UK to punish sponsors of overstayers

By ESTRELLA TORRES
Business Reporter

The British government has adopted a stricter visa policy that requires foreigners who sponsor visa applications of their relatives to face sanctions, including jail sentence, if their relatives fail to return home before the visa expiration.

The British Embassy in Manila announced the new visa rules along with the program granting short-term, low-cost visas for group travel and one-off special events, such as the Edinburgh festival and the 2012 London Olympics.

“If sponsors fail in their duties, they face a ban on bringing new entrants to the UK, and penalties of up to £5,000 or a jail sentence,” said the announcement of the British embassy in Manila.

It also added that the new system includes separate visas for sportspeople and entertainers, and a clear and distinct visa category for business visitors. Under the new rules, the maximum stay for visitors to the UK remains at six months.

Although part of the European Union, the United Kingdom does not implement the common Schengen visa policy and maintains its own visa system.

British Minister for Border and Immigration Liam Byrne said the new visa system seeks to institutionalize fairness in the grant of visas to all visitors traveling to Britain.

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