A faster, more integrated UK immigration act

July 24 2009 by Rebekah Nahai

UK immigration: speedier but stricter

British border control officers will soon be grilling foreigners more efficiently at UK immigration checkpoints. The Home Office is revising immigration procedures following the introduction of the Royal Assent of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.

UK immigration and customs officers are joining forces to perform passport and customs checks and to question immigrants at one unified station.

The move will reduce the number of checkpoints in the UK and speed up the immigrant arrival process.

The merging of border control groups helps to ensure the continued strength of the UK border and the stringent checks for identifying drug and weapon smugglers.

Border and Immigration Minister, Phil Woolas on the importance of the Act says:

“This is part of the biggest transformation of our border controls in a generation. A unified force at the Border with the powers to carry out customs and immigration checks allows us to continue the crack down on illegal immigration and the smuggling of drugs and weapons.”

The Act also supports new integration regulations for immigrants who want to stay in the country. Migrants must pay taxes, obey UK law, and speak a satisfactory level of English.

The UK will reserve housing and social benefits for citizens and permanent residents under the Act. But migrants who fulfil minimum requirements as well as demonstrate active citizenship can speed up the path to naturalisation.

Woolas believes the changes will promote improved integration from immigrants.

“This new Act ensures that those who want to stay earn the right to do so, learn to speak English and play by the rules. Those that don't will not be allowed to become citizens, making our system both firmer and fairer”, he says.

Talks are in progress for incorporating the points-based immigration system into citizenship requirements. This will allow greater control over UK immigration levels depending on the needs of the country.

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