Lagos — The UK Government has announced its plans to modernise the short-term visa system to ensure that the country is attractive to business and tourism.

The UK Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, Liam Byrne said, "We know that many people have a stake in us getting this policy right. We therefore issued a consultation document last year. The changes I am announcing will help create a fairer Britain with fair treatment for those who play by the rules, but tough action against those who break the law.

We want the UK to stay open and attractive for both business and visitors. But at the same time we are determined to deliver a system of border security which is among the most secure in the world".

The system for sponsored family visitors will see significant changes. British citizens and those with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK will be required to become licensed sponsors before family members can visit from abroad. Sponsors will have a duty to ensure that their visitors comply with the terms of their visa and that they leave before the visa ends.

Sponsorship arrangements will mean that UK Visa Services will be able to process genuine applicants more quickly and identify fraudulent applications more easily. The current definition of "family member" will remain unchanged, allowing spouses, parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles and first cousins to come to the UK by this route.

Appeal rights for sponsored family visitors will remain. If sponsors fail in their duties, they face a ban on bringing anyone else into the UK, or in more extreme cases, fines of up to £5,000 or imprisonment.

Some of the key points in the document includes; the maximum leave for visitors will remain at six months; a new sponsored family visitor category with licensed sponsors vouching for their family members' visits; no plans to introduce financial bonds for family visitors; new proposals for tourist visas, including group travel and special events visas and; a distinct clear category for business visitors.

The UK Government is committed to making sure that the UK remains an attractive place to do business. It therefore proposes to create a new visa for Business Visitors and there will be greater clarity on the definition of a business visitor. The maximum period of a business visit visa will be six months. The Government also announced plans for new arrangements for sportsmen and women and entertainers, recognising the important contribution these individuals make to British cultural life.

The changes to the short-term visa system will be implemented during 2008 and 2009. Further detailed statements of intent will be published before any changes are made to the Immigration Rules and legislation.

None of the proposed changes will affect the Points Based System (PBS) for longer-term economic migration and for those coming to study. The PBS was launched for applications submitted in Nigeria under tier 1 (highly skilled migrants) on 30 June.