Immigrants who want to become British
and settle permanently in the UK will need to pass more
tests to "prove
their worth" to the country under new plans.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said migrants would need
to demonstrate their contribution to society beyond simply
working and paying taxes.
Some migrants may also have to pay into a fund to cover
some of the extra burden on public services.
Foreigners would also have to pass a period of "probationary
citizenship".
Revealing the proposals, Ms Smith said reforming how
people become citizens was the unfinished business of
the UK's migration system.
She said that future migrants would need to "earn" citizenship.
This scraps the current system which allows people to
apply for naturalisation on the basis of how long they
have lived in the UK.
'Transitional fund'
Ms Smith said migrants from outside the EEA would no
longer have an option of living in the UK without becoming
more committed to society over time.
In the future, she said, they would be encouraged to "move
on" through a system that leads to citizenship -
or choose ultimately to leave the country.
The package of measures includes:
- Raising visa fees for a special "transitional
impact" fund
- More English language testing ahead of nationality
- Requirements
to prove integration into communities
- Increasing how
long it takes to become British
Ministers say the impacts fund and its fees are
yet to be worked out but would be designed to ease
pressures
caused by the movement of people.
Press reports suggest it would raise £15m a
year.
The system could see migrants with children or elderly
relatives expected to pay higher application fees.
Migrants would find their route to citizenship and
full access
to benefits, such as higher education, accelerated
if they can prove they are "active" citizens.
This would include proof of charity work, involvement
in the local community and letters from referees.
At the same time, those who break the law would find
the process far harder - or would be barred completely
from becoming British.
'Gimmick'
The Home Office said that it would still be possible
for someone to be permanently resident as a foreign
national in the UK - but it would be preferable for
them to seek
citizenship because of the benefits it would bring.
"
Our new deal for citizenship is clear and fair," said
Ms Smith. " The rights and benefits of citizenship
will be available to those who can demonstrate a
commitment to our shared
values and a willingness to contribute to our community.
This is a country of liberty and tolerance, opportunity
and diversity. These values are reinforced by the
expectation that all who live here should learn our language, play
by the rules, obey the law and contribute to the
economy."
But the Conservatives said the proposals were a "gimmick" and
called for an annual limit on immigration instead.
But shadow immigration minister Damian Green, for
the Conservatives, said the plans were a "gimmick". "
There is much less to this Green Paper than meets the
eye," he told Today.
He said the £15m it was proposing to raise was
a "drop in the ocean" compared to the extra
expense for schools, hospitals and the police caused
by immigration.
He said the only answer was to place an annual limit
on migration - but backed plans to insist on migrants
learning English to gain citizenship. saying it was
essential "to
play a full part in modern Britain".
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