UK Immigration News

• Watch This VideoFollowing is a summary roundup of what is being said in newspapers throughout the UK regarding Home Office announcements this week about changes in immigration policy. Home Secretary John Reid recently outlined his goals for the future of UK migration laws and policies. British press has not been overly impressed with the new plans to revamp the immigration system and Reid is already under fire.

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The BBC reports that the fee for a new adult 10-year passport is to increase by 29% from October, from £51 to £66. The Home Office said the new passport - dubbed the ePassport - would be the "most secure ever produced by the UK".

The "biometric" passport contains a chip storing a scan of the passport holder and other personal details.

Persons should be aware that due to the situation in Lebanon and Israel, the visa section of the British High Commission in Nicosia, Cyprus is closed, effective 20 July 2006. Applications for visas may be made at any British mission overseas with a visa section. No announcement predicting when normal service will be resumed has been made.

The move will prompt renewed claims that John Reid is adopting a hard-line approach to law and order and immigration issues. Home Office sources have confirmed that Reid plans to double the amount spent on immigration control to £180m in order to cut the number of unfounded asylum claims and illegal immigrants. The uniformed force, which will not be established as a new agency, will be tasked with tackling those who seek to enter the UK - but will prompt criticism from asylum groups.

The aim of the Government's reform plan is to make the Home Office more efficient. It is hoped that the following changes will result in savings of as much as £115m per year by 2010:

The Home Secretary announced the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules to the British Parliament on 19 July 2006 which came into effect on 20 July 2006. The Immigration Act 1971 is immediately amended. The document is "Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1337 - July 2006" in the House of Commons.

Paragraphs 364, 367, and 395c are affected. Paragraph 364 is replaced in its entirety, while 367 and 395c have words, phrases and sentences replaced.