UK yet to finalise controversial visa bond scheme

London: Britain’s controversial 3,000 pounds visa bond scheme proposed for visitors from certain ‘high risk’ countries, including India, could take weeks to finalise after a high-level meeting here last week, officials said on Sunday.

UK Home Office has proposed a pilot scheme to tackle visa dodgers by issuing the hefty refundable financial bonds to ‘tightly targeted’ tourists. The six countries initially shortlisted for the pilot included India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana.

‘The details of this scheme are still being worked out and the list of countries has not been finalised yet. The meeting addressed the visa bond and officials from the Indian side made their stand very clear. 

All these concerns will be taken on board before the details are worked out,’ a spokesperson for the British High Commission in New Delhi said. The scheme, due to begin with tourist visas this November, is part of a series of measures being used by British government to cut illegal immigration into the country.