The UK & Ireland are now set to share more data and exchange more information with each other regarding immigration. This scheme will aid in determining immigration decisions, and also allow visitors from India & China to travel far more easily between the UK & Irish border.
India & China are now the most populous countries on the planet, so easing the visa application process for these countries is always a good thing. This should also mean less time applying for a visa application and less time waiting for a response to the news.
The new scheme is but one part of a new program to strengthen both country’s borders too. Some other projects the teams are currently working on, include working closer together on visa rules and the procedure they go through and sharing watch-list material and also passenger statistics.
The beginning project which will benefit the new agreement which will allow Chinese and Indian visitors to travel to the UK and Ireland with only a single visit visa. The project is said to be up and running by the end of October for Chinese visitors, and the end of November for India too.
The fact that China and India are now huge international markets, if not the biggest, should mean that tourism also increases to more than 10,000 visitors annually.
Theresa May, The Home Secretary, said happily, “I am delighted to be able to sign this Memorandum of Understanding today. This agreement will make it easier and more attractive for travelers to visit both Ireland and the UK, while at the same strengthening Common Travel Area borders.”
Frances Fitzgerald, The Minister for Justice and Equality, was ecstatic at the news. She added to Theresa’s comments with, “It is by cooperating to the greatest extent possible in protecting our borders from abuse, by preventing persons from entering our countries who have no right to be here, that we lay the foundations on which to extend the benefits of borderless travel between our countries to genuine visitors.”
The arrangement will benefit the Northern Irish economy in a very positive way. By permitting more Chinese and Indian people to the Republic of Ireland, it will also give them the opportunity to visit Northern Ireland without having to apply for a separate UK Visa.
For your Tier 2 visa, visit http://ukvisas.co.uk/visas/tier-2-visa-general