The constant demands of UK tourism organizations to the country's authorities yield results from time to time, and London simplifies the visa application process. However, in recent years, the UK immigration services have been working on the principle of 'one step forward, two steps back,' as the number of additional bureaucratic aspects continues to grow despite the overall simplification of the visa process.
A new initiative of the UK government is the introduction of the requirement to provide a certificate of no criminal record. According to the new measures of the British government aimed at tightening border crossing rules, migrants coming to the UK for living and working will have to prove that they have not committed any crimes in the last 10 years.
Foreigners applying for a visa to enter the United Kingdom will be required to provide a certificate of no criminal record. Thus, officials hope to strengthen the existing border control regime to prevent serious crimes by those allowed to enter the UK.
According to «EUROMAG», the new scheme will come into full effect this summer. Migrants from non-European countries wishing to move to the UK for living or working will have to provide a certificate from the authorities of the country where they lived in the previous ten years. This way, the UK immigration service can ensure that entrants have a clean record without arrests or convictions, or learn that they have committed a crime.
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'These powers will allow us to require everyone applying for a visa to provide a certificate of criminal record or lack thereof covering a 10-year period. The measure will be an additional tool in the fight against crime among migrants.'
1.9 million people arriving in the country on visitor visas, as well as citizens of 56 countries who do not need a visa to enter the UK, will not be affected by the new measure. 'It would be impractical in terms of time, cost, and red tape,' writes the Daily Mail. The new regulation will also not apply to persons under 18 and refugees.