Gordon Brown's government proposes to require all foreigners seeking the right to reside in Great Britain to pass a rather difficult English language test as part of a radical immigration policy reform. But for the rich, the British authorities are ready to make a concession, reports The Daily Telegraph. To get an exemption from the exam, one only needs to prove that they have at least 1 million pounds sterling ($1.96 million) 'in an official financial institution' and that this money can be used in the United Kingdom.
Another condition for 'passing' English will be the obligation to invest at least 750,000 pounds sterling in the British economy within the first three months of stay.
In this way, only ignorance of the language can be 'paid off'; immigrants will have to meet all other current requirements. For example, having no criminal record. 'You won't be able to win the lottery and then fly into a British airport and ask to be let in,' notes a spokesman for the British Home Office.
The proposal of an alternative to the language test, according to UK Immigration Minister Liam Byrne, shows that wealthy individuals like Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich are welcome in the country. 'Millionaires bring jobs and investment to Britain. Probably not letting them in is not a very good idea,' Byrne explained. He raised this issue earlier last week at a meeting of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee. The minister told peers that Japanese engineering firms are worried they will not be able to transfer their top managers to Britain. 'They are nervous about the English language requirements we are insisting on,' Byrne said.
But not all politicians are so welcoming. 'Foreign millionaires should not go through the immigration control system just by waving a bank statement. If they want to live here and invest in this country for a long time, they should at least pass the language test,' insists Liberal Democrat and Treasury spokesman Lord Oakeshott.
However, it is unlikely that the loophole provided will inspire a large number of millionaires. After all, besides a million pounds sterling, they will also have to pay extra to the British authorities for the right to live in the country.
Recently, the UK decided to tighten tax policy towards non-citizen entrepreneurs. The authorities argued that only one in six businessmen living in the UK and earning over 10 million pounds sterling ($19.6 million) per year pays income tax. Businessmen were offered a kind of amnesty: to pay taxes as well as a fine – 10% of the unpaid taxes. Those who fail to do so face a fine of 30-100% of the tax amount. For newcomers who have lived in the country for more than seven years, there is a certain concession: they have been set a special tax – 30,000 pounds sterling per year ($62,000), but on condition that the capital is not transferred to the UK. Otherwise, the foreigner will have to pay tax on foreign income as a Briton (i.e., significantly more). According to the Financial Times, as a result of such innovations, over 3,000 foreign millionaires will leave the United Kingdom in 2008.
Ekaterina MEREMINSKAYA.
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