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U.K. to slap migrant tax

LONDON: Migrants to Britain from outside the European Union will have to pay an extra levy — dubbed the “migrant tax”— as a contribution for using public services until they are granted full citizenship.

The move is part of a series of new proposals aimed at further tightening up immigration and citizenship rules ahead of a new Australian-style points-based system, due to come into force on February 29.

The amount of the proposed levy will vary, with older applicants and those with children having to pay more — the logic being that they are likely to need services such as hospitals and schools more than younger or single visitors. Sources were reported as saying that the “tax” could be up to 10 per cent of the visa fee.

The move follows complaints from local bodies that the influx of immigrants is putting a huge strain on their resources. Unveiling the plans, set out in a “Green Paper”, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made clear that “full access to benefits” would no longer to be available to new migrants. They would need to support themselves by paying an “additional fee” until granted full citizenship.

The government is expected to raise £15 million for the proposed “British Trust Fund” to be set up to help service providers meet the additional financial burden they say they are facing because of new migrants.

Ms Smith also announced a new three-stage route to citizenship, scrapping the current system which allows anyone who has lived in Britain for five years to claim automatic citizenship. New migrants would be expected to pass an English language test besides showing greater knowledge of British “life”. “Our new deal for citizenship is clear and fair. 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 the community,” she said.

Ms Smith described the proposals as part of the “biggest changes to British immigration policy for a generation”. The new points based system, she said, would ensure that only people with the skills that Britain needed entered the country.

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