Taxpayers are footing a £50m a year bill to fund appeal by relatives of immigrants barred from Britain.
More than 1000 are lodged every week and the caseload has soared eightfold since the Government scrapped fees for family visitor visas in 2002.
"The definition of a family visitor is so wide that it could include as many as 120 relatives of a middle-aged person," said Sit Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch.
In 2008 a total of 414,000 applications for family visitor visa were made, of which 312,000 were approved. Around 197,000 of those applications came from India, Pakistan and Nigeria. Of those, 134,000 were approved. Yet despite the huge number of approvals, failed applicants are allowed to challenge the refusals without charge.
You can read more here. We desperately need politicians with some sense of balance and respect for our country.
Update: I've removed the original picture. Vronsky pointed out it wasn't relative to the story and I agree.
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13 comments:
Why the photo of women in burqas if most of the applications are from India, Pakistan and Nigeria? Why not (say) a pretty Asian girl in a sari?
Just another scary story on immigration, sr? Shame on you.
Vronsky, I was lazy and took the photo from the paper. My apologies. I'll look for another one.
No it's not another scary story on immigration Vronsky, not in my opinion.
And no I've nothing to be ashamed about. Why should I have to pay for these appeals? It's not scary, it's lunacy.
Our immigration costs are a great administrative and infra-structure burden. You just cannot attemt to import millions of voters in a short space of time and not wreck the very source of the wealth that once attracted immigrants. Meanwhile genuine refugees and the persecuted are lost in this maelstrom of typical Socialist incompetence.
Unfair cricism from Vronsky. Stand by your editorial decisions!
That's the shame of it OR. The genuine applicants are lost in this melee of applications.
Mind you, when you look at the figures, it seems as if most applicants are thought genuine.
DL, I agree with Vronsky about the initial picture but I certainly don't agree with him that this is another scary immigration story.
Some people just don't like to read how it is perhaps. :)
I take it you got the very thin issue of the Economist today as well?
If not, they had a story on exactly this and the EAW.
No Spitfire, I didn't get the Economist today. I'm currently snowed in and each time I go to clear an exit more heavy snow showers. So I've decided to batten down the hatches and spend time on tedious tasks such as oven cleaning.
Can't find anything about it in their online edition.
I don't understand, why should we be paying for this? They want to come and stay, they aren't citizens, they pay the costs...............simples?
If only it was simple QM. But of course many of these people stay here and they'd vote labour...
sr
Admire you for removing the emotive and inappropriate image. Among bloggers, you're the one in a million who will pause, consider and retract.
Evening SR, happy New Year to you and the rest of the cyberfolks. Been off the electronic string for bit due to painful family issues and am only responding to this article as I have an interesting adjunct too it.
On the 31st of December my granddaughter was born. As we would say here in the frozen north, she’s “a wee beauty”! Last November, her mum married my son. Mum comes from Zimbabwe. She’s a bright, intelligent lass with a wonderful, sunny, African disposition. We, of the Scottish tribe, all love her.
When my son met her, she was finishing a Diploma course in Finance (passed top end) they became infatuated (Uuuuuk, don’t you just hate that young thing about love – holding hands in your parents living room and crafty kisses when they think the Dram’s are not looking) and got engaged. Enter the Border UK people. Visa almost up, recognise that you have set a date for next May 2009 but if you want to stay, you’ll need to get married now -Aug 2008 (on appeal Nov 2008). Invitations to parents sent to Zimbabwe. They need to apply to South African UK embassy (no embassy in Z). Additional proof required – Mr & Mrs Dram’s situation, Young Dram’s situation (employment, home ownership, Mortgage, Bank account etc) Future Father and Mother in law’s situation. Result access denied.
Appeal launched – date received April 2009. As a result new daughter in law was parentless at her wedding (but, with wonderful irony, given away by her grandfather who was here in Britain to receive medical care and even more ridiculously, some of her aunts and uncles attended as they were permanent residents (for the last 25 years) with their children. As we would say here, “it would gaur you greet”
When the rejection paper work arrived we discovered that the SA embassy had transfigured the relationship so that young Dram became female and daughter in law became my daughter! Needless to say I contacted them and pointed this out! Minor detail was the response!! The faither of young Mrs Dram-to-be was skint, because Zimbabwe was bust and he might not go back (despite being a chartered bean counter) so go to directly to Glasgow and do not pass go.
Well I did, with the kids, and there’s a lot to be said for a fine suit, coat and a good Scots accent. Result? New In-laws (and our new friends) came to visit us in July and August and went home again. We have been in communication with them often and their kind words and support have helped us through our recent troubled times.
Detail SR, all this computational power at people’s fingertips and still it doesn’t help people reach rational decisions. Anyway the young Dram’s will be home soon and my waist-line will benefit from the miles I’ll be pushing the pram – or is it a small person mobility vehicle they call it these days?
A Very Happy New Year to you and yours Dram. I doubt if it could be better really for you.
Dram, what a delightful yet heart-rending story and congratulations on being a grandpa!!! You lucky man but I can see you know that. (No sign of grandparenthood in this household, the young is never in one place long enough to meet anyone).
The stupidity of the system is obvious isn't it. I'm sure though you would have paid a fee for the appeal. That used to happen according to the report.
I've always found my Sunday best and a pleasant although strong attitude, plus of course my Scots accent, works wonders. Good for you.
Now you'll have to tell me the name of this wee beauty who has been good enough to join your family.
I'd still call it a pram, sod the Righteous.
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