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Possible Visa Bonds: Clarification

The British High Commission Accra explains position on visa bonds.

• From: British High Commission Accra
• Published: 25 June 2013
• Last updated: 25 June 2013 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

POSSIBLE VISA BONDS: CLARIFICATION

The UK Government announced its intention to consider trialling the use of financial bonds as a way of tackling abuse in the immigration system some time ago. Since then, discussions have been ongoing within the UK Government about how and when to implement the proposed trial. The details of the policy are still being finalised. Ghana is being considered as a pilot country, along with many others, but no final decision has yet been made.

In the event that the pilot scheme goes ahead, the vast majority of visitors would be processed in the normal way. Only a very small number of the highest risk visitors would be required to pay a bond, and the bond would be refunded once the visitor returns home. The scheme would be limited to a select group of countries for the pilot only. If the pilot were successful, the full scheme would be rolled-out worldwide, and high-risk visitors of all nationalities would be required to pay a bond.

Published 25 June 2013
Last updated 25 June 2013 + show all updates

1. 25 June 2013

   Corrected an omission.

2. 25 June 2013

   Corrected an omission.

3. 25 June 2013

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4. 25 June 2013

   First published.