UK VISA changes ( bbc report)

[CharlieH]

14 October 2013 10:27

George Osborne: "We are two great trading nations, with a shared interest in keeping the trade routes of the world open and free"

Visa applications for Chinese visitors entering the UK will be simplified, Chancellor George Osborne has announced during his trade trip to China.

Under the plan, Chinese nationals visiting the EU will not need to submit separate UK visa applications if they book with selected travel agents.

Mr Osborne is trying to persuade more Chinese companies to invest in the UK.

I wonder if this will be widened to other nationals ? Could be good news for many.

[Basil B]

Considering the Chinese are near the top of the list of Immigration Illegals in the UK and the stubbornness of the Chinese Government to provide replacement documents so we can repatriate them, and given Mr Osborne's glowing description of China I just wonder what he is on?

[theoldgit]

This thread is about the proposed easing the of the visa application process for Chinese nationals wishing to visit the UK, whilst it's not Thailand related I thought it might be of interest to some members.

A number of off topic posts have been removed, let's now keep to the subject.

[Kevin1908]

This probably wont last long but considering the hurdles we have to jump I found the attitude supporting law breaking staggering.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/chinatown-goes-strike-protest-ukba-raids-081714369.html?.tsrc=samsungwn#DlNVg9M

Last night on tv they interviewed a very well to do Chinese restaurant owner bleating like hell about receiving 2 £10000 files for getting caught twice for employing illegal immigrants.

I am not sure why the raids have to be intelligence lead. I think that there should be more of this.

[Basil B]

Having seen a number of episodes of "Border Force" these people know they are breaking the law, in many cases they were only fined £500 per illegal worker and the blatant lies told told to try and evade prosecution go well beyond belief, one Indian Restaurant seemed all the illegals only started that morning and the owner had not hat time to check their papers.

You do not have to be einstein if they are employing illegals they are not paying tax or NI, and would need to falsify their books to cover this up so let see the Inland Revenue and VAT inspectors going through their books.

[Jay Sata]

I think you'll find genuine Chinese tourists have an excellent record when it comes to returning home.

I'm not sure where Basil has got his numbers from.

Considering the Chinese are near the top of the list of Immigration Illegals in the UK and the stubbornness of the Chinese Government to provide replacement documents so we can repatriate them, and given Mr Osborne's glowing description of China I just wonder what he is on?

I know from my experience I'd rather be in Shanghai than Scunthorpe any day.

[theoldgit]

I think you'll find genuine Chinese tourists have an excellent record when it comes to returning home.

I'm not sure where Basil has got his numbers from.

Likewise, it might be helpful if you shared the evidence that the Chinese have an excellent record of returning home.

[impulse]

I think you'll find genuine Chinese tourists have an excellent record when it comes to returning home.

By definition, genuine tourists do return home.

The problem is figuring out in advance which of them are genuine tourists and which of them have other plans.

[Basil B]

I did not say the Chinese were the worst offenders but they are a substantial problem, try googling "Chinese illegal immigrants in the UK"

The issue is the Chinese illegals hid or destroy their passports if they had one in the first place, the big problem is the Chinese authorities are obstructive in providing replacement travel documents so these illegals can be repatriated,

My initial comment was questioning George Osborne wisdom in kowtowing to the chinese until such issues are addressed.

[Jay Sata]

I think you'll find genuine Chinese tourists have an excellent record when it comes to returning home.

I'm not sure where Basil has got his numbers from.

Likewise, it might be helpful if you shared the evidence that the Chinese have an excellent record of returning home.

I'd be interested in evidence they do not.

If you have spent any time in China (in my case Dalian) you'll know jumping through the hoops to get the visa and ticket is not easy.

Legal Chinese tourists are just that.

Please do not try to suggest they are all illegal economic migrants. Frankly I would not want to swap Dalian for Scunthorpe or Grimsby.

[7by7]

I think you'll find genuine Chinese tourists have an excellent record when it comes to returning home.

I'm not sure where Basil has got his numbers from.

Likewise, it might be helpful if you shared the evidence that the Chinese have an excellent record of returning home.

I'd be interested in evidence they do not.

If you have spent any time in China (in my case Dalian) you'll know jumping through the hoops to get the visa and ticket is not easy.

Legal Chinese tourists are just that.

Please do not try to suggest they are all illegal economic migrants. Frankly I would not want to swap Dalian for Scunthorpe or Grimsby.

I suggest that you remove your rose coloured glasses and look at the real world, rather than the well off, high society one which you claim to inhabit.

Genuine tourists who abide by their visa conditions are not the problem.

It is the illegals, visa or no, who ARE economic migrants which are the problem.

This report is from 2006, but I doubt things have changed much since.

Chinese immigrants slip under the radar

Those desperate enough to try to enter the UK illegally contact smuggling gangs, run by Chinese criminals known as snakeheads, to get them in.

Many then find themselves working for unscrupulous employers, or forced into criminal activity, to make ends meet in the UK............

..........it appears there are many jobs that will remain "underground" and will be carried out by a hidden army of Chinese immigrants - many illegally in the UK.

Many of them work in poor conditions, live in rotten accommodation, and risk the constant threat of arrest or harassment.

And many, unable to speak English, have taken the drastic step of leaving their families behind in China, to try and solve their financial problems by working illegally in the UK.

Then there are those who enter the UK with valid visas and then disappear.

Plus, most either have no documents or have destroyed them, so it is difficult to remove them if caught; especially as the PRC refuse to accept that they are Chinese citizens because they have no paperwork.

Such abuses are not, of course, restricted to the Chinese.

[theoldgit]

Totally nonsensical post removed.

[Richard W]

Are Chinese illegal immigrants in this country overstayers or illegal entrants? If they're overwhelmingly illegal entrants, then there's no evidence that Chinese tourists are an immigration worry - until the checks are relaxed!

[Basil B]

As I understand it illegal immigrants, as I recall talk of them being smuggled in, in containers, but by lowering the visa requirements just makes an easier route for them.

[7by7]

There are also reported to be a significant number entering on student visas who then overstay.

But, of course, until the UK reintroduce immigration controls and passport checks on exit there is no way of calculating this accurately.

However, considering the conditions attached to this relaxation; must have an EU (presumably Schengen) visa and book with selected travel agents, and the people it is aimed at, investors and business travellers, I doubt that this move will add to the problem of Chinese illegals and overstayers in the UK.