Wealthy foreign tourists and business people to be given fast track British visa

[joebloggs]

If you're not British and you've got money you can get a visa within 24 hrs but if you're British and you want one for your partner you're paying more and have to wait months :mad:

I wonder if you will even have to wait longer now, as these will be a priority :mad:


Wealthy foreign tourists and businessmen and women will be offered a 24 hour fast track visa service to encourage them to come to Britain, David Cameron has announced.



Read more here .....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11227191/Wealthy-foreign-tourists-and-business-people-to-be-given-fast-track-British-visa.html

[Ako Si Jamie]

Another kick in the crotch for the average Brit from that pasty faced prick. :mad:

[imagine]

US and THEM

One rule for them one rule for us :cwm23:

[SimonH]

Us and them :Erm:
A kick in the crotch for the average Brit :Erm:

It's a priority service, a fast track. The same as the average Brit paying to have their passport fast tracked. It's an option not a requirement, it's bringing an extra £600 per application into the British economy, that's a right kick in the crotch isn't it :icon_lol:

[Dedworth]

Us and them :Erm:
A kick in the crotch for the average Brit :Erm:

It's a priority service, a fast track. The same as the average Brit paying to have their passport fast tracked. It's an option not a requirement, it's bringing an extra £600 per application into the British economy, that's a right kick in the crotch isn't it :icon_lol:

:iagree:

[Trefor]

Why such envy and spite on this thread? In the real world some people have more money than other people, they fly by private jet (bastrds), stay in $5,000+ a night hotels (gits) and enjoy many trappings of life we don't have access to (how unfair). Get over it, welcome to the world we live in. Now mega millionaires want to visit Europe to spend their money. London is a preferred location. Why not make it easier for them to dump their money in our country? Its not as if they are going to be a drag on our welfare system is it? They won't be in front of you in the queue for that new NHS Dentist. They are coming, they will go to Paris/Zurich etc. if we don't make it easy for them.

I don't see what the issue is. It is a bit like the premium visa appointments you can get where they come to you. Or even the PEO appointments vs by post.

[Longweekend]

Agree :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[joebloggs]

I don't see what the issue is. It is a bit like the premium visa appointments you can get where they come to you. Or even the PEO appointments vs by post.

You think they've employed more people at the Embassy? I doubt it. Those waiting for spouse visas will have to wait longer now, as these business people will be a priority, along with Visit visas, family permits and, last in the queue, will be settlement visas.

£600? Tell me what your poor Brit pays for a Settlement visa :Erm: £900! If they can process one of these visas in 24 hrs, they can process a settlement visa in 24 hrs instead of months, and Brits are pushed further to the end of the queue. That's the problem :mad:

[SimonH]

You think they've employed more people at the Embassy? I doubt it

But you don't know :smile:


Those waiting for spouse visas will have to wait longer, as these business people will be a priority

You don't know they'll have to wait longer, and those business people are paying £600 to be fast tracked :biggrin:



£600 tell me what your poor Brit pays for a Settlement visa :Erm: £900!

No, nothing :smile: Your poor Brit doesn't need a settlement visa :xxgrinning--00xx3:


If they can process one of these visas in 24 hrs, they can process a settlement visa in 24 hrs instead of months, and Brits are pushed further to the end of the queue. That's the problem :mad:

I'm sure there's a lot more background checks done on a settlement visa, but a very valid point nonetheless. Maybe that'll be the next fast track visa, for a premium of course :wink:

[joebloggs]

But you don't know :smile:


One thing is for certain - you definitely don't know :wink:

A Brit doesn't need to pay for a settlement visa for their partner? :icon_lol:

Common sense tells you that if you start prioritising applications others will NOT be prioritised and a queue forms as these will be fast tracked in 24 hrs, unless you can post me in a link showing they have taken on extra staff just to deal with these visa apps.

Family permits are a priority, less that 24 hrs to process this visa. It's up to 15 working days to process 90% of visit visas, and 12 weeks for up to 95% of settlement visas. Why 12wks ???

You say they do more background checks for a settlement visa. Like what ?? And why don't they do these checks for everyone else ? :wink:

[SimonH]

One thing is for certain - you definitely don't know :wink:

A Brit doesn't need to pay for a settlement visa for their partner? :icon_lol:

Common sense tells you that if you start prioritising applications others will NOT be prioritised and a queue forms as these will be fast tracked in 24 hrs, unless you can post me in a link showing they have taken on extra staff just to deal with these visa apps.

Less that 24 hrs to process this visa? It's up to 15 working days to process 90% of visit visas, and 12 weeks for up to 95% of settlement visas. Why 12wks ??

You say they do more background checks for a settlement visa. Like what ?? And why don't they do these checks for everyone else ? :wink:


Joe, is this just an argument for argument's sake? :Erm:

Ok, just to address your points:

UP TO 15 days, that's the time allowed, it doesn't mean it will take 15 working days. It's exactly the same as a British passport, pay extra have it done on a same day service, but your argument seems to be why can't they all be done on a same day service :Erm:

Why up to 12 weeks, and what extra checks?? :Erm: To be totally honest, I don't know exactly, but I'm sure there members on here that do (yourself included). Things like checking the financial requirements of your sponsor or maybe checking your refugee claim :Erm:

[joebloggs]

Regarding checks, and why it can take 12 weeks or longer. As most sponsors will be British, the HO can very easily check that their passports are genuine online, can confirm their banks statements etc, are genuine very easily and quickly with the banks, and do checks with other gov departments as they share data.

Now what they can't do as easily or as quickly, are these same checks on someone in China or another country, yet they will process a visa within 24 hrs :wink: or 15 days. Now, if they can do these checks in that time scale, why the 12 wks for a settlement visa ?

Some will say it's because they are doing 'local checks' on the person in the Phils. :laugher: So they are not doing these 'local checks' on people applying for another type of visa in the Phils or any other country? :crazy:

[fred]

Wealthy foreign tourists/investors have helped the UK housing bubble keep inflating, further delaying a proper healthy correction, especially in cities like London.

I`m not 100% sure why they see the UK as a good bet..All I can see is an explosion instead of a bang some day soon.

UK fundamentals look pretty dire and I can well understand why most want to hide their heads in the shifting sands..

If I were there, I would probably do the same.

What other choice would I have?

[joebloggs]

UK fundamentals look pretty dire and I can well understand why most want to hide their heads in the shifting sands..

If I were there, I would probably do the same.

What other choice would I have?

UK voted 3rd in the world

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11226190/The-world-voted-and-the-best-country-is...-Germany.html

[fred]

UK voted 3rd in the world

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11226190/The-world-voted-and-the-best-country-is...-Germany.html

Based on what??? How deep they have their heads in the sand?
Believe me..I`d like it to be true..Fundamentally speaking though..It just isn't..
Why wont you lot discuss the countries Indebtedness and the plans to get out of it in the medium too long term..Do the Politicians have a plan? Which party?
Convince us skeptics.

[joebloggs]

Well there are many trying to get into this country :wink:

People have been preaching doom and gloom for the UK, so we're in debt, everyone is..

I'm happy here, so is the misses, that's all that matters and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else :wink:

[fred]

Well there are many trying to get into this country :wink:

People have been preaching doom and gloom for the UK, so we're in debt, everyone is..

I'm happy here, so is the misses, that's all that matters and I wouldnt want to be anywhere else :wink:



Well there are many trying to get into this country :wink:

Ohh...OK,Here we go!! :NoNo:

Illegal migrants see the UK as a "soft touch" and its benefits system acts as a "magnet" to them, the mayor of the French city of Calais has told MPs.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-29799733



people have been preaching doom and gloom for the UK, so were in debt, everyone is..


I`m not in any debt!! It took much sacrifice and personal finance planning for me to be able too say that but there you go..I`m proud to say I`m debt free.
So what is the policy of the UK`s political parties to reduce the national debt?
If they cannot explain how to reduce the national debt,how can they expect to keep interest rates below the norms of 5%? These normal rates of interest are sure too return..and go beyond normal levels.
You are not concerned by that Joe?
When it happens..AND IT WILL..How do you think it will effect UK inflation?
If you don't know the answers that's fine but I ask you to ask your political candidates!!
Trust me..They won't know either.. That's not doom and gloom mate..Just plain economics.


I'm happy here, so is the misses, that's all that matters and i wouldnt want to be anywhere else







For now.

[Michael Parnham]

Well there are many trying to get into this country :wink:

People have been preaching doom and gloom for the UK, so we're in debt, everyone is..

I'm happy here, so is the misses, that's all that matters and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else :wink:

Ditto :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Ako Si Jamie]

Us and them :Erm:
A kick in the crotch for the average Brit :Erm:

It's a priority service, a fast track. The same as the average Brit paying to have their passport fast tracked. It's an option not a requirement, it's bringing an extra £600 per application into the British economy, that's a right kick in the crotch isn't it :icon_lol:Why should a foreigner get precedence over a British tax payer? Hardly fair is it? And what's £600 to a wealthy individual anyhow? Peanuts!

Cameron's got his pricing wrong. Should have taken a few tips from Pinoy taxi drivers on how to charge foreigners. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

As project manager, David, I hold you solely responsible for the failure of this task.......... YOU'RE FIRED. :icon_lol:

[Arthur Little]

David [*Cameron] :poke: ... YOU'RE FIRED! :laugher: ... I like it, Jamie!

And ... given the fact that the selfsame geezers's father-in-law is a multi-millionaire, *he's clearly living in cloud~:Cuckoo: land.

[Arthur Little]

Why should a foreigner get precedence over a British tax payer? Hardly fair is it? And what's £600 to a wealthy individual anyhow? Peanuts!




.............. :gp: there too ... :yeahthat:!

[Ako Si Jamie]

David [*Cameron] :poke: ... YOU'RE FIRED! :laugher: ... I like it, Jamie!

And ... given the fact that the selfsame geezers's father-in-law is a multi-millionaire, *he's clearly living in cloud~:Cuckoo: land.Or in need of a backbone. Perhaps Santa will be kind to him this Christmas. :biggrin:

[SimonH]

Why should a foreigner get precedence over a British tax payer? Hardly fair is it?

How :Erm: Please explain to me why on planet Jamie you think that a foreigner gets precedence over a British tax payer :crazy:
A British tax payer doesn't need a visa to stay in Britain :doh

[SimonH]

.............. :gp: there too ... :yeahthat:!


Please explain the :gp: Arthur, I really can't understand where you two are coming from :Erm:

[joebloggs]

How :Erm: Please explain to me why on planet Jamie you think that a foreigner gets precedence over a British tax payer :crazy:

A British tax payer doesn't need a visa to stay in Britain :doh

A British tax payer sponsors the settlement application, its a fact settlement visas are not a priority from the time scales, same with the time scale for visit visas


EUN2.3 How quickly do I need to issue an EEA family permit?

Priority must be given to applications for EEA family permits. Wherever possible a decision should be made at the time it is lodged or after an interview is conducted.

However, the Regulations do not say that EEA family permits must be issued on the day that the application is made. The Directive does allow Member States to take reasonable measures to ensure that freedom of movement is not obtained by deception. Where you suspect a marriage of convenience or even ‘sham’ employment for the purpose of freedom of movement, further enquiries should be made and credibility may be tested. As long as delays are justifiable, applications can be tested until the ECO is fully satisfied.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eea-family-permits-eun02/eea-family-permit-eun02

There is no reason a settlement visa should take 3 months or more, well there is, Cameron and May want to put a limit on immigrants coming to the UK. an election pledge they made and couldn't keep

[SimonH]

A British tax payer sponsors the settlement application, its a fact settlement visas are not a priority from the time scales, same with the time scale for visit visas

The scheme is for a TOURIST visa though, not a settlement visa :doh

From the article:-

Ahead of his visit to Australia for the G20 summit, Mr Cameron announced that the scheme will be extended from India and China to seven other countries including South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and the Philippines.


The only way it's affecting the British tax payer is by putting another £600 per application into the economy :Rasp:

[joebloggs]

The scheme is for a TOURIST visa though, not a settlement visa :doh

From the article:-

Ahead of his visit to Australia for the G20 summit, Mr Cameron announced that the scheme will be extended from India and China to seven other countries including South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and the Philippines.


The only way it's effecting the British tax payer is by putting another £600 per application into the economy :Rasp:

Settlement visa is £900 and they make more profit from that than a visit visa

Tell me which visa has more chance of being refused a visit visa or settlement visa? And you know from personal experience, yet they can fast track a visit visa in 24 hrs :crazy:

[SimonH]

Settlement visa is £900 and they make more profit from that than a visit visa

Tell me which visa has more chance of being refused a visit visa or settlement visa?, and you know from personal experience, yet they can fast track a visit visa in 24 hrs :crazy:


Firstly, show me a profit margin link to verify your statement :cwm25:

Secondly, and more to the point, the scheme has as much to do with a settlement visa as it has to do with the cost of a loaf of bread. Read it again Joe after all you started the topic, it's a scheme to fast track TOURIST visas. Nothing to with any other sort of visa, the cost of a loaf of bread or anything else :doh

[Arthur Little]

Please explain the :gp: Arthur, I really can't understand where you two are coming from :Erm:

No need, Simon :nono-1-1: ... others have said it for me. Besides ... :anerikke: ... you're bound to know as well as I do - "money always talks"! :wink:

[SimonH]

No need, Simon :nono-1-1: ... others have said it for me. Besides ... :anerikke: ... you're bound to know as well as I do - "money always talks"! :wink:


So you can't explain then :Erm:

[Dedworth]

Millions of Americans, Australians and Canadians to be charged £10 to visit Britain under Labour plan to hire border guards

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2839190/Millions-Americans-Australians-Canadians-charged-10-visit-Britain-Labour-plan-hire-border-guards.html

Moronic proposal by Labour the party that supports foreign criminals and invented mass uncontrolled immigration / multiculturalism

[SimonH]

No need, Simon :nono-1-1: ... others have said it for me. Besides ... :anerikke: ... you're bound to know as well as I do - "money always talks"! :wink:


Come on Arthur, I'd love to hear your take on it, not what others have apparently said for you :smile:

[joebloggs]

Firstly, show me a profit margin link to verify your statement :cwm25:

Secondly, and more to the point, the scheme has as much to do with a settlement visa as it has to do with the cost of a loaf of bread. Read it again Joe after all you started the topic, it's a scheme to fast track TOURIST visas. Nothing to with any other sort of visa, the cost of a loaf of bread or anything else :doh

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/279536/Fees_Table_April_2014.pdf

settlement fee £885 , processing fee £378 profit £507

visit visa short fee £83 , processing fee £115 :crazy: LOSS OF £32 - :crazy: those applying for other visas are subsidising foreigners who are applying for a visit visa.


of course it has if the visa is processed at the same place as this fast track visa or any other visa. soon as the caseworker gets one of these 'priority' visas, they will have to put a side the visa app they are processing to do a 24hr one, and :censored: me , i don't know why people don't think that a British Citizen who has married a Filipino should not be a priority :crazy:, but in fact they are last in the queue !

as for checks, one of the mains points of a settlement visa is that you intend to make the UK your home, so the HO doesn't need to waste time and money on evaluating the risks they will overstay compared to business, student and visit visa's where there is a greater risk that they will overstay or work when they are not suppose to, these checks you would have thought take time and money to process.

next if the spouse visa takes so long to process because of 'local checks' surely these and even more checks should be done on people visiting this country and less on those married to British citizens.


did you see the word 'priority' about family permits :cwm25:

you've seen the profits now and you've seen the time scales, dont tell me you dont think the Brit who is sponsoring a settlement visa has not come off worse :icon_lol:

[SimonH]

of course it has if the visa is processed at the same place as this fast track visa or any other visa.

IF Joe IF :doh

How many times, it's about charging £600 to fast track a TOURIST visa, how the :censored: can that make a BRIT worse off :Erm:

[joebloggs]

IF Joe IF :doh

How many times, it's about charging £600 to fast track a TOURIST visa, how the :censored: can that make a BRIT worse off :Erm:

If? It's a fact
Manila will be one of only two hubs in the world, processing visa applications for the UK.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/global-filipino/04/03/14/uk-eyes-manila-visa-processing-hub

Because a Brit is at the back of a queue and has paid nearly £900,

I'll put it in bold for you, in case you can't see

unit cost of a visit visa is £115

unit cost of a settlement visa is £378

WHY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

when it's easier to check the passport of a British citizen, check their details with a British bank, the Police, HMRC and their employer... no need to check the applicants' financial details, or reasons that they could overstay. I don't know what the :censored: they do check.

You really believe all the checks they have to do for a visit visa cost only £115 yet the settlement visa cost £378 to process? :laugher: I think they got the figures the wrong way around or someone is taking the :censored::doh

[London_Manila]

Nothing new having lots of money has always eased the immigration process :NoNo:

[SimonH]

:blahblah::blahblah::blahblah::blahblah:

I won't put in bold for you, I'll try and explain in a way that everyone should understand.

1. It's a fast track for a visit visa
2. It's an option, you don't have to pay
3. See 1



The people coming here and using the fast track option are coming to visit, they're not settling here. The only so called queue they're jumping is a queue they'd already be in, I can't understand why people are having difficulty understanding this :Erm:

[joebloggs]

So you're telling me, you know that there are separate queues for the different types of visa being processed by case workers and those case workers only process one type of visa? :Erm:

Have you found any evidence to show this is done by a dedicated team at the Embassy? If not, then everyone who applies is pushing to the front of any queues :doh

[SimonH]

So you're telling me, you know that there are separate queues for the different types of visa being processed by case workers and those case workers only process one type of visa? :Erm:

Have you found any evidence to show this is done by a dedicated team at the Embassy? If not, then everyone who applies is pushing to the front of any queues :doh

No Joe, what I'm saying (in plain English I hasten to add) is that these people who are willing to pay £600 to fast track their VISIT visa would be applying anyway and that they're paying £600 to fast track their VISIT visa application and therefore not taking any money away from your 'poor Brit' but actually boosting the Economy.

Come on, it's not that difficult to understand is it? :Erm:

[joebloggs]

No Joe, what I'm saying (in plain English I hasten to add) is that these people who are willing to pay £600 to fast track their VISIT visa would be applying anyway and that they're paying £600 to fast track their VISIT visa application and therefore not taking any money away from your 'poor Brit' but actually boosting the Economy.

Come on, it's not that difficult to understand is it? :Erm:

And how much does it cost to process one of these applications ? It doesn't cost £0

You don't know if they would apply anyway. I'm sure any checks they do on a normal visit visa would be more detailed than a priority one due to time restrictions.

I posted before about Tier 1 visa abuse, highly skilled immigrants working in takeaways, students who came here to work and not study, and now - for a fee of £600 - someone who intends to overstay could get fast tracked here within days

Why do you think so many visit visas are refused ? HO does not believe they will go back :biggrin:

[SimonH]

And how much does it cost to process one of these applications ? it doesn't cost £0

You don't know if they would apply anyway, I'm sure any checks they do on a normal visit visa would be more detailed than a priority one due to time restrictions.

I posted before about Tier 1 visa abuse, highly skilled immigrants working in takeaways, students who came here to work and not study, and now - for a fee of £600 - someone who intends to overstay could get fast tracked here within days

Why do you think so many visit visa's are refused ? HO does not believe they will go back :biggrin:


Did you actually read the article that YOU posted a link to Joe :Erm:

It would appear not :icon_lol:

To save you going back, this is what it said:-


"All applicants must meet the strict requirements of our immigration rules, and applying for a visa to enter the UK through the 24-hour service does not, in any way, guarantee a visa application will be successful."

[joebloggs]

Did you actually read the article that YOU posted a link to Joe :Erm:

It would appear not :icon_lol:

To save you going back, this is what it said:-


"All applicants must meet the strict requirements of our immigration rules, and applying for a visa to enter the UK through the 24-hour service does not, in any way, guarantee a visa application will be successful."

What are the strict requirements ? :icon_lol: 1,000s of HIGHLY SKILLED migrants manage to get past the strict requirements to come here and work in low skilled jobs here :wink:

UK needs to learn a lesson from Canada :wink:


Canada suspends Accelerated Visa Program

Canada has suspended the Accelerated Visa Program, which reduced processing time for visas to two weeks. The processing time for visas is likely to go up to three-five months now, and the there is a proposal to increase visa fees as well.

http://profit.ndtv.com/news/market/article-it-stocks-turn-choppy-after-canada-suspends-accelerated-visa-program-321904


Chinese investor visa applicants sue Canadian immigration
http://www.workpermit.com/news/2014-06-11/chinese-investor-visa--applicants-sue-canadian-immigration

[SimonH]

What are the strict requirements ? :icon_lol: 1,000s of HIGHLY SKILLED migrants manage to get past the strict requirements to come here and work in low skilled jobs here :wink:

I don't know Joe, but I'm sure you'll tell me or go off on another tangent :doh

[joebloggs]

Canada stopped the visas because of abuse. I wonder how many of these rich or business people will be rich or business people :wink:

Time will tell :biggrin:

[SimonH]

Canada stopped the visas because of abuse. I wonder how many of these rich or business people will be rich or business people :wink:

Time will tell :biggrin:

Looks like they changed their minds :laugher:

Canada looks to fast-track visa applications. Opens new office

The Government of Canada plans to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth by attracting an increasing number of visitors and international students as well as skilled temporary foreign workers and immigrants to meet its labour market needs.

According to the Canadian Government yesterday, it has now moved to open a new visa application centre (VAC) in Georgetown to make the process of applying for one to enter Canada easier and more convenient.

According to a release from the Minister’s Office, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), it is expanding VAC network around the world to “provide valuable administrative support to applicants before, during and after their temporary resident application is assessed by a CIC immigration officer”.

VAC service agents are available by phone, email or in person to answer questions and to make sure that applications are complete, the statement said. “This helps avoid unnecessary delays or refusals due to incomplete applications. For an additional fee, VACs also offer other services, including photocopies, application photographs and self-service computer terminals for those wishing to take advantage of the new online applications.”

However, the agency warned that VACs are not involved in the decision making process and are not authorized to provide applicants with advice about their visas.

Anyone wishing to apply for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or permanent resident travel document must visit the new VAC office located at 107 Duke Street, Georgetown.

VACs will strive to issue visas and permits as quickly as possible to facilitate travel for immigrants, visitors and students.

[Ako Si Jamie]

A British tax payer doesn't need a visa to stay in Britain :dohFantastic stuff, Sherlock. Thanks for clearing that up! :appl:

I can now sleep at night for the first time in over forty years knowing I won't get deported. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[SimonH]

Fantastic stuff, Sherlock. Thanks for clearing that up! :appl:

I can now sleep at night for the first time in over forty years knowing I won't get deported. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Well done Jamie, it's only taken you 5 days to think of that sarcastic retort :xxgrinning--00xx3:

With all this restful sleep you're now getting let's see if you can come back a little quicker this time :wink: