THE BRITISH High Commission in Kingston is reporting "remarkable success" in curtailing abuses of its immigration policy since the implementation of visas for Jamaicans travelling to the United Kingdom.
According to the public information officer at the British High Commission, Mags White, since the implementation of the visa restrictions in January, "it would appear that those people travelling to the U.K. with the intention of absconding, are no longer travelling. It seems to be working remarkably well," she emphasised.
In January, the British Government imposed new policies requiring Jamaicans to obtain visas for travelling to the United Kingdom. Deputy British High Commissioner to Jamaica Phil Sinkinson said at the time that the visa policy was implemented to prevent Jamaicans travelling to that country from absconding. In addition, British officials said the visa regime would actually benefit travellers in terms of guarding against the purchasing of airline tickets and not getting a chance to visit the country.
British officials said that more than 1,000 Jamaicans who were granted temporary admission in 2002, did not return to the Caribbean.
Mrs. White said the High Commission had received about 1,800 applications for visas since January. Of that number, 70 per cent were granted permits while the remaining 30 per cent were rejected.
