, whilst keeping the situation in their country under review.

More detention of failed asylum seekers, with 300 new places by 2007.

Fast-track processing of all unfounded asylum seekers, with an expansion in numbers detained under the fast-track procedures. Electronic tagging and voice recognition will be introduced to assist removal.

Strong border controls with fingerprinting of all visa applicants and electronic checks on all those entering and leaving the country. Ten 'high-risk' routes covering six million people will have the new technology from as early as April 2005. Immigration controls will continue to be extended beyond the UK's borders, with immigration officers clearing migrants for entry in their own country. This will be accompanied by use of biometric identity cards.

Removals of failed asylum seekers to exceed failed claims. Countries that do not cooperate with return of asylum seekers will be penalised through some migration schemes.

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